The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-12-28


great American nation at a moment Of great
anxiety, offered to recognize the independ-
ence OF the Filipino nation as soon as tri-
umph was attained.
Under the faith of such promise, an Amer
lean man-Of-war. the McCulloch was placed
at the disposal of the said leaders and
which took them to their native shores, and
Admiral Dewey himself by sending the
inan-of-war, by not denying to Gen. Aguin
aldo and his companions the exaction of his
promises. when they were presented to him
on board his flagship in the bay of Manila.
by receiving the said Gen. Aguinaldo before
and after his victories and notable deeds Of
arms, with the honors due to the command
er-in-chief of an allied army and chief Of
an independent state, by accepting the efti-
caciOus cooperation of that army and Of
those generals, by recognizing the Filipinos
flag and permitting it to be hoisted sea
and land, consenting that their ships should
sail with the said flag within" the places
which were placarded; by receiving a SOL
emn notification of the formal proclamation
OF the Philippine nation without protesting
against 1t, nor opposing in any way it's ex-
istence; by entering into the relations with
those generals and with the national Fill
pino authorities recently established, recog-
nized, without question. the corporated
body and autonomous sovereignty of people
who had just succeeded in breaking their
letters and freeing themselves by The i'm
pulse of their own force.
aNu tiIdl recognition cannot De refused Cy
the honorable and serious people Of the
United States of America, who ought not
TO deny nor discuss the word given by the
off1c1als and representatives in these parts,
In moments solemn in gravity for the
American republic.
To pretend to put now in question the at
tributes of such public functionaries. after
the danger would be act of notorious
injustice which cannot be consented to hy
those who have the unavoidable duty Of
preserving unstained the brilliant reputa-
tlon OF the sons of the great nation, found
ed by the immortal Washington. whose first
glory was and has always been the constant
fuliillment of their word of honor.
AN INDEPENDENT CAMPAIGN.
1t must be remembered here that the
F1l1pinos did not fight as paid troops or
mercenaries of America. On their arrival
they only received reduced number of
arms which We're delivered to them by the
order of Admiral Dewey. The arms, am
munition and provisions with which tf~
philippines have since sustained the war
against the Spanish forces were attained,
some by gallantry and some of them bought
with their own funds, those latter beinE ex-s
cluslvely provided by the Filipino paffiots.
And you would not be noble now after
having used the alliance to deny the cour-r
age and nobility Of the Filipino forces IA
nghting at the side Of the American troops,
lending them a decided support both en-
thusiastic and eff1cacious. Without their
NO-OPCIdllOu anu WllHOut the previous siege.
would the Americans have been able so
easily to have gained possession of the
walled city of Manila?
They could. who can deny it, have de-
stroyed 1t by bombardment, but without the
foregoing armed deeds, and without the rig.
oroTs circles in which The Suai,isl ac,ny
was enclosed. the sham fight of attack and
surrender which took place could not alb
solutely have been realized.
ADMIRAL Dewey glOriously destroyed the
barking forces and could not inconsiderately
dispose OF his ammunition and provisions;
and under such conditions, the support
which as companies in arms, was lent to
MIN by the Filipino generals and their
forces is a positive and undeniab BILE advan-
tage. Without them Gen. Anderson's
troops and those which afterwards were
disembarkad probably would not have been
able to have arrived at Manila before the
suspension Of hostilities and the signing Of
the protocol at Washington.
Truth and sincerity in their places.
IN CONCLUSION.
Now: If the Spaniards have not been able
to transfer to the Americans the rights
which they did not possess, if the former
have not militarily conquered positions in
the Philippines; if the international officials
and representativa of the republic of the
United States of America offered to recog-
nize the independence and sovereignty Of
the Philippines. solicited and accepted their
themselves as the sole disposers of the con-
troll administration and future government
Of the Philippine islands?
If, in the treaty of Paris. there had sim
ply been declared the withdrawal and aban-
donment by the Spaniards of their dominion
if they ever had one-over the Filipino ter
ritory; if America, on accepting peace, had
signed the treaty without prejudice to the
rights Of the Philippines and with the view
of coming to a subsequent settlement with
the existing Filipino government thus rec
oSniZing the sovereignty of the latter their
alliance, and the carrying out of their prom
ises of honor to the said F'ilipinos it is very
evident that no protest against their action
would have been made But in view of the
terms of the third article Of the protocol,
the proceedings of the American commits
sioners and the imperative necessity Of
safeguarding the national rights of my
country, l make this protest, which I have
made an extensive one for the aforesaid
reasons, and with the corresponding legal
restrictions against the actions taken and
the resolutions passed by the peace commits
sioners at Paris and in the treaty signed by
them.
And on making this protest, claim in the
name of the Filipino nation and in that of
their president and government, the fulfill
ment of the solemn declaration made by
the illustrious William Mckinley, president
of the republic of the United States Of
North America that on going to war he
was not guided by any intention of ag-
grandisement and extension of national ter
ritory but only in respect to the principles
of humanity, the duty of liberating tyran-
nized people and to proclaim the unalien-
able rights, with their sovereignty, of the
countries released from the yoke of SPAIN
God keep your eXcellencies many years.
(Signed.) FELIPE AGONCILLO