The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-09
HON DEWEY HAS DONE
TO Keep Out of Entanglements
With Aguinaldo.
WHO GETS A BAD NAME
From a Correspondent Who
Loves No Sort of Insurgents,

Washington, Aug. S. Especial 70 the
Evening Poso.-It has already been stated
in these dispatches that the Philippine
| problem has been greatly sampEfed for
our government by the conduct OF Aguin-
aldo in proclaiming himself dictator, de-
claring the independence of his repub-
! lie. and falling 70 give any reasonable sup
| port 10 the American commanders at Ma
Mia at juncture when If ne were ever
| going 10 do it al all. ne could have made
| great strides in their good graces and ours
! There are men in Washington. we'll ac-
quainted with eastern affairs. who know
Aguinaldo personally, and understand his
| situation thoroughly. They nave not hes
| itated from the outest TO say that we
should speedily tire of our new ally. who
| for the volatile character Of his attach
| ments. He is a freebooter, pure and
simple. century ago, and surrounded
by marine environment, he would have
been successful rival 10 Blackboard and
Capt. Kidd. The idea of an organized gov
eminent subsisting under his headships
of strikes all VINO know him as grotesque
to the last degree
It may be asked how we came to be
| involve ourselves in any manner with
this opera-bouffe republican, and especi-
ally how Admiral Dewey, who has shown
himself a man of sound discretion in
many ways, happened to take UP with
such a fellow. The facts, when all came
out. will undoubtedly show that Dewey
has done nothing of the sort. Dewey has
never been one of Aguinaldo's admirers
He is too much a man of the world to let
his momentary impulse run away with
him, or 10 attribute all the virtues to a
man who has never laid further claim TO
them than 10 keep one promise when it
was to mis- obvious interest to do so.
The person directly responsible for what
ever relation exists between the United
States government and the savage dscta-
consul-general at Hong Kong. Mr.. Wild
man is journalist, who first came into
notice as a Observation-Disclosures
notice as editor Of a newspaper in Idaho
and on the strength of mis- party sevrecs
received a consulship during the Harrison
administration. His fins post was Singa-
pore, where he succeeded an excellent
consul Of some eighteen years standing
His work at Singapore was intelligent
but largely from the literary side. His
reports were not so voluminous or labor
ously prepared as those of his predeces-
sors, but they were interesting and read
for a few months to Barmen Germany.
retiring when the Cleveland administra-
ton came in. His present post, Hong
Kong. is one which he long ago set his
in, 81 Of
from the public service been an editor
Of the Overland Monthly in California
and there, as in his brief experience in |
the Orient. having become much inter
eSted in the Chinese.
A Philippine revolutinary junta is main |
tanned at Hong Kong, and through this |
medium Wildman was Drought into per-
sonal contact with Aguinaldo whose ro-
mantle personality and career captivated |
the consul general. Wildman was warned |
that Aguinaldo was a dangerous man, |
because his notion of warfare were wholly |
barbarous, and their execution would re- |
fleet no credit on the white sponsors.
Many a man would have dropped Aguin- |
aldo's acquaintance, or at least taken |
precautions against further intimacy with |
him, in view of these montions. Not so |
Wildnan. He believed that he had OBJ |
tanned such ascendency over AguinaldO |
morally that he COULD afford to demand /
pledges OF him, and back the pledges
with his own faith and support. He ac-
cordingly bound AgulnaldO by a solemn /
promise to live up to the code Of civilized /
warfare in the matter OF courtesy TO the
enemy the sparing of non-combatanrs.
kindness TO prisoners. etc. This promise.
fortunately for Wildman, Agunaldo kept |
on the first occasion when he was tested
and, still fealing at that time tfe need |
Of American support. the insurgent chief
took pains TO advertise far and wide that
his adherence to the rules Of war was
due 70 the faith placed in MIN by MS great
andI good American friend.
Meanwhile, Admiral Dewey. who was
suspicious OF Aguinaido. had necessarily
been brought into relations with MIN
This was arranged by Wildman, who sub
sequently made himself responsible for
the results. The services rendered by |
Agulnaldo in the way OF valuable infor-
nation ana expert assistance in locating
Dewey in the harbor of Manila did estab-
lish a certain obligation on the part Of the
American commander which Re felt bound
20 recognize. The idea that that obllga-
ton has not been already relieved IS alb
surd. Aguiraldo was in his turn in straits
for lack or arms and ammunition. The
arsenal az Cavite had been evacuated
By the Spaniards as a tribute 10 our enec-
tive gunnery, and the material stored
there was Dewey 70 be turned over later
t5 he United States government for i,s
disposal On ARuinaIdo's making his
wants known what did Dewey do9 Cable
Washington for iHs3ructions7 Not a. AL
Send his men ashore % form junction
Win Agunaldo and undertake common
operation against me city Of Manila?
No. for that would nave tied " the
United States government to some degree
WIKI Aguiaa.do's military fortunes. and
n ade L responsible N a measure for als
conduct after victory. Al the Admiral did
was 20 suvl,e Agui1aldo % enter the
arsenal and help himself" Thsre was 70
agreement expressed or implied. Between
them as 20 TEaat use should be made
q = material thus acquired
Il Short, tbs incident sras typical % al I
onar Dewey has done u his dealings wl.a