The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1898-12-17
NO OPINIONS
Dewey Called on by a Corespon
dent to Learn the AdmiraIS
Views.
Met by a Courteous But Absolute
Refusal to Discuss Political
Questions.
Admiral Greatly Interested in the
Movement Among American
Volunteers
To Obtain Discharges and Engage
in Pioneer Enterprises in
the Islands.

MANILA. Dec. 1s.-Rear Admiral
Dewey. when a correspondent of the
Associated Press called upon him
courteously. pleasantly, but absolutely.
declined to discuss the political situa.
ton in the Philippine islands on the
ground that his sphere was purely
naval.
The admiral seldom goes ashore and
insisted that his interviewer would be
be in a better position to acquire infor
nation than himself. He then proceeded
to cross-examine the correspondent
about everything ashore. He was glad
to learn the insurgents We're releasing
the sick Spanish soldiers they held pris.
onerS. Notwithstanding Aguinaldo's
grandiloquent refusal to do SO. This
proves that the insurgents are very con.
ciliatorv, in spite of their defiant talk.
Believes. Insurgents Friendly.
Admiral Dewey always believed that
the insurgents Were friendly. especially
since the w~arships of our fleet have Wis.
tied the different ports of the islands
and since some of our soldiers have
made tours inland, carefully investigat.
ing popular sentiment and iudiciously
preaching the gospel of peaceful settle
ment everywhere with highly satisfac.
tory results. A few influential Fill.
plnos. III an attempt at self-advance-
ment, are clamorlng for independence.
though unable to realize its true mean.
ing. They are utterly ignorant of the
difference between the name and the
reality.
The agitators here invariably admit
that they would be unable to stand
without American protection. But in
spite of this. they continue their mean
ingless cutlery for independence. and
may possibly create trouble. The adj
miral. however. believes this to be inn
probable at the present luncture. though
every incident counts. However. every
day that passes without acontiict means
so much gain. because the friendly feel
ing is steadily increasing. the i~ncipient
roughness IS disappearing and
The Agitators Are Weakening.
The newspapers of Manila are doing
particularly valuable work in the stimuli
taneous publication of conciliatory arti-
cles printed in Spanish and English.
This course is looked upon as being GER
tain to eliminate the friction which has
existed here.
The admiral j. greatly interested in
tt. movement among the American vol
unteers to obtain their discharges here
and engage in pioneer enterprises.
He believes there is a practi-
cally unlimited field for planters, farm
ers and miners here. To the suggestion
that if the natives prove to be obstrep-
erou, perhaps they may be handed over
to the Germans or other ungentle land
grabbers. the admiral said he believed
the Germans now have entirely aban-
doned their designs in the Philippine
islands. though formerly. he said. the
German attitude here had caused him
indescribable anxiety.
Endeavoring to Maintain a Brave show.
According 10 recent information re-
ceived here the Filipino insurgents are
e~ndeavOring To maintain a brave show
for the purpose Of obtaining the best
terms possible from the Americans. It
Is the opinion Of orr admiral that it
would be advisable tr the United States
to pay the insurgent troops their arrears
of wages. The whole accoun would
be a comparatively trifiing sum. and
the payment Of troops would have a
valuable effect and may save incalcu-
liable trouble.
Admiral Dewey was strongly con-
WINGED that the Filipino insurgents de-
serve Acknowledgements. He is "a believer
in the practicability Of liberal measures
III the direction of local autonomy.
Regarding the possibility Of i~nterna-
tional complications Admiral Dewey
said:
Prior to the arrival of the monitors |
felt uneasy: but now / am ready to hold
this position against the whole earth"