The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-11-15
A PLEA FROM FILIPINOS.
Practically an Arraignment Of Our
Representatives.
"sLIGHTs SHOWN OUR LEADERS"

Is the burden of"An Appeal to Press
ident Mckinley and the American
People, by the Representatives of
General Aguinaldo In Hong Kong.
Hong Kong, Nov. 15-The Filipino
iunta. representatives of General
Aguinaldo and the Filipino government
here, have drawn up what they desig-
nate as an appeal to President Nc
Kinley and the American people" but
what is in reality rather in the nature
OF an arraignment Of American actions
in the Philippines.
John Barrett former United States
minister to Siam, was asked by the
junta to present the memorial to the
United States government and people.
Mr.. Barrett replied that, while he could
have no official influence regarding the
status Of the matter, he was satisfied
that the document which represented
the sentiments of the Filipinos would
receive at the hands of the Americans
all the consideration it merited.
The memorial says:
1--WE, the Hong Kong representatives
Of our countrymen, appeal to the great
and good judgment Of President Nc
Kinley and the spirit Of fairness and
justice of the American people as it
is always shown in their regard for the
petitions of the weak and oppressed.
while the fate of the islands is still
undecided, and we are doing all in our
power to prevent a conflict between the
Americans and Filipinos-awaiting pa
tiently the conclusion of the Paris con-
ference-we implore the Intervention of
the president, supported by the will of
the people, to end the Sights shown
our leaders, soldiers and people by
some of the American military and
naval officers, although we do not wish
to wrong Admiral Dewey or General
Otis"
The memorial then AYERS that false
reports are spread broadcast alleging
that the Filipinos are responsible for
all the friction" points out that "the
tension is greater every day, and any
moment a shot may be fired by an ir-
responsible American or Filipino SOL
der, leading to great bloodshed," and
beseeches the United States "to help
the junta to control our own people by
directing American officials at Manila
to temper their actions with friend
SHIPS, Justice anu ldlIutSS.
From the commencement of the hos
tilities," continues the memorial, "the
Filipinos acceded to all the American
requests, but after bottling up the
Spaniards in Manila the Filipinos were
completely ignored when the Ameri-
cans advanced, and were thus deprived
of the fruits of victory. Now, after
months of campaigning, the Filipino
haUpnd
suburbs, where they have no quarters
and where supplies are difficult to OBJ
tain. All our launches have been seiz-
ed because Of foolish rumors that we
would attack the Americans, and when
we asked explanations we were not
even answered. The Spaniards, of late
the enemies of the Americans, have
been shown every consideration, while
the Filipnos, their friends and allies,
are often treated as enemies"
After asserting that the Filipinos uni
formly acted upon the advice of the
Americans and were informally recog-
nized by them until Manila was cap
tured, the memorial goes on to say:
We can only attribute this sudden
change to orders from Washington to
American officials at Manila to avoid
compromising the American government
by a recognition of the FilipinOs or their
government. The Americans are carry
ing out these instructions literally, los
ingFsight of the former friendly inter-
course and assistance and of the assur-
ances the American officers gave Gen
eral Aguinaldo, which he communicated
to his followers"
After emphasizing the junta's "abso-
| lutte confidence in President Mckinley
and the people of the great republic
| stating that "our protests are not
| prompted by animosity, but are direct
| ed against conditions existing at Ma.
nila, and not against the American gov
ernment and people" acknowledging
| "our gratitude for destroying the Span
! ish power in the Philippines" and ex-
pressing "a hope that the islands are
| not to be returned to Spain" the memo
rial concludes thus
1--WE await the arbitrament Of the
peace commission with even greater in
terest than the Americans, because It
concerns our land, our happiness and
our freedom"