The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1898-07-09
PHILIPPINE SITUATION.
Aguinaldo's Agentin London
on Native Grievances
Rivera's Pact"
Especial Correspondence. Copyright, 1898,
by the Assoeiated Press

Especial CORES pondence. Copyright, 1898,
by the Associated Press.)
LONDON, July 2. 1S98.-One of Aguinal-
dos leaders in the last Philippine revolt is
a living incognito in London, and prac-
tically acting as Agulnaldo's agent, be-
ing in receipt of constant kilograms and
letters from Cavite. Questioned on the
Philippine situation by a representative
of the Associated Press. he said
1.-THE Philippine republic was proclaimed
in October, 1896, and-its first President
was Andreas Bonifacio. When he died
over year ago Aguinaldo was elect
ed President and Commander-in-
Chief On the arrival of Cap
tain General Primo de Rivera,
that officer adopted policy of bringing
the rebellion to an end by means of con-
cessions force having failed. Our leaders
were approached and the result was the
Pact of Biaonabato, so-called from the
village where it was signed on Decem-
ber IA, 1885, Senior Sagasta the other day
denied that in that Pact" General Ri
vera promised any reforms. Here is an
official copy of that Pact" wherein eight
clauses are promised the banishment or
at least the dishanding Of the re-
ligious orders; Philippine representation
in the Cortes; the same administra-
ton of justice for the native as for the
Spaniard unity of laws between the
Philippines and Spain; the natives to
share the chief offices of the Philippine
civil administration; Encouragement of the
property of the friars and of the taxes
in favor of the natives; recognition of the
individual rights of the natives, with lib
erty of public meeting and of the press,
and a general amnesty. These sum up
the native grievances and are what we
shall expect the Americans will institute.
For these reforms Aguinaldo and the
other leaders promised that if Rivera car
ried out the Pact they would expatriate
themselves for three years and foment no
movement against Spanish authority dur
ing that time. Upon the rebels surrender
ing their arms ammunition, forts, etc,
Aguinaldo was to receive 100000 pesetas-
This money Aguinaldo deposited in the
Hong Kong and Shanghai Bank at Hong
Kong. not for his personal use but as
fund, the interest of which, in case the
Captain-General carried out his part of
the Pact was to be devoted TO the edu-
cation of natives in England In case the
Pact was not fulfilled by the Spaniards
the money was to be used for arms and
to renew the rebellion The Captain
General never proclaimed general am
nesty, denied the existence of the Pact
and shot Several rebel leaders who re-
turned to Manila on the strength of it.
"Since the renewal of the rebellion un-
der the inspiration of Admiral Dewey's
victory, the present Captain General has
approached Aguinaldo and his leaders
and promised if they would make COM
mon cause against the Americans he
would carry out the reforms stated in
the Pact AS mark of bona fide he
created Legislative Council to which
he nominated twenty leading Ministers
of the Philippine Republic. All overtures
were scornfully rejected
saThe German pretensions are simply
preposterous. They are practically lit
tie more than pedlars. All the large
mercantile houses are English, who have
in their hands quite three-fourths bulk
and value Of the commerce. The banks,
railway, telegraphs, cable and local
steamship lines are English, the only cot
ton mills belong to the English and the
English control the sugar and hemp
some of the heavier trade, but have net
capital or credit. There is only one
American house in Manila There is only
one Russian subject in the island. Up
to now Spanish has been the official Ian
guage; by last weeks mail learn Aguin-
aldo intends as far as the Republic is
concerned, to substitute English.
The root cause to the Philippine Re
bellion has always been the steady de-
privation Of the natives Of the rights BY
Spaniards. Year BY year their security
for life and property has diminished.
Particularly SO as to the native friar in
the Philippines. The Spanish friars too,
have sent to Spain all the monastery
wealth they could dispose of, particularly
that willed to the monasteries by rich
natives. Then, too, the persecution of the
Freemasons, by the friars, caused much
resentment, 5000 F'reemasons being
lodged in jail at the instance of the fri-
ars. and loaded with irons. Besides, no
IF you suffer from sores boils, pmples
IL your nerves are weak and Your system run
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