The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-07-28
CONDITIONS AT MANILA.
(Continued from Fourth Page.)

(Continued from Fourth Page.) signed by Martinez Campos. More than that: No sooner had arms been laid down than the religious orders commenced to persecute those insur- gents who had not been able to leave, trump up imaginary charges against them and have them arrested.
 Aguinaldo and his associates had left for Hong Kong and the former contin- ued on to Singapore, where Spanish agents tried pretty hard to get hold of :him. Even before the war with Ameri- ca broke out 1t seems that he had deci- ded to revive the insurrection, Spain's violation of the agreement absolving | him. On the 24th of April Aguinaldo | met the Hon. F. Spencer Pratt, United States consul general, in the presence of Messrs. Howard W. Bray, Aguinal- | dos private secretary; J. Leyba, Colo | nel M. H. del Pinar and Dr. Marceline | Santos.
 | In this interview Aguinaldo described l the causes and incidents of the last re- | bellion, and, in case of war explained the nature of the cooperation he could | give while he promised to maintain or der and to conduct the war on civilized l principles. He declared his ability to establish a responsible government on liberal principles, and that he would be willing to accept for Luzon the same terms as the United States intend giv- | ing to Cuba.
 l Consul Pratt communicated by tele- request Aguinaldo left Singapore for | ,o,,1 i-1 Aguinaldo has done some fighting; he has given evidence of pluck and ability, and thus far has kept his agreement. He has certainly great influence and host of followers among the Philippines.
 Aguinaldo's scheme is a republic with himself as president, and in this scheme he thinks he has Admiral Dewey's sup port. But although the Americans here received the insurgent leader kind ly, gave him two modern field pieces, | three hundred rifles and plenty of am munition, Dewey has proved himself too subtle a diplomat to commit either himself or the government to any wild scheme. Fancy a republic of some eight million people, of whom one-half are savages, and the rest, not more than about fifty thousand excepted, with such civilization as Spain chose to impart. Of these four million not more | than two per cent. can read. The Spaniards and Philippines, that is, na- tives of the Philippines of Spanish pa | rents, number perhaps one hundred thousand. To establish republican form of government under these cir | cumstances would mean to plunge them at once into barbarism.
 I have mentioned Admiral Dewey's | ability as an administrator and diplo- mat. While maintaining most vigor- ous blockade he willingly gave permis- sion to a delegation of British and Ger man merchants to remove their fami- lies to Cavite. He ordered that place to be made sanitary and placed Consul Williams in charge. The consequence is that wealthy Manila families, like that of the Cortes, have placed all their houses in Cavite at Dewey's disposal
 He has made himself exceedingly pop ular among the British shipmasters. Instead of carrying on with the absolu- tism of conqueror he has aided and facilitated their business so far as it did not interfere with his duties. His praise is in every port in the far east | dllu Nutll ilt WdS III Hteu Dl COdl LllbSG
 shpmasters sold him three thousand tons, so that he was well supplied.
 In the meantime Manila papers. all of which are under government control, try to keep up courage by all sorts of lying and sensational reports. They
 maintain still that the Baltimore was
 so damaged in the late battle that the
 American admiral decided to scuttle her. The latest issue contains a procla-
 nation from the archbishop stating
 that four Spanish battle-ships are on
 their way out, and that God has in-
 formed him that in the next engage
 ment the armies of the most Christian
 Spain will be victorious. This church
 dignitary is doing his utmost to revive the religious wars of the sixteenth cen-
 tury.
 stated before that do not think our
 boys will have to fight in order to eap-
 ture Manila. My reasons are twofold. The vigorous blockade maintained by
 Dewey has rendered provisions scarce,
 and while the Spanish officers may
 swagger, fighting on an empty stomach
 needs great moral stamina. They are,
 besides, doing their level best to alien
 ate the Philippines. After enrolling a
 number of volunteers, promising high
 pay-sometimes as high as a dollar
 (Mexican)-besides food and clothing,
 they give nothing, and sharp rising of
 these volunteers is expected should the | Americans decide upon a siege or a bombardment. Horsefiesh sells here
 now at $50 (Mexican) per pound, and other provisions are in proportion. The | city would surrender at once, and glad
 ly, were it not for the religious orders Baltimore Sun.