The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-12-26
AGUINALDo's PROTEST..
Text of Statement Filed with Peace
Commission

COMMISSION
BY AgonciIio the Agent of the Philip
pine Chieftain-CIaim They were
Promised independence.
Correspondence of the Assoclaeeu z i'ss
Paris, December 16 Following Is tne
full text of the protest lodged with sne
American and Spanish peace comm issioh-
ers by Agoncillo. the Agent OF Agulnaiuo,
the insurQent leader in the Phiilppines'
Paris December Ia.
ssTheir Excellencies, the president and
delegates of the Span1sn-Anierloan peace
commission. Paris:
aYonr ExcelIenoies-The very noble,
grand and gallant General Aguinaldo,
1rasident of the Philippine republic, AND
His government, have honorsd me with
the post of official representative to the
very honorable President and govern
meut of the United States OF America,
deyoIving ON me at the same time the
duty of protesting against any resolutions
contrary to the independence OF That
country which might be passed by the
peace commission in Paris.
"This has already terminated Its SEES.
stons and the resolutions passed cannot
be accepted as obligatory by any govern
uent, since the commission has neither
heard or in any wise admitted to its de-
hbsrations the Philippine nation, who
neId an unquestionable right to intervene
in them in relation to what might Affect
their future.
ST fulfll, therefore. my duty when |
protest as do in the most solemn man,
ner, in the name of the president ana
she national government of the Philip
raSntntIQn aOrA1d
on by the peace conference in Paris, as
long as the judicial, political. indepen-
dent personality of the Filipino people IS
entirely unrecognized and attempts are
made in any form TO impose on these IN :
habltants resolutions which have not peen
sanctioned by their public powers, the only
ones who can legally decide as to their
future in history. -
s'Spain is absolutely devoid of a status
and power to decide in any shape or form
the before mentioned matter.
"The union of Spain and the Philip
pines was founded solely on two historical
facts, in which the exclusive right OF he
Hilipinos to decide their own destiny
was implicitly recognized.
ssFirst-qhe blood treaty (pacto de
ssnqre) OF the 18th of March, 1885, en-
tered into between the Gen. Don Miguel
Lopez de Legazpi, and the Filipino SOW.
ereign Slkatuma, compact which was
ratified and confirmed on the one side by
the King of Spain, Philip H., and on
danao. Visayas and Luzon. and by the
supreme chief of that confederation, the
Sultan Lacandoia, prociaiming as a con-
sequence the autonomous nationality OF
the kingdom of New CASTLE formed by
the Philippine islands under the scepter
of the King of Spain.
sSecond-The so-called constitution of
Cadiz' in the discussion, vote, promulga-
ton and execution of which the deput ties
and Filipino people took an active part,
and BY which constitution the natiOnaIi.
ty of the SPANS was made effective.
ssBut from the very first moment in
WHOA the peninsular public powers at
tempted to impose their absolute sover-
eighty on the islands, the Eilipinos pro-
rested energetically by force of arms and.
from the first attempt in 1914, the struggle
IN defense of their political personality
was implanted.
.sWhen in 1887 the violent deprivation
of their rights was Contaminated the
Fitipinos again protested. Spain sustain
ing against them fratrieidal and inhu-
man struggle, which has lasted from that
time onward up to the present day.
'sFalsehood, which always characterized
the actions of the peninsular authorities,
constantly hid from the world the fact OF
the real situation of force which has
lasted almost century.
SAT length, at the end of the present
century, the Spanish forces have been
completely routed by those of the ma
tives and Spain cannot now even allege
the possession by her OF the islands be-
cause the permanency of handful of PEN
insular soldiers approximately 1909, who
are sxisting bes1eged in one or two fort.
resses in the south Of the archipelago
cannot constitute such right.
ssThe Spanish government has ceased to
hold any dominion by deed and by right
and the only authority which exists
there and preserves order is that con-
stituted by the Filipinos with the solemn
sanction of their votes, the only legal
fount OF positive modern power.
Under such conditions the Spanish
commissioners in Paris have not been
able. within the principles of the law of
nations, to give up or TO transfer what,
IL they ever had, they have totally lost
before the signing of the protocol of
Washington and the arranging of the
terms OF the peace treaty in Paris.
"The Filipino people who consented
to the Blood treaty and the sConstitu-
tion of 1872 annulled those conventions
by reason of Spain not complying with
her undertakings, and renewed their SOW
ereignty by the solemn proclamation Of
the Philippine republic on the first of
August 1888, and by the establishment
of government and a regular and well
ordered administration created by the
decisive votes of the natives.
s'If any Judicial effect can be attributed
to this section in the peace treaty with
in the power of international law. it is
the explicit renuncfation of all future
pretenslons over the land, the dominion
and possession of which she he'd lost and
is only of use to make recognition of
the corporate body of the Filipino nation
andof their rights TO rule effectively in
respect to their future.
ssThe United States of American cannot
allege better right to constitute them
selves as arbitrators as to the future of
the Philippines.
son the contrary the demands of hon.
or and good faith impose on them the ex-
pIicit recognition OF the political Status
of the people, who loyal to their nonven.
lions, were devoted ally of their forces
in this moments of danger and strife.
1.-THE noble General Emilio Aguinai.
do and tile other Filipino chiefs were So
licited to place themselves al tho head OF
the suffering and heroic sons of that
country to fight against Spain and to Sec
ond tine action of the brave and skilful
Admiral Dewey.