The age-herald., 1898-09-17
AN INTERVIEW WITH ACUANALDO Does Not Understand the Mean- ing of a PrOtectOTat5' FOR COMPLETE INDEPENDENCE Is the Wg= , Majority of the
 NSS Now Stand. IS FED OF PROTECTION
 $
  Says the FiIipinos are Competent to
 Take Care of Themselves.
Says the Filipinos are Competent to
 Take Care of Themselves.
GRATITUDE TO THE AMERICANS
The Rebel Leader Expressed Himself as Confident That the Newly Foun- ded Government Would be Re-
 cognized by Other Nations

Manila September 16.-The Philippine na- tional assembly was inaugurated at Ma lalos yesterday with great enthusiasm. There were thousands of visitors from the provinces and great display was made. Aguinaldo entered the hail and was re- ceived with cheers and also with cries of Viva Americanos" by the large crowd of natives inside and outside the hall. He read decree converting the members, who included several Spaniards, and also a message eulogizing the army and thanking the freindly nations which had set the historical example of liberty and had as- sisted down-trodden race.
 Continuing, Aguinaldo urgently and elo- quently exhorted the army to follow the noblest principles and invoked the "spir- it's of the martyred Filipinos." The assem- bly, then adjourned for the day.
 Europeans arrived and Aguinaldo was kept
 During the day many Americans and busy receiving visitors, including the American consul. The correspondent of the Associated Press had a private interview with Aguinaldo who IS extremely unwilling to compromise himself with the natives. He said that d majority of the Filipinos had been struggling for liberty for years and centuries, and that they now believed that object had been obtained. Agulnado professed entire ignorance of,,the autono- misy system in vogue in the British colo- nies, of pro torates and of American state autonomy. He said he was unable to understand the idea and only under stood absolute Independence" Personally he believed a protectorate for the Philip- pine islands was necessary but he feared tnat the people would be disappointed in this. He had not studied political economy and knew nothing ahnnt ha ario of government.
 No Need of Protection
 Continuing, the nsurgent leader said there was no need of protection of the Phil ippines, because the Filipinos were able to cope with any authority. Aguinaldo de- clined to discuss the American army and professed his undying gratitude to the Amreicans.
 He said they had come to the Philippines to fight the Spaniards only, and now that they had finished the task 1t was to be ex- pected that they would return to America He was unwilling to believe that the Amer jeans would demand Q reward for an act of humanity, and he declined to admit the necessity of a quid pro quo.
 The Filipino leader expressed himself con- fdent that the newly founded government would build a navy ultimately Tn the meantime, he said the great nations should protect and aid a young nation instead of grabbing her territories. If the Americans should refuse to withdraw, the national as- sembly, he said, must decide the policy to be pursued-a policy which he declined to forecast.
 Further conversation was prevented by the strains of a brass band, but General Agunaldo was interviewed also by dozen American journalists and one Japanese.
 Denounced the Filipinos
 A Spanard, supposed to he an officer, uniformed traversed the town sneering at and denouncing the principal Filipinos. On his resenting a friendly remonstrance, he was placed under arrest.
 Several Filipinos assure this correspond ent that they have personally witnessed horrible tortures at lilo. Insurgents were held to a handle flame for hours electric currents applied to the most sensitive parts of the party and various unnamable atroci- ties, 1t is all intended to extort confession This is scarcely credible, but there are nu- merous alleged witnesses of such outrages and several who show sears of recent ori- gin and unhealed. Some say they escaped only through bribng the Spanish officials
 It is natural that there should be a yearning for revenge upon the part of Spanish prisoners at Malalos, but these are The correspondent saw sever- al who were at perfect liberty, havi-g peaceful employment and apparently quite comfortable.