Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-09-12

erty and has annihilated their every claim
to be considered in any respect as the al
lies of the Americans. Their motive has
been twofold-first an implacable hatred
for revenge and secondly. their wish to
place themselves on record before the
world as a successful revolutionary govern
ment and as complete masters OF the LII
zon provinces and as many adjacent Islands
as they may have to occupy before the
Philippines question has been settled by
the Paris commission.
General Otis has attacked the compli--
Gated questions he incurred from General
energy and decision and is rapidly estab-
fishing order in every department where
comparative chaos ruled before. He has
been fully occupied with matters more in
ment of Manila and only recently has he
been able to study eXhaustively the insur-
gent question and to satisfy himself regard
ing the equity Of the insurgent claims, 50
as to solve n problem practically unap-
preached heretofore
Aguinaldo has persistently demanded. in
terms not too polite. various impossible con-
cessons, for example an occupation of the
governor generals palace and other pal
Will be permitted to occupy permanently
their military positions around Manila and
protection Tor the insurgent vessels by the
american neet-with many other claims. in
Guiding an innocent demand for a share of
Ihe booty captured by the Americans at
They are now free to withdraw their
troops, to make an expedition against
! fahay and to capture Iloio. BY continu-
ing the campaign now, regardless of the
| armistice, they put themselves in the
| wrong with everybody, just as by crowding
into the suburbs of Manila and refusing
to vacate the same unless compelled by
superior force they have put themselves in
! the wrong with the Americans.
Their action is doubtless due partly to
disorganization of their forces. which, by
their own confession. consist of a congre-
4 units yt-ft fvtf faf.
each ambitious of power and distinction
ana all struggling for positions which will
secure for them. by booty or ortherwise,
which naturally affects the irresponsible
individual soldier. has been constantly TO-
| menting the irritation resulting from dual
occupation of the suburbs of Manila.
The situation has been impossible from
the beginning. and conflicts have been
avoided :, only by the great tact and the
| troops. who loyalty observe their duty of
preserving the peace of the town.
The policy Of permitting, the insurgents
to occupy the Spanish positions has been
fruitful in many difficulties. not the least
| OF which is the stimulus given to the con-
eeit t or the natives; who consider themselves
captured not a single position when the
| town was taken
After careful review of the situation
| General Otis arrived at the logical con-
| clusion that the insurgents have no right
| to occupy the suburbs of Manila and that
| AHulndiuO Claims nave lne support OIL
| neither equity nor reason. He has, there
| fore. categorically refused to consider Agui-
| raldo's demands, and to-day sent him an
| ultimatum. in terms plainly comprehensi-
| BILE and authoritative. that he must with
draw his troops from the suburbs before
| the 18th or suffer the consequences of re-
| fusal.
THE answer will probably be that Agui-
| naldo himself is only too willing to obey
| the order. but cannot explain to his troops
| the reasons why they cannot remain at
Manila. Th$ temporizng excuses, although
| now stale from too frequent use, conceals
much truth. 1t is an undoubted fact that
| Aguinaldo has but a feeble hold on the or
| ganiZation. His power is fast waning and
| the insurgents are threatened with disin-
tegration into opposing factions unless
| able to harmonize the conflicting personal
| interests.
| revolutionary government will be offered
| to Cajetano Arelano at a congress at Ma
| lolos on September IL. Arellano is law
the, Fiipinos. who is universally respected.
| Hitherto he has consistently avoided poll
| tics and it is doubtful whether he will un-
| dertake the task of steering a rudderless
| Whatever may happen at the congress.
| there Is no possible appearance that the
| educated class neither desire nor hope for
! complete independence and will welcome
| any protectorate which secures the peo-
| pie good government without tinge of
| Spanish methods. The masses of the revo-
Iutions. on the other hand. are bitterly
| opposed to any solution of the question
| which does not promise untrammeled inde-
| pendence.
"In the present exaltation of n fictitious
| victory. believing themselves capable of
| ruling the whole archipelago without ad-
| vice or assistance from anyone they en-
| tirely forget, as Is evident from the tone
| of their official newspaper and from their
| daily actions that they owe to the Amer
| icans the chief elements of success which
| they now boast.
| "This blind conceit is racial deceit. II
| is the prominent and controlling weakness
| of their character. This revolution was
| started by the lower classes. who have un-
| til the present provided men and money
| to prosecute the campaign. The men are
| apparently inexhaustible. but the money is
| wanting The upper classes have not yet
| offered any notable contributions to the
| revolutionary treasury. because they are
| not convinced of the ultimate recovery OF
| their money.
"The inactivity of the insurgents in ths
| northern provinces and the totally IRE
| sponsible nature of their government seri.
| ously threaten foreign commercial interests
| there which are very important. One
| English house alone has over a million dol
lars worth of products awaiting shipment
| Everybody is despondent concerning the
possible action of the proposed congres:
| and the outcome of the present strained
| relations between the Americans and tht
insurgents. The situation is considered
very critical"