The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-12-25

establishment of a government and regu-
lar and well-ordered administration created
by the decisive vote of the natives.
If any judicial effect can be attributed
20 the Spanish action in the peace treaty,
is explicit remuneration of all future preten-
sions over the land, the dominion and pos
session of which she has lost and there
fore is only of use to make the recognition
of the corporate body of the Filipino nation
and that of their rights to rule effectively In
respect to their future. The United States
of America, on their part, cannot allege
better right to constitute themselves as ar
bitrators to the future of the Philippines.
On the contrary, the demands of honor and
good faith impose on them the explicit rec
ognition Of the political. status of the people
who loyal to their convictions, were de- :
voted ally of their forces in the moments OF
danger and strife.
THE noble Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the
other Filipino chiefs We're solicited to place
themselves at the head of the suffering and
heroic sons Of that country to fight against
Spain and to second the action of the brave
and skillful Admiral Dewey. AT the time or
imploring their armed co-operat ton, both the
commander of the Petrol and Captain Wood,
in Hong Kong, before the declaration OF
war, the American consuls general Mr.
Pratt. in Singapore; Mr.. Wildman; In Hong
Kong, and Mr. Williams, in CaVite, acting
as international agents of the great Amer
lean Nation at a moment Of great anxiety,
offered to recognize the dependence OF the
Filipino nation as soon as triumph was at
tanned. Under the faith OF sucn promises
an American man,of-war, the McCulioch'
was placed at the disposal OF the SAID lead
ers, and which took them to their native
shores: and Admiral Dewey himself, by
sending the man-of-war, by not denying to
General Aguinaldo and his companions the
exacting of his promises, when they were
presented to- him on board his flagship IN
the Bay of Manila by receiving the SAID
General Aguinaldo before and after his VIC
tories and notable deeds of arms with the
honors due to the commander ln.chleI OF an an
allied army and chief Of an independent
state: by accepting the efficacious co-opera-
ton of that army and OF these generals;
by recognizing the Filipino flag and permit
ting it to be hoisted on sea and land, con-
senting that their ships should sail with the
said flag within the places WHICH nntf,cs WG19
of the formal proclamation of the Philippine
nation without protesting against It nor OPP
ing into relations with those generals and
with the national Filipino AUTHORITIES re-
Gently established, recognized without cues
sovereignty of the people who had just sue
ceeded in breaking their letters and freeing
themselves, by the impulse OF their r. o Tn1
MED by the honorable and serious people OF
the United States of America, who oughs
not to deny nor discuss the word given py
the officials and representatives OF these
parts in moments so solemn IN gravity LUZ
the American Republic
NOT MERCENARIES OF AMERICA.
ITO pretend to put now in question the
attributes of such public functionaries, aft
err the danger. would be an act of notorious
injustice. which cannot be consented to by
preserving unstained the brilliant reputa-
ton of the sons of the great Nation, found
ed by the immortal Washington, whose first
glory was, and has always been the con-
slant fulflment of their word of honor.
1t must be remembered here that the Fill
ipinos did not fight as paid troops or mer-
cenaries Of America. On their arrival they
only received a reduced number of arms,
winch were delivered to them by the order
of Admiral Dewey. The arms, ammunl-
ton and provisions with which the Fill
ipons have since sustained the war against
the Spanish forces were acquired, some by
their gallantry, and others bought with
their own funds, those latter being eXclu-
siveiy provided by the Filipino patriots.
"And it would not be noble now, after
having used the alliance TO deny the cour-
age, loyalty and nobility OF the Filipino
forces in lighting at the side of the Amer
lean troops lending them a decided support,
both enthusiastic and eflicacous. Without
their cooperation and without the previous
siege, would the Americans have been able
% so e5g gt 70 Of gned beS cod Of wh the
can deny 1T, have destroyed it by lombard
ment, but without the foregoing armed
deeds and without the rigorous circle in
which the Spanish army was inclosed the
sham fight of the attack and surrender
which took place could not absolutely have
Admiral Dewey gloriousy destroyed the
Spanish squadron, but he had no dsembark-
ing forces and could not inconsiderately dis
under such conditions, the support which,
as companions in arms, was lent to him by
the Filipino generals and their forces, is a
positive and undeniable advantage. With
out them General Anderson's troops and
those which afterwards were disembarked
probably would not have been able to have
arrived at Manila before the suspension of
hOstilities and the signing of the protocol
at Washington Truth and sincerity in their
places. Now, If the Spaniards have not
been able to transfer to the Americans the
rights which they did not possess, if the
former have not militarily conquered posi-
tons in the Philippines, if the international
officials and representatives of the Repub-
lie of the United States of America offered
to recognize the independence and sover-
eighty of the Philippines, solicited and ac-
copied their alliance, how they now
constitute themselves as the sole disposers
of the control administration and future
government Of the Philippine islands. If,
in the treaty Of Paris there had simply
ment by the Spaniards of their dominion
if they ever had uncover the Filipino ter
ritory # America H on accepting peace ;e had lad
rights of the Philippines and with the view
CT coming to a subsequent settlement with
the existing Filipino national government
thus recognizing the sovereignty of the lat
ter. their alliance, and the carrying out of
their promises Of honor to the said F'ilipinos
it is very evident that no protest against
their action would have been made.
But in view of the terms of the third
article of the protocol, the proceedings of the
American commissioners and imperative ne
cessity of safeguarding the national rights
of my country. 1 make this protest, which
I have made an extensive for the be-
foresaid reasons. and with the correspond
ing legal restrictions against the actions
taken and the resolutions passed by the
peace commissioners at Paris and in the
treaty signed by them And on making this
protest, | claim, in the name of the Filipino
nation in that of their president and gov
eminent, the fulfillment of the solemn dec
laration made by the illustrious William
Mckinley President of the Republic of the
going to war he was not guided by any in
tention Of ACKNOWLEDGMENT and extension of
national territory, but only in respect to the
principles of humanity, the duty Of liberat-
ing tyrannized people, and the desire to pro-
claim the unalienable rights, with their soy
ereignty, of the countries released from the
many years. FELIPE AGONCILLO."
Hale VIII Fight the Treaty.
LEWISTON, Me-, Dec PA special to
the Evening Journal from Washington says