The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-28
SENIOR AGONCILLo.s MISSION.

Among all the foreigners who have visited
Washington in recent years none has gone
there on more remarkable mission than
Senior Filipe AgonciIlo who arrived there
yesterday afternoon. Washington is ac-
customed to receiving accredited represents
atives from civilized governments through
out the world. 1t has also entertained at
different times special agents or representa-
tives of new governments seeking for recog-
milton, or, as in the case of Hawaii recently,
for annexation. But it has never before
been visited by the representative of revo-
lutionary government in group of islands
on the other side of the world seeking the
good offices of the United States in securing
to the emissary the right to appear before
an American commission and plead for the
recognition of the cause he represents. The
incident shows how fast we are making his
tory. Six months ago nothing was further
from the mind of Americans than any in
reference or participation in the affairs of
the Eastern hemisphere; to-day, as the re-
suit of a series of extraordinary events, we
find ourselves holding the fate of the Phil
ippine islands in our hands and Malaysan
representative speeding to Washington to
get hearing for his people.
Senior Agoncillo should be respectfully re-
ceived by President Mckinley, unofficially of
course, but respectfully and kindly. He
represents an important phase of situation
in which we are deeply interested, and may
be able to impart valuable information con-
corning it. Moreover. it is desirable to have
his good will. He is an educated and
has served as attorney general and member
Of the Administrative Council under the
Spanish government in the Philippines At
home he is counted as a man of influence
and unusual ability, and is really one of the
foremost men in the revolutionary govern
ment. His object in visiting Washington is
to get permission to appear before the peace
commission at Paris in answer to charges
expected from the Spanish members. Prob
ably it would not be in the power of the
United States to accord him a hearing be-
fore the whole commission without the con-
sent of the Spanish government-or the Span
ish members of the commission, but there
would be no trouble in giving him hearing
before the American commissioners. He
might give them information which they
cannot get from any other source, and if
they did not care to accept all of his views
they might at least find it advisable to mod
ify their own. Agoncillo says that IS per
cent. of the native Fflipinos can read and
write, that many of them are educated men,
imbued with an advanced spirit and longing
for a free country, and that whatever form
of government is established they would
prefer having close relations with the
United States rather than with any other
government. AS these people have as much
of de facto government as the Cuban in
surgents, and larger army, they ought
not to be regarded as insignificant or devoid
of rights. Whatever conclusion may be
reached as to the final control and DISPOSE
ton of the Philippines, if the United States
is to take possession of one or all of the
islands, it is of great Importance that we
should have the good will of the natives.
Therefore as a matter Of policy and state
craft, it would seem that Senior Agoncllo
should be respectfully received at Washing
ton and that the American commissioners
at Paris should be directed to give him a
hearing