The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-17
A NEW NATION.
AguinaldO's Government Be-
gins Well at MalOlOs.
A General Assembly" Meets
and Discusses Matters.
IN EVENING DRESS.
AguinaIdO Enters Amid Cheers
and Reads
An Address EuIOgizing the Ar
my and Thanking America.

Manila, sept. 17.-Ihe PhlUpplne gem
eral assembly was inaugurated at Ma
lolos yesterday with great enthusiasm.
There were thousands of visitors from
the provinces and a great display was
made. AguinaIdo at 9 O'Clock in the
morning entered the hall of the convent
recently occupied by the Spanish local
government.
It is an extremely plain room, adorn-
ed only with some religious pictures.
The insurgent leader was in evening
DRESS according to the Spanish custom.
The others were ordinary costumes.
AguinaldO, who was received with
cheers and also with cries OF ''Viva
America" by the large crowd of natives
inside and outside, read a decree con-
vening the members, who included sew
eral Spaniards. He next read a mes
sage eulogiZing the army and thanking
the friendly nations which had set the
historical example of liberty and had
assisted a down trodden race.
Continuing, Aguinaldo urgently and
eloquently exhOrted the assembly to
follow the nOblest principles and in
voked the spirits of the martyred Fill
pinOS."
The assembly then adjourned for the
day.
A Spanish delegate suggested that bus
mess be resumed IN the afternoon, but
a Filipino objected and accused the
Spaniard of attempting to undermine
the constitution. To this the Spaniard
replied that he was a sincere Republi-
can and that his only desire was the
welfare of the country. ThereupOn the
Filipino apOlOgized and the proceedings
terminated.
During the afternoon many Ameri-
cans and ~ Europeans arrived and
Aguinaldo was kept busy receiving Wis
itOrs, including the American consul
The correspondent of the Associated
Press had private interview with
inc
to compromise himself with the natives.
He said that a majority of the FiIipinos
had been struggling for freedom for
years and centuries, and that they now
believe that their object has been at
tanned.
Aguinaldo professed entire ignorance
OF the autonomous system in vogue in
the British colonies, of prOtectorates
and of American state autonomy. He
said he was unable to understand the
idea and only understood absolute in
dependence" Personally, he believed a
protectorate for the Philippine islands
was necessary, but he feared that the
people would be disappointed in this
He had not studied political economy
and knew nothing about the various
forms of government. He inquired
whether Australia was an American
colony and said he had never heard of
a Malay prOtectOrate.
Continuing, the insurgent leader said
there was no need of protection for the
Philippine islands, because the F'ilipinos
were aple 10 cope with any army. He
admitted that he had never seen for
elgn army, with the exception of the
garrisons at Hong Kong, and Singa-
pore and he had never seen these troops
on parade.
Aguinaldo declined to discuss the
American army and protested his I'M
dying gratitude to the Americans.
He said they had come to the Philip
pines to fight the Spaniards only, and
now that they had finished the task
it was to be expected that they would
return to America He was unwilling
to believe that the Americans would
demand a reward for an act of human
ity, and he declined to admit the neces-
sity of q guild pro quo
The Filipino leader expressed himself
confident that the newly founded GOV
eminent would build a navy ultimately
In the meantime, he said, the great ma
lions should protect and aid a young
nation, instead of grabbing her terri
tories. If the Americans should refuse
| to withdraw the national assembly he
said, must decide the policy to be pur-
sued-a policy which he declined to
| forecast.
Further conversation was prevented
by the strains of a brass band, but
| Gen. AguinaldO was interviewed also
I by dozen American journalists and
| one Japanese.
A Spaniard, supposed to be an officer.
ununiformed, traversed the town, sneer-
| ing at and denOuncing the principal
| FilipinOs. On his resenting a friendly
remonstrance' he was placed under ar
| rest.
| Several Filipinos assure the CORE
| spOndent that they have personally
| witnessed horrible fortunes at IIoilO-
! the feet of natives held to a candle
flame for hours, electric currents ap-
| piled to the most sensitive parts of the
| body and variOusly unnamable at
| trOcities-all intended to extOrt confess
| sion. This is scarcely credible, but
| there are numerous alleged witnesses
! of such outrages, and several who show
| scars of recent origin and unhealed
Some say they escaped only through
bribing the Spanish officials.
1t is natural that there should be a
yearning for revenge upon the Spanish
prisoners at MalolOs, but these are not
maltreated. The correspondent saw
several who were at perfect liberty
having peaceful employment and ap-
parently quite content to remain.