The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-23
AN APPEAL TO EUROPE.
AguinaldO's Agents Are En-
Route With the Document.

ASulnaldO and his chiefs have made
a plea to the powers for recognition of
belligerency and independence. Angon-
clio, his agent, who was a passenger
on the steamer China, is on his way to
Europe to submit the question to for
eign arbitration. Before proceeding to
Europe Angoncillo will stop in Wash
ington, and attempt to impress the ad-
ministration with his appeal. No men
ton of the United States or any Ameri-
can force is made in the document
which he carries. The appeal is as fol-
lows:
ITO the Foreign Powers:
''The revolutionary government of the
Philippines, which was constituted ac-
cording to the scheme explained in the
proclamation dated June q, in which
the true causes of the Philippine reVo-
luton were set forth, has demonstrated
that this popular movement is due to
the unanimous desire for just laws by
a people who aspire to progress and
perfection and which can only be OBJ
tanned by the one road to liberty.
This revolution actually dominates
the provinces of Cavite, Bantangas,
Mindoro, Tayabas, Laguna, Morong,
Bulacan, Bataan, Pampanga, Nunecija,
Tarlac, PangaSinan, Union, Infanta y
Zambales and the capital city of Ma
Mia. In these provinces there reign
good order and perfect tranquility, laws
are administered by authorities who
were elected by the people according to
the regulations of organic DEGREES of
June 18 and 3d.
1.-The revolution also has some 5000
prisoners of war, and these are treated
with all the usages and regulations of
civilized warfare and humanitarian
sentiment. On a war footing we have
sc, 900 com batants organized in the form
of a regular army.
I'm this condition the chiefs of COM
munities in the aforementioned prov
mentS that animate those by whom
they have been chosen, having pro
claimed the independence of the Philip
pines, have requested the revolutionary
government to entreat and pray of the
foreign governments the acknowledge
ment of the belligerency and independ-
ence of the Philippines.
ITO prove the complete security in
which the Filipinos now live, how they
are both able and willing to govern
themselves, the accompanying docu-
ment, signed by the chiefs, is submit
ted with this appeal Exercising the
authority invested in me as president
of the revolutionary government of the
Philippines and in the name and as
representative of this people, implore
the aid of all the powers of the civilized
world and beg them earnestly to pro-
coed with the formal recognition of the
belligerency of the Philippines and in
dependence of the government.
1.-The powers are the means deslg-
equilibrium between peoples, support
ing the weak and checking the strong,
and thus by this means there viii be
realized complete justice and indefinite
= 0'- e79 " EMILIO AGUINALDO,
"Bacoor, August s. 1898"
Aguinaldo's appeal is based on the
following action of the chiefs:
1.-The Undersigned chiefs of the COM
munities which comprise the prov
inces in which the revolutionary govern
ment is esta blished elected as represen-
tatives of the people in the manner
described by the DEGREES of June Is ana
% and having been confirmed by the
president and taken the oath OF once,
nave met in general assembly ana
solemnly proclaimed PhlIpplne Inu t+-
pendence. With this proclamation they
make the following declaration: WIN
an improvised and unprepared army,
the revolutiOnists have shown great
bravery, giving examples Of brill1ant
faats Of arms and exercised a self-con-
troll which finds no parallel After prac-
tically terminating the war they dlo
not give way to excuses or 1Il-treat tne
enemy. On the contrary, they conduct
ed themselves as becomes noble ana
humane people They put aside their
arms and returned to their regular &C
cupations These facts clearly prove
that the Filipinos were not createo ZOE
slavery. but possess a perfect idea OF
order and justice. They Shun savage
life and love the arm of peace. sur
thermore, surprising as 1t may seem
the F'ilipinOS are giving PROOF OF Ine!I
a biIifv to make laws in harmony with
the march of time They know now 70
respect and obey the law-an lndlcatIotlI
that their national habits are lncnne s
TO progress. They are not ampltlous
for power, honor or riches; they are
solely influenced by just desire TOT
liberty and self-government. 1hey aIS
inspired by the highest patr1otlsIn a 5i5
honor and in the cause OF nperty uI9
- baeitata to sacrifice both life and
io 'aT his admirable CHARACTERISTIC proves
liberty and independence. Not on5y Q 10
they desire it; but they z stahU Ae'
oe saTbe FiIipinos are convinced that lib
erty will result in the progress ana perez tIe
c tl0n T to cdntrib1te to the progress Of
humanity To accomplish this eng Inet
recede from any obstacle that may, oppose
their progress, and we are H M ny md
Neither the unjust imprisonments' tne tO1
lures. assassina tionS ana o5ner i 3c{s on 1
HE peaceful. inoff enstve Filipinos cause
them to deviate from the npma eI 2e, rIs
which they have chosen. me SpdLIIIdLqq
consider themselves abSolVea IroIl a. - -
legations to US because torelsn R }g p
The Spaniards did not conslder Iha ina eo oo
cation, national honor ana nuIhanllS No 10
a bove laws written and unWrltten; ~,
I1e,1eI ~ IIInor the Standards and they only
eeeIt inde3endence with honor, liberty, Just
laws and a desire that their name sIlstLA
he couDIed with humanitarian sentiments.
IN virtue of the above sta staten en- tb tne
undersigned. expressing the desire OF liielA
COMMITTEES hereby soIennly proclaim be.
fore the whole world the IND indePeiaqeece 9L
Ito Aguinaido as president of the reYolu-
tionaTy government, and they hereby re
quest the said president to ask IoI I9cOS
milton of belligerency and the 1orrnaI ac-
of independence, nQt Qnly
because these acts Involve an o lSfl ~ ~
of Justice, but because no one shouId pc
allowed to contravene natural laws, OF
suppress the legitimate aspirations OF a
people striving for liberty. 80
tsDone at Cavite, August l. 1898
ssI 1EANDRO IBANA,
ssSecretary of Interior.
sfEMILO AGUINALDO.
oAnd $50 leaders in the provinces enumer-