Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1898-09-23
WANTS NO PROTD10lII|
Agufnaldo Declares for !.
solute Independence "'
PHILIPPINES FOR THE Fl, ,Du,.
Claims That They Have R..
Cling for Freedom Many Year. 'N'
Not Understand Autonomy, O''

- f'' 49, ue PlllinrI.
general assembly was insuunra.ip5plas
Malo Los yesterday with great "'ea soa, a
siasm. There were Thousands ~ ta.aa
ors from the provinces, and a oro., ~, ,sie
play was made. Aguinaldo, y.
O'Clock in the morning, ente,oS " .
hall of the convent recently oooa us
by the Spanish local government 4p'ia y
is an extremely plain room adO,,
only with some religious nictn.S
The insurgent leader was in evoai a
dress, according to the Spanish cus,ou ru
The others wore ordinary costumes -'
Aguinaldo, who was received n,o
cheers and also with cries of ,v;' %
America" by the large crowd of p,ti,.
inside and outside the hall, read a Ss
cree convening the members, wboir
cluded several Spaniards. He now
read message eulogizing the srmy
and thanking the friendly patio.,
which had set the historic examnsJ
liberty and had assisted doyn.tr%
den race. Continuing, AguipaI,
urgently and eloquently exhorted @s
assembly to follow the nobIest p,in
ciples' and invoked the Spirits Of tbs
martyred Filipinos."
The assembly then adjourned n,
the day. A Spanish delegate sv,
gested that business be resumed in n.
afternoon, bnt a Filipino objected and
accused the Spaniard of attempting h
undermine the constitution. To M,
the Spaniard replied that he was Sim
cere republican, and that his own DE-
sire was the welfare of the couuay
Whereupon, the Filipino apOlogipl
and the proceedings terminated.
During the afternoon many Amer.
cans and Europeans arrived, and Agut
naldo was kept busy receiving ysitOn
including the American consul.
The press correspondent had pr.
vate interview with Aguinaldu, whon
extremely unwilling to comprOmia
himself with the natives. He said
that majority of the Fiipinos had
been struggling for freedom for yess
and centuries, and that they now BE-
lieve that their object has been at
tained. ARuinaldo proiessed entin
ignorance Of the autonomous system 10 |
vogue in the British colonies, OF pro-
tectorates and of American autonomy
He said he was unable to understand
the idea, and only understood "ab
solute independence" " Personally h
believed protectorate for the Philip
pine islands was unnecessary, but b
feared that the people would be diar
pointed in this. He had not STUDIED
political economy and knew nothing
about the various forms OF government
He inquired whether Australia was 40
American colony, and said he hs
never heard of Malay protectorate
Continuing, the insurgent eada
said there was no need OF proteCt@
for the Philippine islands, because th'
Filipinos were able to cope with any
army. He admitted that he had neTS f
seen a foreign Amy, with the e1cel
tion Of the garrisons at Hong Kong aii
Singapore, and he had never seen thea
troops on parade.
Aguinaldo declined TO discuss lh
American army and protested his uR
dying gratitude to the Americas
He said they had come to the PhlIll
pines to fight the Spaniards only a'
now that they had finished the task
was to be expected that they would s
turn to America. He was unwl9
to believe that the Americans WOua
demand reward for an act OF human
ity, and he declined to admit the necH
sity of quid pro quo.
The Filipino leader expressed hln
self confident that the newly ioun,%
government would build navy ui'
In the meantime, he "'
the great nations should protect Al
aid any young nation, instead OF e~
bing her territories. If the Americas
should refuse to withdraw, the nallOa'
assembly, he said, must decide
policy to be pursued-a policy WI"
he declined to forecast.
Further conversation was preVeO'~
by the strains OF a brass band,
General Aguinaldo was interVls'
also by dozen American iournal'N
A spaniard, supposed to be an OlnO
ununiformed, traversed the 'U'
sneering at and denouncing the pI.~
Piles of the Filipinos. On bis rs''" ~,
ing a friendly remonstrance, he v"
placed under arrest.
Several Filipinos assured the cU,S
3pondent that they have persTVnIis
witnessed horrible tortures az iivI
the feet OF natives held TO cS".
dame for hours, electric currents
piled to the mos. sensitive paris "
body and various unnameable atiOO% ',
all intended to eztort confess n
This is ;arcely credible, but tne's
numerous alleged witnesses Oh ~
1ukrauaa apd aayaral whO show rs''