The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-12-25

fight against Spain and to second the ac-
ton of the brave and skillful Admiral
Dewey.
'At the time of imploring their armed CO.
operation, both the commander of the Pet
rel and Captain Wood, in Hong Kong be-
fore the declaration of war, the American
cQnspls general, Mr. Pratt in Singapore,
Mr.. Wildman in Hong Kong and Mr.. Will
liams in Cavite, acting as agents OF the
great American nation at a moment of
great anxiety, offered to recognize the indie
pendence of the Filipino nation as soon as
triumph was attained.
Under the faith of such promises an
American man-of-war, the MeCuloch, was
placed at the disposal of the said leaders
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 exact
ing of his promises when they were pre-
scented to him on board his flagship in the
Bay of Manila, by receiving the said Cen
eral Aguinaldo before and after his VIC
tories and notable deeds of arms, with the
honors due to the commander-in-chief OF
an allied army and chief of an independent
state; by accepting the efficaeious eo-opera-
ton of that army and of those generals, by
recognizing the Filipino flag and permit
ting it to be hosted on sea and land, con-
senting that their ships should sail with the
said flag within the places which were
blockaded; by receiving a solemn notihca-
ton of the formal proclamation of the
Philippine nation without protesting
against 1t, or opposing in any way its ex-
istence; by entering into relations with
those generals and with the national Fill
pino authorities recently established, recog-
nized without reservation the corporate
body and autonomous sovereignty OF the
people who had just succeeded in breaking
their letters and freeing themselves by the
impulse of their own forces.
Cannot be Denied
"And that recognition cannot be denied
by the honorable and serious people oil the
United States of America, who ought not
to deny nor discuss the word given by the
officials and representatives, and these par
ticuarly in moments solemn in gravity Tor
the American republic.
ITO pretend to put now in question the
attributes of such public functlonarles
after the danger, would be an act OIL no
torious injustice which cannot be consented
to by those who have the unavoidable duty
of preserving unstained the brilliant repu-
tation of the sons of the great nation
founded by the immortal Washington,
whose first glory was and has always been
the constant fulfllment of their word OF
honor.
ut must be remembered here that the
Filipinos did not fight as paid troops or
as mercenaries of America. On arrival
they only received a reduced number OF
arms, which were delivered to them by the
order of Admiral Dewey. The arms, am
munition and provisions with which the
Philippines have since sustained the war
against the Spanish forces were acquired,
some of them calamity and Others bought
with their own funds, those latter being
exclusively provided by the Filipino pa
triots.
"And 1t would not be noble now, after
having used the alliance, to deny the cour-
age, loyalty and nobility of the Filipino
forces in fighting at the side of the Amer
lean troops, lending them a decided sup
port, both enthusiastic and efficacious."
Dewey Aided by Natives
without their cooperation and without
the previous siege would the Americans
have been able SO easily to have gained
possession of the walled city of Manila?
They could, who can deny it, have destroy
ed 1t by bombardment but without the
foregoing armed deeds, and without the
rigorous circle in which the Spanish army
was enclosed, the sham fight of the attack
and surrender which took place could not
absolutely have been realized Admiral
Dewey gloriously destroyed the Spanish
squadron but he had no discriminating
forces, and could not ineonsideratey dis
pose of his ammunition and provisions;
and under such condit ons the support
which, companions In arms, was lent to
him by the Filipino generals and their
forces is a positive and undeniable advant-
age. Without 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 hostlities and the signing of
the protocol of Washington.
''Truth and sincerity in their Dlaces
Nov, if the Spaniards have not been aba
to transfer to the Americans the rights
which they did not possess, If the former
have not militarlally conquered positions In
the Philippines If the international officials
and representatives of the republic of the
United States of America offered to recog
nze the independence and sovereignty of
the Philippines solicited and accepted their
alliance, how can they now constitute them
selves as the sole disposers of the control
and administration of the future govern
ment of the Philippines?.
Would Not Have Been Made
'If in the treaty of Paris there had simp-
ly been declared the withdrawal and
abandonment by the Spaniards of their
dominon-if they ever had uncover the
Filipino territory; if America on accepting
peace had signed the treaty without preju-
dice to the rights of the Philippines and
with the view of coming to a subsequent
settlement thus recognizing the sovereign
ty of the latter and their alliance and the
carrying out of their promises of honor to
the said Filipnos, 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 pro-
ceedings of the American commissioners
and the imperative necessity of safeguard
ing the national rights of my country
make this protest, which I have made an
extensive one for the beforesaid reasons
and with the corresponding legal restric-
, tions against the actions taken and the
resolutions passed by the peace commits
sioners at Paris and in the treaty signed
by them.
"And on making this protest, ! claim in