The record-union., 1898-09-17

the Spaniard of attempting to under
mine the Constitution. To this the
Spaniard replied that he was a sim
cere Republican, and that his only de-
| sire was the welfare of the country.
Thereupon the Filipino apologized. and
| the proceedings terminated.
| During the afternoon many Amer
| leans and Europeans arrived, and
| Aguinaldo was kept busy receiving Wis
| itors, including the American Consul.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press had u private interview with
Aguinaldo, who is extremely unwilling
| to compromise himself with the ma
tives. He said that a majority of the
Filipinos had been struggling for free
| dom for years and centuries, and that
| they now believe that their object has
been attained
Aguinaldo expressed 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 said pro-
tectorate for the Philippine Islands was
| necessary, but he feared that the peo-
pie would be disappointed in this. He
had not studied political economy, and
knew nothing about he various forms
of Government. He inquired whether
Australia was an American colony, ana
said he had never heard of a Malay
protectorate. Continuing, the insur-
gent leader said there was no need of
protection for the Philippine Islands,
because the Fflipinos were able to cope
with any army. He admitted that he
had never seen a foreign army with
the exception of the garrisons at Hong
kong and Singapore, and he had never
seen those troops on parade.
Aguinaldo declined to discuss the
American army, and protested his un-
dying gratitude to the Americans He
said they had come to the Philippines
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 be-
lieve that the Americans would demand
reward for an act of humanity, and
he declined to admit the necessity of a
quid pro quo.
The Filipino leader expressed himself
confident that the newly-founded Gov
ernment would build a navy ultimately.
In the meantime, he said, the great
nations should protect and aid young
nation, instead of grabbing her ter
ritories If the Americans should re-
fuse to withdraw, the National Assem-
bly,, he said, must decide the policy
to be pursued-a policy which he de-
clined to forecast.
Further conversation was prevented
by the strains of a brass band. but
General Aguinaldo was interviewed
also by dozen American journalists
and one Japanese.
Spaniard, supposed to be an Off
Ger, ununiformed, traversed the town.
sneering at and denouncing the prin-
cipal Filipinos. On his resenting a
friendly remonstrance he was placed
under arrest.
Several Fflipinos assure the CORE
spondent that they have personally
witnessed horrible tortures at uojIo-
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 atroci-
ties-all intended to extort confessions.
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 the
Spanish officials It is natural that
there should be a yearning for revenge
upon the Spanish prisoners at Malolos.
but these are not maltreated. The cor
respondent saw several who were at
perfect liberty, having peaceful en-
ployment and apparently quite content
to remain.