The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-09-17
THE PHILIPPINE ASSEMBLY
INA UG URATED AT MALOLOS WITH
 GREAT ENTHUSI1SM.
Aguinaldo Received With Cheers and Also With Cries of "Viva Amerioa''- An Interview With the Insurgent Leader-He Professes Entire Ignorance of the Autonomist System In Vogue In the British Colonies.
the British Colonies.

Manila, Sept. 16.-The Philippine na- tional assembly was inaugurated at Malolos yesterday with great enthusi- asm. There were thousands of visitors from all the provinces and a great dis play was made. Aguinaldo at 10 o'clock in the morning entered the hall. He wore an ordinary costume. Aguinaldo was received with cheers and also with cries of Viva America" by the large crowd of natives inside and outside the hall. He read decree converting the members, who included several Span iards. He next read a message thank ing the army and the friendly nation 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 princi- ples" and invoked the spirits of the martyred Filipinos." The assembly then adjourned for the day.
 A Spanish delegate suggested that business be resumed in the afternoon, but Filipino objected and accused the Spaniard of attempting to undermine the constitution. To this the Spaniard replied that he was a sincere republ- can and that his only desire was the welfare of the country. Thereupon the Filipino apologized and the proceed ings terminated. During the afternoon many Europeans and Americans ar- Y1a16 1y yar,t 11,cx ceiving visitors, including the American consul. The correspondent of the As sociated Press had private interview with Aguinaldo, who is extremely un- willing to compromise himself with the natives. He said that majority of the Filipinos had been struggling for freedom for years and centuries and that they now believe that object has been attained.
 Aguinaldo professed entire ignorance of the autonomist 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
  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 Malay protectorate Continuing, the insurgent leader said there was no need of protection for the Philippine islands because the Filipinos were able to !, IJa oI, ta1 hot he had never seen an army with the exception of the garrison at Hong Kong and Singapore and he had never seen those troops on parade.
 Aguinaldo declined to discuss the American army and protested his undy ing 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 a reward for an act of humanity; and he declined to admit the necessity of a quid pro quo. The Filipino leader ex- pressed himself confident that the new ly founded government would build a navy ultimately. Tn the meantime, he said the great nations should protect and aid young nation instead of grab- ping her territories. If the Americans should refused to withdraw, the na- tional assembly, he said, must decide the policy to be 'pursued-a policy which he declined to forecast.
 A Spaniard supposed to be an officer uniformed traversed the town sneering at and denouncing the principal Fili- pinos. On his resenting a friendly re- monstance, he was placed under arrest Several Filipinos assure this core spondent that they have. personally witnessed horrible tortures at Ilolio, the feet of natives held to candle flame for hours, electric currents applied to the most sensitive parts of the human body and various unnameable atroci- ties all intended to extort confession. 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. 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 says several who were at perfect liberty, having peaceful em- ployment and apparently quite content to remain.
 DETERMINATIONS IN PORTO RICO. Low Natives and Gang of Brigands
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