The Portland daily press., 1898-09-17

American Protectorate-says He Only
Understands Absolute Independence.
| Manila, September 16. The Philippine
| National assembly was inaugurated at
Malolos yesterday with great enthusiasm.
There were thousands of visitors from all
the provinces and great display was
made.
Aguinaldo at nine O'Clock in the morn
| ing entered the hall of the old convent
recently occupied by the Spanish local
government. 1t is an entirely plain
room, adorned only with some religious
evening dress. The others wore ordinary
costumes.
| 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 conveninG the
members who included several Spaniards.
He next read message eulogizing the
army and thanking the friendly nation
which had set the historical example OF
| liberty and had assisted down-trodden
race.
| Continuing, Aguinaldo urgently and
eloouently exhorted the assembly to "fol-
low the noblsst principles" and invoked
the "spirits of the martyred Filipinos.
The assembly then adjourned for the day.
A Spanish delegate suggested that busi-
ness be resumed in the afternoon, but a
Filipino objected and accused the Span
| lard of attempting to undermine the oon-
stitution. To this the Spaniard replied
that he was sincere republican and that
| his only desire was the welfare of the
| country. Therefore the Filipino apologized
| and the proceedings terminated.
| During the afternoon many Americans
and Europeans arrived and Aguinaldo
was kept busy receiving visitors, 1nclud-
/ ing the American consul.
1 Th correspondent of the Associated
Press had q private interview with
Aguinaldo, who is extremely unwilling
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.
Aquinaldo professed entire Ignorance OF
the autonomous system in vogue in the
British colonies of protectorates ana OF
Il American state autonomy de ssa1d he
i WIS unable to understand the idea and
/ only understood "absolute independence.
4 Personally he believed protectorate
for the Philippine islands was necessary,
but he feared the people wou Id be disap.
pointed in this. He had studied political
economy and knew nothing about the
various forms of government. He in
ouired whether Australia was an Ameri-
can colony and said he had never heard OF
a Malay protectorate. :.
Continuing, the insurgent leader said
there was no need for protection for the
Philippine islands, because the Filipinos
were able to cope with any army.
| He admitted that ho had never seen a
foreign army with the exception OF the
gar1isons 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 Philip
pine to fight the Spaniards only and
| now that they had finished the task it
WAS to be expected that they would re-
turn to America. He was unwilling tc
believs that the Americans would de-
mand reward for an act of humanity
and he declined to admit the necessity OF
quid pro quo.
The Filipino leader expressed himself
confident that the newly founded gov
ernment would build navy, ultimately.
In the meantime, he said, the great ma
tions should protect and aid young ma
tion instead Of grabbing her territory. II
the Americans should refuse to withdraw,
the national assembly, he said, must de-
eide the policy to be pursued-a policy
which he declined to forecast.
Several Filipinos assure this corre-
spondent that they have personally wit
ne ssed horrible tortures at lloilo-the
feet of natives held to candle flame fol
hours, electric currents applied to the