The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-23
AGUINALDOIN MARKET.
He and His Followers Ready to Be
Bought OF

Correspondence of Associated Press)
Manila, Aug. 80, via San Francisco,
Sept. 23.-The only impeachment in the
way of restoring absolute confidence is
Aguinaldo, who has informed Governor
General Merritt that in the event of the
United States holding the Philippines
permanently. or at least formally, de-
claring a protectorate over it. his fol-
lowers would lay down their arms. but
until that time it would not be safe for
him to do so. While all this is very
plasuible, it is the consensus of opinion
among the Notwithstanding merchants
ana residents here that the rebels and
especially AguinaIdo, are only holding
out in order to be bought. The fact
that one of Aguinaldo's lieutenants is
agreement had been made with the
Americans by the terms of which
Aguinaldo is to be made governor Of a
province and each of his officers to be
given minor positions, provided his
troops lay down their arms, would tend
to show that this opinion has some baS-
is, particularly when Gen. Merritt, upon
learning of this statement, said emphat-
ically that mo agreement whatever had
been made with Aguinaldo upon any
subject"
The departure of Governor General
Merritt and his staff for Paris effect
ually disposes of further negotiations
with the insurgents for the present,
whatever inducements may have been
Iy to be supposed that so delicate a
duty would be delegated by Merritt to
his deputy. 1t is significant that coin
cident with the departure of Major
General Merritt for Paris, the rebels
should have spread the report that
three of Aguinaldo's trusted Heuten-
ants have already left for Washington,
with the aVoWed intention OF reaching
the American capital ahead of Briga-
der General Greene, who is scheduled
to leave on board the China.
it,
held secret meetings in various parts of
the city for the purpose of determining
their future plan of campaign, but the
result of their deliberations was care
fully withheld from publication.
The ecclesiastical party has appar-
emily concluded to accept the inevitable
with the best grace possible under the
circumstances. At any rate neither
the archbishop nor any of his satellites
has made the slightest attempt to in
terfere with the policy adopted by the
new administration, so far, and unless
all signs fail no such attempt will be
made.
From an American point of view the
situation is simply one of expectancy,
the authorities awaiting instructions
from Washington and their subordi-
nares hoping for relief from their one
rous duties and a speedy return to their
homes. The Span1ardS firm in the be-
lief. that Manila was surrendered after
the peace negotiations had been COM
menced, swagger about the city with an
air of confidence that it will soon be
restored to them.
The Filipinos, with characteristic non
chalance, are making hay while the sun
shines, relieving their American friends
of their hard earned cash by every con-
ceivabIe means and wondering how
much longer their good fortune will
continue.
What the insurrectos consider Aguin-
aldo thinks of the situation, no one
seems to know or care.
The Herculean task of restoring order
from the chaos due to the shtftlessness
of the SpaniardS, is slowly, but surely
being accomplished by the American Of
ficers detailed to undertake 1t. The
brunt of the dirty work is borne by
Brigadier General Macarthur, whose
duties as military commander and pro-
vost marshal general of Manila are as
multitudinOus and far-reaching as those
of the odious KokO in the MikadO.
Despite the lack of any definite knowl-
edge as to the future of the Philip
pines, business is decidedly brisk in
Manila at present and there is every
indication of the approach of a boom.
The fact that everything has been prac-
tica1ly tied up for the past three
months, necessarily occasions an i'm
mense amount of extra work. now that
the embargo has been removed, but
apart from this the advent of the
American administration of affairs and
the prospect of it's being prolonged in
definitely have lent an impetus to trade,
which nothing else could have given it
One of che first official acts of the new
administration was to clear the chan
mel at the mouth of the river Pasig of
the distractions placed there by the
SpaniardS, thereby reopen1ng the port
of Manila for commerce. Immediately
after this had been done the fleet of
interisland steamers which, by an ar
rangement with Admiral Dewey, had
been anchored out in the harbor and
used as refuge ships by the various con- |
sulates, returned to their berths at the
river quays and after dischargfng their |
+hrnTV
former occupations pending the decision |
of the prize court as to their ultimate |
fate. This has caused an enormous
amount of traffic along the water front, |
and both the custom house and captain |
of the port office have been delugeo
with business for the past ten days
In accordance with the requirements |
of international law no change has as /
yet been made in the customs regula- |
lions, hence the tariff in force before !
the war is still maintained and the cot |
fers of the treasury are being replenlsh-
ed very materially. 1t was naturally |
expected that under the regime the port |
duties would be considerably re-
duced, and many merchants la1d their
plans accordingly, but in spite OF eX-
duties the demand so far e4-
ceeds the supply that the merchants are
only too glad to get their goods through |
as fast as they arrive.
Several Americans have already an
their intention OF embarklng
in business here and an American OF |
IinguaI newspaper is among the posi-
bilities in the near future.
The re-opening of the cable to Hong |
Kong and resumption of traffic along
the interisland telegraph lines has /
placed the merchants once more IN al
rect communication with their agehts
but up to the present little news has
been received, the small force employ
ed in the local Office having been made
uuate to handle the volume of outgoing
messages fled every day.
General Anderson appointed on Aug.
20 a board of three officers with Cap
tain Bridgeman, Sixth United States
artillery as chairman, to investigate
the recent shooting at Cavite. The re-
port has since been rendered unfaYor-