The representative. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1893-1901, 1898-12-28
PROTEST
Full TEXT Of the Doc
uMent Submitted y
Ag0mclM.
Unjust for This Conn
try TO Hold the
Philippines.

Correspondence Of the Associated Press)
PARIS, Dec. 25.-Following Is the full
text OF the protest lodged with the Ameri-
can and Spanish peace commissions by
Agoncillo the agent of Aguinaldo, the in
surgent leader in the Philippines an out
line of which was cabled to the Associated
Press under this date:
Paris Dec. 12-Their Excellencies, the
President and Delegates Of the Spanish
American Peace Commissions, Paris-Your
Excellencies: The very noble and gallant
general, Aguinaldo president of the Philip
pine republic. and his government have
honored me with the post of official repre-
sentative to the very honorable president
and government of the United States of
America. devolving upon me at the same
time the duty of protesting against any
resolutions contrary to the independence Of
that country which might be passed by the
peace commission in Paris
This has already terminated it's sessions.
and the resolutions passed cannot be ac-
cepted as obligatory by my government,
since the commission has neither heard or
III any wise admitted to its deliberations
the Philippine nation who hold an unques-
tion to what might affect their future.
Il fulfill. therefore. my duty when 1 pro-
test. as l do in the most solemn manner.
in the name of the president and the ma
tlonal government OF the Philippines,
against any resolution agreed upon at the
peace conference in Paris, as long as the
judicial, political, Independent personality
OF the philippine people is entirely unrecog-
nlzed and attempts remained in any form
to impose on these Inhabitants resolutions
which have been sanctioned by their powers.
the only ones which legally decide as
Is ti..h ftstul history.
Spain is absolutely devoid of status and
power to decide in any shape form the
before mentioned matter. The union of
Spain and the Philippines was founded SOLE
ly on two historical facts, in which the ex-
elusive right of the Fiipinos to decide their
own destiny was implicitly recognized.
THE CLAIMS OF SPAIN
First the block treaty (Pacto Ge Sangre)
of the 18th of March 1865, entered into be-
tween the general, Don Miguel Lopez de
Legazpi and the Filipino sovereign. Ska
tuna, compact which was ratified and
confirmed on the one side by the king of
Spain, Philip H., and on the other side by
the monarchs of Mindanao. Visayas and
Luzon. and by the supreme chief of that
federation, the sultan Lacandola: proclaim
ing as consequence, the autonomous ma
tionality of the kingdom of New Castle
formed by the Philippine Islands, under the
sceptre of the king of Spain.
Second, the so-called constitution of
Cadiz, in the discussion, vote, prOmulga-
ton and execution of which the deputies
and Filipinos took an active part and by
which constitution the nationality of the
Spain's' was made effective.
But from the very first moment in which
the peninsular public powers attempted to
impose their absolute sovereignty on the
islands the Filipnos protested energetically
by force of arms and from the first attempt
in 1914 the struggle in defense of the po-
litical personality implanted.
when in 1887 the deprivation of their
right was consummated the Filipnos again
protested Spain sustaining against them a
fratricidal and inhuman struggle, which
has lasted from that time Onwards up to
the present day. Falsehood. which always
characterized the actions of the pennsular
authorities, constantly hid from the world
the fact of the real situation which has
lasted almost a century.
SPANISH FORCES ROUTED.
"At length, at the end of the present
century, the Spanish forces have been COM
pletely routed by those of the natives and
Spain cannot now even allege the possess
sion by her OF the islands. because the per-
manency of a handful of pennisular SOL
diers approximately 4oO), who are existing
besieged in one two fortresses and in
the south of the archipelago cannot con-
stitute such a right, the Spanish govern
ment has ceased to hold any dominion by
which exists there to preserve order is that
constituted by the Filipinos, with the
solemn sanction of their votes, the only
Logan fount of positive modern power.
Under such conditions the Spanish COM
missoners in Paris have not been able
within the principles of the law of nations
10 give up or to transfer what. If they ever
had, they have totally lost before the sign
ing of the protocol of Washington and the
arranging of the terms of the peace treaty
in Paris.
THE Filipino people who consented to the
blood treaty and the constitution of 1872
annulled those conventions by reason OF
Spain not complying with her undertakings.
and renewed their sovereignty by the SOL
emn proclamation of the Philippine re-
public on the first of August. 1898, and by
the establishment of a government and a
regular and well ordered government Great
ed by the votes of the natives
If any juridical effect can be attributed
to the Spanish action in the peace treaty,
within the principles of international law
1t is the explicit renunciation of all future
pretensions over the land. the dominion and
possession of which she had lost, and there
fore is only of use to make the recognition
of the corporate body of the Filipino ma
ton and that of their rights to rule effect
lively in respect of their future.
DUTY OF THE UNITED STATES.
The United States of America on their
part cannot allege a better right to con-
stitute themselves as arbitratOrs as to the
future Of the Philippines. On the contrary.
the demands Of honor and good faith i'm
pose on them the explicit recognition Of
the political status of the people who, loyal
to their conventions, were devoted ally of
their forces in the moments of danger and
strife.
The noble Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the
other Filipino chiefs were solicited to place
themselves at the head of the suffering ard
heroic sons of that country. to fight against
Spain and to second the action of the brave
and skillfu Admiral Dewey.
At the time of imploring their armed CO.
operation both the commander of the Petrol
and Capt. Wood In Hong Kong before the
declaration of war, the American consul
general. Mr.. Pratt in Singapore, Mr.. Wild