Evening star., 1898-09-26

AGONCILL0'S MISSION
Agent OF Filipino Government Wants
Hearing at Paris.
To ANSWER SPANISH CHARGES
He Discusses the Question of am
American Protectorate.
ANXIOUS FOR HOME pit II
ANXIOUS FOR HOME RULE

CHICAGO September @6-The Tribune's
stan correspondent on board the overland
united teleSraPhs from Carro. Iowa. that
Felipe Agoncillo, the first accredited .mis-
sary OF Aguinaldos revolutionary governs
ment to any foreign power. with his Sec
r5tary and Interpreter. will. upon reaching
Chicago proceed direct To Washington TO
lay before President Mckinley the appeal
Cf the Filipinos FOR representation on the
peace commission at Paris
II oflcia representation on the commits
sion cannot he granted he will urge that
the administration at Washington IN ius-
tlce to the people of the Philippines should
secure for him the right to b. heard by the
commission, in order that any unjust
charges or false accusations against the
Fllipinos which the Spanish members of the
commission may set forth shall moi go un-
answered.
The following is Agoncillo's formal states
Inent to the American people of mis- mik-
sion and the grounds on which he bases Ids
appeal:
AgoncflIo's Formal Statement.
1t is necessary to grant to the Philip
pine people official representation in the
course of the discussion of the spanish
commission in Paris or that the provisions
al government or it's representative to be .
mission shall reach any decision regards
ing the Philippines
1T is justice that tho Philippine people
should not be unattended for 1t might hap
pen that the representatives of Spain would
make formidable charges against the Fill
ipinos and in lack Of representation from
the t1ipinos these charges might bo cred
tied.
Therefore. # is inadmissible under the
most ruGimentary beginnings of natural or
written law and sound reason. that the
tllpinos should be without a hearing
OF conditions in the Philippine Islands
and the hopes and wishes Of the Fihpinos,
this is what Agoncillo says: III The OUT
come of the peace negotiations shall be
that this government IS given control of
the islands / have not the slightest doubt
that if left alone by foreign powers the is
lands would be well and orderly governed.
When left Hong Kong there in as
sembly $50 representatives. coming from all
the provinces Of Luzon and from s,l eral is-
lands. and ! expect to learn upon reaching
Washington that stir more have been
chosen. These representatives are the most
popular men in their provinces and the
people generally have confidence in their
government.
LAS to the power Of the Filipino govern
ment to control the island and maintain
order, provided the Spanish forces are
Withdrawn. | have no misgiVings There
are 5000 armed men in its army. Some OF
the arms came from captured Spaniards
and some from foreign countries. I am not
al liberty to say where.
Did Not Come From Germany.
NO; they did~Sot come from Germany,
and the statements that have been made
that the Filipinos are secretly conniving
with the Germans are false and unjust. 1t
is true that a few days after the dss-ruc-
ton of the Spanish fleet i'm Manila rty rep
resentattves of the German empire made
proposals to the insurgents to aid them in
forming an independent government This
offer refused, the reply being made TO
the Germans that under an agreement en-
tered into between Aguinaldo and Admiral
Dewey the insurgents were in honor bound
to refuse the offer"
Agoncillo asked what would bo the
attitude Of the Filipinos and the provisional
government if the outcome of the peace
negotiations should be that the islands
should pass into the hands of the United
States, either for temporary permanent
control. He replied: Whether or not the
Fipinos would forcibly resist such dis
position of the islands / cannot state. The
question would go before the assembly and
Agunaldos attitude must, under tho con-
stitution. be determined by action of that
body. The form Of the provisional gov
ernment is thoroughly republican. But L
will say that the feeling Of the people OF
the Philippines with regard to the question
would depend largely upon what form of
government the Americans would propose.
II ii meant simply the control OF the is
lands by the United States the government
of this country assuming the responsibility
OF maintaining good order and controlling
the revenues of the islands, ] do not think
the feeling against such a move would be
strong, though the Filipinos are anxious to
govern themselves. but If il should be plan-
ned that the United States take the islands
Tor the purpose Of colOniZati ton. which
might eventually crowd out the native
population, in my opinion there would be
greater difficulty in bringing the people OF
the islands to submission.
Appeal to United States for Aid.
''Our appeals TO the United States is for
aid in securing what we most desire and
what believe to be for the best inter-
ests of the islands,
IF the Filipinos are not to govern them
selves there is no nation they more wish 70
be governed by than the United States As
to the possibility of maintaining an orderly
and harmonious government among the
people of the islands, If II is left to them
many opposing argun ents have been urged
which are in large part groundless.'-
Agoncillo and his secretary are travel
ing with Maj. Gen. Greene and his aids
Capt w. G. Bates and Lieut.. S.uvler
SChiefelin. Maj. Gen. Greene goes to
Washington to give his views on the same
questions concerning which AeonciIio will
make representations to President McKin-
ley. He therefore felt bound by tie eti-
quette of his position to refrain from maxi
ing any statement with regard to his view
of the possibility of the Filipinos establsh-
ing a stable government. 1t was apparent,
however, from what he said that he does
not share Agoncillo's belief that taa pro-
visional government would have PLAIN sail
ing if left TO govern the island singles
handed. "a