The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-09-17
GEN. AGUINALDo'S ADDRESS.
EULOGIZES HIS ARMY AND THANKS
THE UNITED STATES.

He ExhOrts His People to "FOIIow
the NObIest PrincipIes' - The In
surgent Leader Processes Entire
Ignorance of Autonomous Systems
of British Colonies, of Protector
rates and American state AutonO-
my-UnderstRnds Nothing hut Alb
soIute Independence-He Inquiries
If Australia Is an American Coll
Ony - Admits That He Has Never
Seen n Foreign Army-DecIInes 90
Discuss American Army.
Manila, Sept 16.-The Philippine ma
tional assembly was inaugurated at Ma
lolos yesterday with great enthusiasm.
There were thousands of visitors from
the provinces and a great display made.
Agulnaldo, at o'clock in the morning,
entered the hall of the convent recently
occupied by the Spanish local government.
1t is an extremely plain room, adorned
only with some religious pictures.
The insurgent leader was in evening
dress, according to the Spanish custom.
The others were ordinarily costumed.
Aguinaldo, who was received with
cheers and also with cries OF "Viva Amer
ica," by the large crowd of natives in
side and outside the hall, read a decree
convening the members. who included sew
eral Spaniards.
He next read a message eulogizing the
army and thanking the friendly nation
which had set the historical example of
liberty and had assisted down-trodden
race.
Continuing, Agulnaldo urgently and elo-
quently exhorted the assembly to follow
the noblest principles" and invoked the
Spirits of the martyred Philippines" The
assembly then adjourned for the day.
During the afternoon many Americans
and Europeans arrived and Aguinaldo
was kept busy receiving visitors, includ-
ing the American consul.
The correspondent of the Associated
Press had private interview with Aguin-
also, who is extremely unwilling TO com
promise himself with the natives. He
said that a majority of the Philippines
had been struggling for freedom for CEN
turtles and that they now believe that OBJ
Ject has been attained.
Aguinaldo professed entire ignorance of
the autonomous systems 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 independence"
Personally, he believed a protectorate
for the Philippine Islands was necessary,
but he feared that the people would be
disappointed in this. He had not studied
political economy and knew nothing about
the various forms of government He in
quired whether Australia was an Ameri-
can colony and said he had never heard
of a Malay pIotectorate.
Continuing the insurgent leader said
there was no need of protection for the
Philippine Islands, because the Philip
pinos were able to cope with any army.
He admitted that he had never seen a
foreign army with the exception of the
garrisons at Hong Kong and Singapore.
and he had never seen these troops on
parade.
Aguinaldo declined TO discuss the
American army and protested his undying
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 believe that the Ameri-
cans would demand reward for an act of
humanity, and he declined to admit the
necessity OF quld pro quo
The Philippine leader expressed himself
confident that the newly founded govern
ment would build a navy ultimately. In
the meantime, he SAID, the great nations
should protect and aid a young nation In
stead of grabbing her territories. IL the
Americans should refuse to withdraw, the
national assembly, he said, must decide
the policy to be pursued-a pol
icy which he declined to forecast. Further
conversation was prevented by the strains
of brass band but Gen Aguinaldo was
interviewed also by a dozen American
Journalists and one japanese.
A Spaniard, supposed to be an officer un-
uniformed. tTaVersed the town, sueering
at and dcnouncing the principal Philip
pinos. on his resenting a friendly remon-
STRANGE he was placed under arrest.
Several Philippines assure this CORES
pondent that they have personally wit
of natives held to a candle flame for
hours, electric currents applied to the most
sensitive parts of the body and various
unnamable atroctes-all intended to ex-
tort 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.
81 is natural that there should be yearn-
ing for revenge upon Spanish prisoners
at Malolos but these are not maltreated.
The correspondent saw several who were
at perfect liberty, having peaceful en-
ployment and apparently quite content TO
remain.