, 1898-09-17
aGU!AAl60 TALKS
THINK s THE AMERICANS SHOULD
NOW LEAVE THE PHIL
RPINES.
He Personally Believes a Protectorate
Is Necessary But Fears 1t Will
Not Suit the People-Large At,
tendance at the Opening Of the In
surgent Congress at Malolos.

Manila, Sept. 16.-The Philippine
general assembly was inauguHated at
Malolos yesterday with great enthus-
iasm. There were thousands of visitors
from the provinces and a great display
was made.
Aguinaldo at Q o'clock in the morn
ing entered the hall Of the convention
recently occupied by the Spanish To-
cal government.
1t is an extremely plain room. adorn-
ed only with some religious pictures.
The insurgent leader was in evening
dress, according to the Spanish custom.
The other wose ordinary costumes.
Aguinaldo, who was received with
cheers and also with cries OF viva
America" Ivy the large crowd OF ma
tives inside aud outside the hall, read
a decree converting the the members,
who included several Spaniards. He
next read a message eulogizing the
army and thanking the friendly ma
ton which had set the historical ex-
ample of liberty and had assisted a
down-trodden ace.
Continuing, Aguinaldo urgently and
eloquently e1horted the assembly to
follow the modest principles" and in
woke the Spirits Of martyred Flip
pinos."
The assembly then adjourned for the
day.
A Spanish delegate suggested that
business be resumed in the afternoon,
but a Filipino objected and accused
the Spaniards of attempting to under
mine the constitution. To this the
|Spaniard replied that he was a sincere
republican, and that his only desire
was the welfare OF the country.
Thereupon the Filipino apologized
and the proceedings terminated.
During the afternoon many Ameri-
cams and Europeans arrived, and Agui-
naldo was kept busy receiving visi-
tors. ~anc,nding the American consul.
The correspondent Of the Associated
Press had a private interview with
Aguinaido. who is extremely unwill-
ing to compromise himself with the
natives. He said that the majority Of
the Ffhppinos had been struggling for
freedom for years and centuries and
thai thop Nom hoIioyad tbot tboir oh
T5ect has been attained.
Aguinaldo processes entire ignorance
OF the autonomous system in vogue in
the British colonies, of p~rotectorates
and Of American state autonomy. He
said he Yves unable to understand the
idea and only understood absolute in
dependence" Personally, he said, 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
torms Of government. He inquired
whether Australia was an American
INOkOAy oAO 62Au no HdA ApCNOl ShA Va
a Malay proteotorate.
Continuing the %insurgent leader said
there was no need OF protection for the
Philippine Islands, because the Flip
pines were able to cope with any army.
He admitted THAT he had never seen a
foreign army, with the exception OF the
unrrt~~ ~ IJo11 Kopu opd Cfpuoporo
and he had never seen these troops on
parade.
Aeuinaldo declined to discuss the
|Ameracan army and protested his I'm
dying gratitude to the Americans.
He said they had come to the Philip
pines 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 to
believe that the Americans would de-
mand . reward for an act OF humanity,
and be declined 30 admit the necessity
|of q quid pro quo.
Tue Filipino leader expressed him
SEX coa1ident that the newly founded
government would build q navy ufti-
In the meantime, he said. the
greet nations should protect and add q
young nation. instead Of grabbing her
~tesztsoriss. II the Americans should
refuse 70 withdraw, the nAtSonal as
|ssubly. no said, must decide the policy
to h puruuNd- poatcy which ho de-