The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-08-09
| I'M AG|I|NALDO'
Words AlI-Potent Among Six
Millions OF BarbarianS.
WHO AND WHAT THE MAN
Upon Whom Depends the
Destiny of the Philippines,
WHO AND WHAT THE MAN

tanned savage, Iusting for blood He is
a half-tamed serpent, escaped from under
meath the heel Of the boot of Spain, strik-
ing his once tormentors as they in their
own time struck him and his. The abor-
! iginals of all claims are initiative when
| first brought in contact with a superior
race. Aguinaldo is no exception to the
! rule.
He is dictator today for the insurgents
| Of the Philippine Islands. If August and
Manila see destruction in the muzzles of
Dewey's guns they have no brighter pic
ture when they turn to the face of Agu-
for the final moment If Dewey to them
IS Scylla, Aguinaldo is Charybdis.
In all but blood Aguinaldo is Spanish
bred. He is, but for his love of freedom,
a product Of Spanish training, Spanish ed
ucation, Spanish government. But for the
Malaga ferocity in his veins he is the
child Of Castillo and Aragon. Spain real
~ ought not to repudiate him as bitterly
as she does.
Aguinaldo is not q Malay Of the penfn-
sula- His father was a native chief of
the PhiLppines-an Orang Malayu, that is.
Mayla with literature, a religion. a
culture Of his own. In this way he was
the Malay Of the soil, and the Orange-laut
the Malay Of the sea. The chief had am
billions for his son. He gave him at a ten
der age to the Spanish priests of I,uzon.
with the injunction to educate him as
best they knew. These men were only
too glad to take the boy They were
SpaniarGs, he a Malay. The Spanish pop
ulation of the Philippines was as a shadow
OF the nipa palm by the SADIE of a noun
tain cliff when faced by the 5000 900 or
more Malay and Negritos Of the island.
Aguinaldo trained as Spain would train
all true sons, foster or otherwise. would
return to his people an apostle Of the
cause Of Spain. His influence. the priests
argued, would be tremendous and must
necessarily be exerted for the govern
ment which so benefciently educated him
out Of aboriginal savagery into that Of
culture and religion.
So the lad (this being sixteen years ago)
attended the local schools in and about
Manila and then was sent to Madrid 10
learned many pious things, texts from old
Latin books, the composition of the shell
of religion, the difference between a saint
and a captain-general, and the ecclesiasti-
cal right of Spain TO conquer all aborignals
by the sign of the cross and the ping
of a Mauser
This education was not without its value
to him. He learned to differentiate. He
was an OrangesM alayu, with warm blood,
heart, an inner consciousness. In MANY
little things and some great ones he was
not as refined as we love to pride our
selves on being. A Malay is not an Ameri
can or an EngIshman. He is, if the wise
may be believed. an offshot of the Mon
golian; he mas a ratial history nearly
1000 years old, he has conquered and been
conquered taken blood and given blood.
Aguinaldo was and is of his kind He
surprised the ancient theological doctors
of Madrid two years after his arrival
there by deciding that he would not be-
come a priest. He wished to be a soldier.
and. oppOs him as they did. his determin-
alton could not be altered They took the
noviate's gown from off his muscular
frame and drafted him into one Of the
native regiments of Luzon. He was a
subaltern in his native land. dominated
by Spanish captains and field officers.
1t is not necessary to write that the
life Of Spanish soldiers and officers in the
Philippines has been but little different
from what it was in Florida two cnturies
ago or in Mexico. Dead women cannot
speak. tortured children become dumb.
the lash of thieving, rascally taxgatherers
breeds silence but cannot extinguish
thought.e Malay Independence in the Phil
ippines has been dream with the Orange
Malayu for generations. Aguinaldo. serv-
Ing Qfrip-1H-
Spanish ranks. had his dreams. His super
ors were plunderers of their own govern
ment The Mayla paid the taxes. the res
ldent officials stole one-uhird of these and
two-thirds were sent to Madrid. How
could Aguinaldo respect then governors?
The clergy received tithes from the Malay
but the church and the altar were for the
Spaniard.
Aguinaldo, aboriginal and partially civ
ilized man, was not blind. He is from all
accounts man of taciturn. undemonstra-
tive disposition, not given to outward man
ifestations of joy or sorrow, extremely
courteous to all men. kind to women.
children and animals. He IS slow and de-
liberate Of speech, never e!ated or de-
pressed, impassive. and save in times
thought were and are slow with him
He is not trustful Of the white races |
and has no reason 20 be something stu |
dents Of him and his people are apt 20 |
Spain, have given theh races Of Asa little |
cause 10 believe in a Christians God or |
a Christians word. OF modern civilized |
nations the United States is the one alone. /
which has never broken faith with me 1
Aisatic nations nor plundered for con- /
quests sake.
All this Aguinaldo knew ten years ago.
He knew il when in 1896. then p Years of /
age. he organized IN the native troops Of !
the Philippine Islands. the revolt against /
Spain. HIS associates IN this was Lieu 4
tenant Alexandra. a brother Of Malay.
Most characteristic was toe way in which I
they announced their secession from the /
fag Of Spain. Americans ssludder over
the details. but they are no more terrible 4
than Captain Jacks destruction of CANDY /
OF the fan Of Custer. Bo-h OF these last
tragedies were Northumberland OF |
brutality and expressions on the part OF /
the dominant race.
Agulnaldo's regiment one bright morn
ing shot down on rue parade ground /
every Spanish officer in comsand. save a
few insignificant EeUte1ants. Then the
rebels hid n me ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and
irackleSs Pralries. Agu.naIdo established
q headquarters. organized 400 or 500
natives into regiments. and l1augurated
for Spanish residents q reign q terror.
lie had seen the ears % MS own zsop,a
cut of by Christian Spa1iar6s: in urn Re