The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-09-17
AGUINALDO
THREATENING
Thinks Americans Should
Lsav: Islands.
THEIR TASK Is FINISHED.
-s
Refusal to withdraw viii Be Dealt
With by Assembly.
THEIR TASK Is FINISHED.
sNEHRED AT THE FILIPINos.

Manila, Sept. 1.-THE Philippine ma.
tional assembly was inaugurated al
Maloles Friday with great enthusiasm.
There were Thousands of visitors from
all the provinces. and a great display
was made. Aguinaldo was received with
cheers and also with cries OF Live
America" by the large crowd of natives
inside and outside the hall. He read q
decree convening the members who in.
cluded several Spaniards. He next read
a message eulogizing the army anc
thanking the friendly nation which hac
set the historical example OF liberty anc
assisted down-trodden race. Aguinaids
urgently and eloquently exhorted the as.
sembly to follow the noblest principles
and invoked the spirits of the martyred
Filipinos"
The correspondent OF the Associated
Press had an interview with Aguinaldo
VINO Is extremely unwilling TO compro-
mise himself With the natives. He said
that majority OF the Filipinos had beer
struggling for freedom for years anc
centuries. and that they now believe that
object has been attained. He professed
entire Ignorance OF the autonomous sys-
TENS In vogue In the British colonies, OF
prctectorates and Of American state au-
tonomy. The general was unable to
understand the idea. and only understood
absolute independence" Personally
ne believed ITotectorate for the Philip.
pine 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 .Mayla protectorate. The Filipinos
were able to cope with any army. He
admitted that he had never seen foreign
army, with the exception of the garrisons
at Hong Kong and Singapore, and he hac
never seen those troops on. parade.
Aguinaldo declined to discuss the Ameri-
can army, and protested his undyine
gratitude to the Americans. They had
come to the Philippines to fight the
Spaniards only, and now that they had
hrished the task IL was to be- expected
that they would return to America. He
was unwilling TO believe that the Ameri-
cans would demand a reward for an act
OF humanity; and he declined to admit
the necessity OF a quid pro quo.
The Filipino leader expressed himself
confident that the newly founded gov
ernment would build a navy ultimately.
In the meantime the great nations should
protect and aid young nation instead
OF grabbing her territories. II the
Americans should refuse to withdraw.
the national assembly. he said, must de-
eide the policy to be pursued--a policy
which he, declined to forecast.
A Spaniard, supposed to be an officer
ununiformed, traversed the town, sneer-
ing at and denouncing the principal
Filipinos. On his resenting a friendly
remonstrance, he was placed under ar
rest.
Several Filipinos assure this CORE
spondent that they have personally
witnessed horrible tortures at Iloilo-
the feet Of natives held to a candle flame
for hours. electric currents applied TO
the most sensitive parts OF the body
and various uncomfortable atrocities
all intended to extort confession. This
Is scarcely credible; but there are nu.
merous alleged witnesses OF such out.
ragess and several who show scars
of recent origin and unhealed. Some
say they, escaped only through bribing
the Spanish officials. -