Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1898-09-16
IS BELLIGERENT.
He Wants to Exercise Power
In Manila.
Spanish officials Endeavoring to Sow Seed
Of Dissenson.

Manila, Sept. 12.-Aguinaldo clings &c
the impossible idea of joint occupation
The Americans are willing to continue
the condition of things prior to the sur.
render of Manila, but the insurgents are
continually encroaching and are con.
stantly working in the trenches sur.
rounding the city. They declare that
they are merely strengthening them.
selves against the Spanish, but actually
they are menacing the Americans
The Spanish have been endeavoring tc
provoke conflict, telling the Filpinos
that the Americans intend to return the
Islands to Spain. great many Fllipi
nos believe the story and think that il
that case the Americans would re-es.
tablish the Spanish power. There has
been considerable petty deviltry, sucf
as robberies, assaults, kidnapping, etc.
the tendency of which is to create fric
ton. The perpetrators usually wear the
lnsurSent uniform. Information i.
reaching the American authorities tina
the Spanish are melting much of the dis
order in the hope of producing trouble
between the Americans and the irsur.
gents. High Spanish officials are ac.
cused of being concerned in this scheme
The Filipnos practically demand rec.
ignition of their belligerency as a condi
ton precedent to their withdrawal from
the territory and ignore the impossibilit,
of the Americans granting such de.
mand. A councillor who is close to Agui.
naldo declares that the insurgents woult
insist upon receiving an assurance OF
recognition even at the cost of a conflict
with the Americans. The uselessness OF
such course being explained to him. h,
replied: I'VE can only die"
Aguinaldo himself said: when the
rebellion started, independence was the
sole idea of the Filipinos. Since the
Americans have been forced to interfere
the Filipinos hope to gain some rewarc
from the Americans for their work anc
sacrifices of blood, life and treasure
They live for recognition of their lib
erty."
This is the first public admission fror
Aguinaldo that the Filipinos would be
satisfied with anything less than abso.
lutte independence. He has transferred
his headquarters to Malolos, 80 miles
north of Manila 1t was a good strate
gical move Malolos is difficult to at
tack, and Admiral Dewey's guns will no,
reach there.
dition under instructions to study the
situation and conditions here and re.
port concerning the ACCESSIBILITY Of the
Americans retaining the islands ha.
formed these conclusions from persona
investigation and conversation with lead
ing Filipinos, both of the insurgents anC
those not allied with them; Spanish Off.
cials, army, naval and civil; Spanisl
business men, Spanish prisoners and for
egners of all nationalities interested
here. 1.-THE enormous wealth ard unde
veloped resources of the islands" he said
'is undsputed. Then, first, the peopl,
are docile and easily managed and woulc
readily submit to any government tina
would control them firmly and prot,c
and direct them without the oppression
and injustice they suffered under til,
Spanish. They are absolutely unfitte,
for citizenship, as the term is under
stood in America. The Filipinos woult
be unable to maintain an Independent
government. even in the island of Luzon
if they could establish it. The Spanisl
would be utterly unable al any time in
the near future to discharge the duty
of government toward life and property
in the island of Luzon. The form of gov
eminent in the American territorie.
prior to their admission to statehood
would be impracticable here"