The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-07-11

Lead
Correspondence of the Associated Press.
Copyright 1898. the Associated Press.)
London, July 2.-One of Aguinaldo's
leaders in the last Philippine revolt is
living incognito in London and practical.
ly acting as Aguinaldo's agent being in
receipt of constant kilograms and letters
from Cavite. Questioned on the Philip
pine situation by a representative of the
Associated Press be said:
"The Philippine republic was pro-
claimed in October, 1896, and it's first
president was Andreas Bonifacio. When
he died over year ago, Aguinaldo was
elected president and commander in
chief On the arrival Of Captain General
Primo de Rivera, that officer adopted a
policy of bringing the rebellion to an end
by means of concession, force having
failed. Our leaders were approached and
the result was the pact of Biancabato So
called from the village where it was
signed on December IA, 1897. Senior Sa.
/
pact General Rivera promised any reform.
Here is an official copy of that pact
wherein in eight clauses are promised the
banishment or at least the disbanding of
the religious orders; Philippine repre-.
sentation in the Cortes; the same admin
| istration of justice for the natives as for
the Spaniards; unity of laws between the
Philippines and Spain; the natives to
share the chief offices of the Philippine
civil administration; Encouragement of
the property of the friars and of the taxes
in favor of the natives; recognition of the
liberty of public meeting and of the press,
and general amnesty. These sum up
the native grievances and are what we
shall expect the Americans will institute.
| For those reforms Agninaldo and the
Their leaders promised that if Riverao
carried out the pact, they would ex-
patriate themselves for three years and
foment no movement against Spanish au.
thority during that time. Upon the rebels
surrendering their arms, ammunition,
forts, etc., Aguinaldo was to receive 400, =
900 pesetas. This money Aguinaldo de-
posted in the Hong Kong and Shanghai
banks at Hong Kong, pot for his personal
use, but as fund, the interest of which,
in case the Captain General carried out
his part of the pact was to be devoted to
the education of natives in England. In
case the pact was not fulfilled by the
| Spauiards, the money was to be used for
arms and to renew the rebellion. The
amnesty, denied the existence of the pact
and shot several rebel leaders who re-
turned to Manila on the strength of it.
| "Since the renewal of the rebellion
under the inspiration Of Admiral Dewey's
victory, the present captain general has
approached Aguinaldo and his leaders
and promised If they would make common
cause against the Americans he would
carry out the forms stated in the pact.
AS mark of good faith, he created
legislative council to which he nominated
| twenty leading ministers of the Philip
pine republic All oVertures were scorn-
fully rejected.
| l uS 0oIIAetu pfttouSlOuS are S1LnDly
prerosterous. They are practically little
more than pedlars. A II the large mercan-
tile houses are English who have in their
| hands quite three-four this bulk and value
of the commerce. The banks, railways,
telegraph, cable and local steamship lines
are English, the only cotton mills belong
to the English and the English control
the sugar and hemp trades. There is
only one American house in Manila.
There is only one Russian subject in the
islands. Up to now Spanish has been the
official language, but oy last weeks mail
I learn Aguinaldo intends as far as the
republic is concerned, to substitute Eng
lish. The root of the Philippine rebellion
has always been the steady deprivation
of the natives of their rights by the Span.
iards. Yearly year their security for life
and property has diminished, particularly
SO as to the native friars in the Philip-
pines. The Spanish triars, too, have sent
to Spain all the monastery wealth they
could dispose of, particularly that Yilled
to the monasteries by rich natives. Then.
too, the persecution of the Free Masons
by the friars caused m UGH resentment.
5000 Free Masons being lodged in iail at
the instance of the friars and loaded with
irons Besides no promise ever made by
the Spaniards with the natives has been
kept