The herald., 1898-06-11

what was inevitable in fair and honorable
warfare. He further declared his ability
to establish a proper and responsible gov
ernment on liberal principles and would be
willing to accept such terms for the coun-
try as the United States intended giving
Cuba.
Consul General Pratt placed himself at
once in telegraphic communication with
Admiral Dewey at Hongkong, between
whom and Mr.. Pratt frequent inter-
change of kilograms took place.
AS the result another private interview
was arranged at the American consular
residence between Aguinaldo, Mr.. Pratt
Mr.. Bray and Mr. Leybe. AS sequel to
this interview and in response to the urg-
ent request of Admiral Dewey, Aguinaldo
left Singapore for Hongkong, where hs
met Dewey. with whom he went to Ma
nila.
At the beginning of hostilities Aguinal-
dos policy embraced the independence OF
the Philippines the internal affairs to be
controlled by European and American ad-
visers. The ports of the Philippines would
be free to the trade of the world, safe
guards being enacted against an influx
of Chinese aliens who would compete with
ehS AhteStiioA PoPuidllOll VI Tic COuHlly.
There would be a complete reform of the
present corrupt judicature of the country
under experienced European law officers.
Entire freedom of the press would be es-
tablished, as well as the right of public
meetings. Full provision would be given
for the exploitation of the natural re-
sources and wealth of the country by
roads and railways and by the removal of
hndrances to enterprise and the invest
ment of capital. Spanish officials would
be moved to a place of safety until an op-
portunty offered to return them to Spain.
The preservation of the public safety and
order and the checking of reprisals against
Spaniards would naturally be the first care
of the government in the new state of
affairs.
The Charleston's Trip
WASHINGTON, June 1O-The statement
comes from San Francisco to the effect
that the real object of the Charleston s
voyage was the seizure of the Spanish La
drone islands has small basis for truth in
1t.
When 1t was decided to send the Monte
rey and Monadnock clear across the Pa
cif1c from Mare island to Manila it was
well known that this could not be done
without sending coalers, because of the in
sufficient coal supply Of the monitors. 1t
was not deemed practicable to tow the
big ironclads the 1000 miles of the voyage
that would have to be traversed by them
without coal, so 1t became necessary to
find places in the Pacific where they could
replenish their bunkers. A study of the
charts showed that there were several
groups of islands lying between Hawaii
and the Philippines which might afford
harbor In which the colliers could lay
alongside the monitors and fill up their
coal bunkers. The officials do not deem
1t prudent to name the particular islands
chosen for the purpose, but it is obvious
that, being barred by neutrality laws from
the possessions of neutral countries the
first recourse of the navy department
would be to some Spanish islands, such
as the Ladrones or the Carolines. There
fore it is assumed that if the Charleston
really goes to one of the former islands
1t will be with the purpose of securing in
advance suitable harbor for the use of
the monitors.