Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-05-01


bridges and strengthening the lines of
his force, which was stretched out with
about four mile front and within Il
quarter of mile of the enemy.
The possibilities of peace We're graft
flying to Il great majority of the army,
who have regarded the war as an un-
pleasant duty that must be performed
according to American traditions.
Manila was cheerful over the pros
pect of return TO normal life, though
there are skeptics who remark that a
truce would enable the insurgents TO
rest until the rainy season, upon which
they have been depending us an import
ant aud.
The prisoners reported that there
We're 1000 refugees north of San Fer
nandlnO. This was not impossible, con-
sidering the thickly populated region
which the Americans have cleared. 1t
seemed also that smallpox was spread
ing among them. The so-called Filipino
congress will meet at San Fernandino
today.
When Dean G. Worcester of the
United States Philippine commission,
who accompanies the Filipino emissaries
from Calumpit, said TO Colonel Manuel
Arguelles that the Americans We're un-
der no obligations to refrain from fight
ing, the Filipino officer replied:
"Would you fight while we are dis
cussing' terms of peace"
Mr.. Worcester responded with the
suggestion that AN amistice would give
the Filipino leaders time to escape.
My God, where would we escape
to-" the Filipino exclaimed, referring
i'll this to the menacing hostile tribes
behind the Filipino lines.
Colonel Arguelles told the correspond
ent that he was much disappointed i'll
the results of his mission. He said also
that Aguinaldo expected Calumpit to be
the cemetery of the American army.
Lieutenant Colonel Wallace of the
First Montana regiment, Major Adams
and Major Shields, who slept on Friday
night i'll General Luna camp, where
they went TO inform the Fihpinos that
their envoys would return i'll safety,
found the Filipino commander cordial,
the Filipino troops removing their hats
as the Americans passed. The Fill
pinos complained to them that the
Americans used explosive bullets, which
waS not the fact. The American Off
GERS retorted that the copper shells used
py the FilipinoS We're worse than eX-
plosive bullets. General Luna said he
regretted being obliged to kill Ameri-
cans, but that WAS his business.
General. Wheaton entertained Colo
mel Arguclles and Lieutenant jose Ber-
nal and provided them with horses to
return to their camp.
In the course of the conference Sat
uIday Jacob G.. Schurman. chairman. of
the United States Philippine commits
sion, told Colonel .Arguelles that If the
insurgents would now lay down their
;lrnis he and his colleagues of the conf
mission would consult them regarding
the plan of government to be submitted
to President Mckinley. He said he
could not promise that all their sugges-
tions would be adopted, but he could as
sure them that there would be Il pre-
sumption in favor of their suggestions,
adding that the commissioners would
be especially desirous of satisfying the
legitimate aspirations of the FilipinOs.
When Colonel Arguelles protested
that unconditional surrender would be
humiliating Mr.. Schurman replied:
There would be no humiliation in
General Otis treating our brother Fill
pinos as General Grant treated our
brother Americans at Appomattox.
Mr. Schurman said Sunday to the cor
respondent:
Il believe Colonel Arguelles is per-
Souaily sincere and honest, though l
have no means of ascertaining the SEN
timents and aims of the authorities be-
hind him. The Filipino people, like
other Asiatic peoples, have no trust i'll
mere words without force behind them,
but with force | consider a conciliatory
spirit of the utmost Importance.
Il believe that whel, peace has been
governing the Filipinos
will not he a difficult matter, provided
we show them tirmness, justice and
kindliness. At the present time they
distrust and dislike us, but these senti-
ments, which are perhaps not unnatural,
will soon he dispelled by the effects of
the good government we have prom
ised to establish here. II will be the
foremost duty of American officials to
understand and sympathize with the
filipinos themselves"
Saturday, before General Otis had is
sued orders directing General Lawton to
return TO Angat, the troops of his COM
mand encountered the rebels i'll Il circle
of hills outside San Rafael, about five
miles northwest of Angut, dislodSing
them after about an hours fighting.
The Americans had three wounded. !
About 900 armed Fihpinos fell back
rs the Americans advanced.
The villagers met General Iawton,
offering him provisions They dared
not flee into the. mountain country on
the east because of the robher tribes