Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1899-12-07
WHAT IT Is ALL ABOUT.
An Anti-lmperialist Presents Hi.
Side of the Question.
w. A. CrOff'ut Gives Plain Account, from,
the Record, of the start Of the Philip
p'no Trouble, In the Washington,
ID. g., Star.

A gentleman bearing several famous
names comments in your columns on the
recent answer of the Anti-Imperialist
League OF this city to the manifesto OF the
presidents Philippine commission. May
| say a word in rejoinder?
He denies the correctness of the state
ment OF General Otis TO the president,
alleging that he, Otis, began the war, and
adopts instead thereof the statement OF a
correspondent in Manila, OH February 5,
that the war began as follows:
1.-THE clash came at 8 40 Monday even.
ing. when three daring Filipinos darted
past the Nebraska regiments pickets at
Santa Mesa, but retired when challenged.
They repeated the experiment without
drawing the sentries' fire. But the third
time Corporal Greedy challenged the Fill
pinos and then fired, killing one OF them
and wounding another"
Your correspondent prefers this to the
official version OF General Otis; and it
may be quite as correct. At any rate,
am willing to concede its accuracy in or
der to show how monstrously wicked
and perfidious this firing Upon the Fill
plnos was.
Who were these "Filipinos" who were
thus wantonly fired on? They were Otis
earnest and faithful allies. They had
been his immediate associates for months,
fighting by his side, and using his ,ifies.
Our Consul General Pratt, at Singapore,
asked and induced Aguinaldo to cooper
ate with Dewey and Otis, and afterward
reported that the cooperation of Aguin-
aldo had been most faithful and effective.
Our Consul Wildman at Hong Kong as
serts that Aguinaldo did cooperate Wig
orously and our Consul Williams at Manila
testified before the peace commission that
Aguinaldo captured more than half the
Spanish army. 1t is not denied that
Dewey sent for Aguinaldo and asked him
to cooperate that he furnished him with
rifles, cannon, and ammunition; and
that he earnestly thanked him for his SER
vices afterward. Brigadier General An.
derson, commanding at Manila, wrote to
Agulnaldo General: desire to have
The most amicable relations with you,
and to have you and your people co oper-
ate with us in military operations against
the Spanish forces. would
like to have your excellency's advice and
cooperation" Not only did Dewey and
Otis furnish Aguinaldo with arms and
ammunition, but they asked material as.
sistance from him, as is evident from the
following letter.
HEADQUARTERS FIRST BRIGADE,
Philippine Islands, July %, 1898.
SENIOR Don EMILIO AGuINALDo, Com
manding Philippine forces:
GENERAL: When l came here three
weeks ago l requested your excellency to
give what assistance you could to procure
me the transportation for the American
army, as it was to fight in the cause Of
your people. As you represent your PEG.
pie, now have the honor to make requi.
sition on you for 500 horses and so oxen
and OK carts.
l beg leave to request an answer at
your earliest convenience, and remain,
with great respect,
THOMAS NJ. ANDERSON,
Brig. Gen. U. S. Volunteers, command
ing.
Consul General Wildman says OF Aguin-
aldo in his official report; From that
date to the present:he has been uninter-
ruptedly successful in the field and dig.
nified and just as the head Of his govern.
ment."
Our Genera. Whittier testified before
the Paris commission: "All the success
was on the natives tide and the Span.
iards surrendered between 1000 and 5000
men, we'll armed, plenty tf ammunition
and in good physical condition"
Admiral Dewey himself alleges that
Aguinaldo was discouraged when his poo
pie failed to flock to his standard at the
end Of the first day and wanted to return
to Hong Kong, and that lie, Dewey, in.
duced him to remain.
When Aguinaldo h ad landed alone up
on the shore, had called his friends
around him and had driven an army Of
5000 Spanish soldiers twenty-five miles
and captured a majority Of the Spanish
army. what did his allies. the Americans,
do? Did they hasten to thank Aguinaldo
and his soldiers and treat them % friends
and sharers in the victory? No; just
the reverse. They expelled Aguinaldo