The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-06-23
Reply of Aguinaldo to American
Proclamation.
Presented by a Soldier to the
Historical Society.
is WELL WRITTEN.
Abounds With Deity Turned
Sentences and Rich Phrases.
Talks About american Oppres-
sion" and Defies Sovereignty.

]. W. OZias. a member of H company,
Twentieth Kansas, has forwarded
number Of interesting relics from the
Philippines to the state historical so
ciety, one of the most interesting of
which is a paper containing a prOcla-
mation issued by Aguinaldo in January.
In this the ruler says he has been en-
dowed by God with the power to resist
American supremacy and appeals to his
brothers to make a good fight The doc
ument, in FULL follows:
IMPORTANT DOCUMENT.
Declaration OF the President OF the
Revolutionary gOvernment-TO my
brothers, the FilpinOs and to
all the respectable cOnSuls and other
strangers:
a proclamation of Mr.. E. s. Otis, ma
5or general of the United States vOlun-
1eers which was published in the pa
pers of Manila yesterday, obliges me to
circulate this to make clear to all who
read and understand this document, my
= most solemn protest against the entire
contents of the said proclamation. 1
am obliged by my conscientious duties
10 my God. by my political obligations
10 my dear country and by my personal
and official relations with the North
American nation, to make this protest.
General Otis in the said proclamation
styles himself military governor of the
Filipino islands and 1 protest not only
once but a thousand times, with all the
energies of my being against like auth
ority.
I solemnly proclaim that neither in
Singapore nor in Hong Kong nor here
in the Philippines have I compromised
myself in any way either by word or
mouth or by writing to recognize the
sovereignty Of America in this, our be-
loved land.
To the contrary I say that on my re-
turn to these islands, 1 was transported
by an American WarShip on the 18th day
of May last year with the professed and
manifested purpose to make war upon
the Spaniards for the purpose of re
gaining our liberty and independence.
stated in my official proclamation di-
rected to the Filipino public which was
published on the 18th of last June when
in my native town of kawit, 1 exhibited
for the first time our sacred national
nag s the sacred emblem of that sub
lime aspiration, and lastly, the same
has been confirmed by the American
general, Mr.. Merritt. the predecessor
directed TO the Filipino public some
days before the surrender of Manila
was intimated to the Spanish general,
MT JandaneS, whose proclamation said
clearly and definitely that the United
States army and navy came to give us
our liberty, overturning the bad Spanish
government.
In short natives and strangers are
witnesses to the fact that the United
states army and navy now here have
by act recognized the belligerence of
honorinS the Filipino flag which passed
triumphantly over our rear in sight of
all foreign nations represented here by
their respective cOnsuls.
As in the proclamation of General
Otis he alludeS TO some instructions
published by S. Z. the president of the
United states relating to the admins
tratiOn of affairs in the Philippine islands
! solemnly protested in the name of God
the root and fountain of justice and of
right and who has given me the visible
authority to direct my dear brothers in
the dlfhcult work of our regeneration
against this intrusion OF the United
States government in the sovereignty
of these islands.
l protest equally in the name of the
whole Filipino population against the
said intrusion, because after giving me
their vow of confidence, electing me
president of the nation, although I am
unworthy. they have put upon me the
duty OF sustaining until death their lib
erty and independence.
And lastly, 1 protest against that act
so very uneXpected-the sovereignty of
America in these islands-in the name
of the antecedents which I have in nv
power, referring to my relations with
the American authorities. which prove
IN an unmlStakab BILE manner that the
United States has not brought me from
Hong Kong to make war against the
Spanish for their benefit but for the
Deneht or our liberty and Independence
for which attainment the said authori-
ties gave me their verbal promise of
their devoted help and efficient COOP
Grafton.
And thus all of you should understand
my dear brothers. that all should be
united by ties that can not be Ioosened
like the idea Of our liberty and absolute
independence that has been our noble
aspiration helped o attain the end de-
sired Tor, with the strength that con-
viction gives. now pledged not to turn
back in the road to glory that we have
Travelled. EMILIO AGUJINAIDO
MalolOs. January 5. 1899.