Delaware gazette and state journal., 1899-10-19
SITUATION IN THE PHILIPPINES.

The following extracts from the
records tell the lamentable story: "On
the Gath day of April Aguinaldo met
the United States consul and others at
Singapore and offered to begin new
insurrection in conjunction with the
operations Of the United States navy at
Manila. This was telegraphed to Ad-
miral Dewey" Admiral Dewey at once
replied, TELL Aguinaldo to come as
soon as possible, : Aguinalao left Singa
pore on April Goth. With II other
was taken on the United States steamer
McCulloch to Manila Bay. ''They
soon after landed at Cavite, and the
admiral allowed them to take such
guns, ammunitions and stores as he did
not require for himself. " On May 24th,
Aguinaldo published at Cavite his first
proclamation, beginning. "Filipinos:
Tho great nation North America, cradle
of true liberty, and friendly on that
account to the liberty of our people,
oppressed and subjugated by the
tyranny and despotism Of those who
have governed US, has come to mani
fest even here a protection which is
decisive, MS well as disinterested,
toward us, considering lis endowed with
sufficient civilization to govern by our
selves this, our unhappy. land. :" But
on June 10th Secretary Of State Will
liam l.. Day, in o dispatch to the
consul-general at Singapore concerning
Aguinaldo's corporation with Admiral
Dewey, wrote: ''This government has
known the Philippine insurgents only
| as discontented and rebellious subjects
| of Spain, and Is not acquainted with
| their purposes. The United States in
entering upon the occupation of the
| islands, as the result of its military
operations in that quarter, will do SO
in the exercise of the rights which the
state of war confers, and will expect
| from the inhabitants, without regard
to their former attitude toward the
| Spanish government, that obedience
which will be lawfully due from them, "
On July 4th Gen. Anderson, then com
mandipg, wrote to Aguinaldo: ~
| desire to have the most amicable rela-
tions with you, and to have you and
your people co-operate with us in mill
tary operations against the Spanish
| forces.''
Within three weeks afterward, July
22d, Gen. Anderson addressed Aguin-
aldo: Commanding general Philip
| pine forces, l observe that your excel
lency has announced yourself as dicta-
| tor and proclaimed martial law. 1
have no authority to recognize this
assumption. 'In order to prevent
my countrymen from making common
cause with the Spanish against the
North Americans" answered Aguin-
aldo, II came from Hongkong - For
this reason he had proclaimed the
dictatorship. This dictatorship was
rapidly changing into u government of
"a democratic and popular character. :"
| "My government has not been aoknowl-
edged by any of the foreign powers,
nut we expected that the great North
American nation, which struggled first
for its Independence. and afterward for
the abolition of slavery, and is now
actually struggling for the Independence
of Cuba, would look upon it with
greater benevolence than any other
Williams, AguIEaldo said: "You say
all this and yet more will result from
annexing ourselves to your people, and
] also believe the same since you are
my friend and the friend of the Filipino
and have said it. But why should we
say it? Will my people believe it? Is
it intended, indeed, 10 carry out an
4 neSation against the wish of these
people, distorting the Iogal sense of
that word? If the revolutionary govern
ment is the genuine representative by
right and deed of the Filipino people,
as we have proved when necessary, why
is it wished to oppress, instead of gain
ing, their confidence and friendship?
The Filipino people have
learned to love liberty, order, Justice
and civil life. y | and my
leaders know how TO admire and are
ready to initiate the disinterestedness,
the abnegation and the patriotism of
the grand men of America, among
whom stands pre-eminent the immortal
Gen. Washington"
Soon after the downfall of Manila
|Aguinaldo's troops were ordered, ''by
threats of violence,' he writes, to
retire from positions taken." Gen.
Merritt, then commanding, on August
goth specified on evacuation of the
places at the time held by the Phillip
pine forces'' within the suburbs of
Manila. To this demand Agunado
yielded upon the acceptance Of certain
conditions by Gen. Merritt. These
conditions were declined by the Ameri-
can commander. ard the evacuation in
sisted upon, with the explanation. Il
am the more insistent in this particular
because recent instructions from my
home government contemplate this
course Aguinaldo submitted to Gen.
Merritt's order, still pleading for the
acceptance Of his conditions, that in
case the United States should return
the islands to Spain the Americans
would restore to him the military posi-
tions he gave mp to them.
81 comprehend, he wrote, August
9th, 1.-THE Inconvenience of double
occupation of the city of Manila
and its enyirons, but you must
also just understand that with
out the wide blockade maintained
by my forces you would have
obtained possession of the ruins of The
city, but never the surrender of the
Spanish forces, who would have been
able to retire to the interior towns.
Do not make light Of the aid given
by us to secure the capitulation.
Greatly though justice may suffer, and
risking well,founded fears in regard ia
my city, do not insist upon the rotten.
tion of all the positions conquered by
my forces within the environs, at the
cost of much bloodshed, unspeakable
fatigue and much money. ! promise
to withdraw them to the following line.
hope that this time spirit
! of Justice will be manifest which is
, worthy of FREQ and admirably con.
stituted government such as that of the
United States Of America. From this
time forward the alienation of our army
and the Filipinos from ono another
! steadily grew more grave. | have
already told its story.
How the end will come who can pre.
. dict? My own earnest prayer is that
tha naonla of tha l1uitod Et,tn, ,,,.,