Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-01-31
Will Be Ignored as Were the
Former Ones.
AMERICAN JURISDICTION
Is Denied BY the Agent of A~gulnaldo
ASKS That the Peace Treaty
B. Not Ratified.

Washington. jan. 31.-SiXto Lopez, Sec
rotary of Agoncillo, the Philippine repre-
sentative here, called at the state depart
ment about 5 O'Clock this afternoon and
left with the chief clerk another commu-
n~ication addressed to the secretary of
state, protesting against the attitude of
our government toward the Filipino re
public" The terms of the protest do not
go as far as an u.timatum. The same
fate awaits this communication as that
which befell its predecessors. 1t VIII be
automatically ignored.
Accompanying the communication is a
long memorial addressed to the senate.
containing a comprehensive argument in
opposition to the ratification of the treaty
and which the envoy asks the president to
send to that body. The letter of trans
initial contains more than the mere re-
quest, but Agcncillo feels that he is bound
by courtesy not to make it public until
an opportunity is had by the state de-
partment officials to make a reply.
The memorial to the senate is a long
document. both historical and argumen-
tative in character, and is a protest that
lllo " iA''S ~ u
ural or acquired, through any of its agen-
cies. to adjudicate in any name upon
the rights of the Philippine country and
it's people. He refers to the "historical
fact that a large number of my country
men nave never been suhdued by Spanish
power, and as against their liberties, the
oppressive arm of Spain has never been
able to sustain itself; that the remainder,
because of their adhesion 10 the cause of
liberty, have been in almost constant in
"surrectiOn against the government Of
Spain; these conflicts existing continuous
ly with greater or less fury for the past
100 years.
The purpose Of the Filipino patriots in
conducting their revolution WCs, it is as
serted, to secure the complete independ-
ence Of their country and in this effort
they received the encouragement of the
United States and We're never informed
that the obtaining and preservation Of
such Independence would be regarded as
a hostile act by America and they never
believed that their struggle in such %
cause would lead to enormous aggrega-
tons Of American armies and navles at
their doors. Additional historical facts
are presented and quotations made from
manifestOs of the Filipinos and from 9TH
- ~ ~ 49, - NlAN Ni
voy, it must appear that the Philippine
nation had achieved its independence free
from any danger of losing it at the hands
of the Spaniards prior even to the sign
ing of the PROTOCOL Spain having beer
!. driven away from the islands and the in
) habit0nts having established a govern
ment satisfactory to themselves and
, maintaining it throughout the territories
} What justification, AgOnCillo asks, car
any other nation advance for Interfering
D with his country or refusing to extend
) toward it the obligations of nternationo
} laws. Could Spain, he asks, give to any
> nation 4 better right than she professcd
? She could not confer possession if she dit
: not enjoy it, and any former rieht of pos
D session claimed by her had been extin
, guiShed by the destruction of her SOW
erci@nty.
Bearing on the discussion Of the uues
ton whether the American government
can acquire right to the Philippines o
Spain by treaty, the memorial calls at
tentiOn to several notable and eXaC
American prccedents." Agoncillo say
he could ask for his country mo bette
fortune than to have the republic O
America, 0s at present constituted. ad
here to the teachings of international la,
- as lald down by some of it's founders.
Senior AgOncillO summarizes the yariou
reasons set out in detail why the treat
- should not be ratified and expresses n
= earnest hope that the representations h
has ventured to make will receive III
- grave consideration of the senate befor
final action is taken upon the treat
= which contains so much of consequence I
his people,"