Omaha daily bee., 1899-04-11

Agunaldo was elected dictator; to this ac-
tiou no protest was entered either officially
or in a friendly manner. They were al
lowed to form their government az Malolos
without protest or an ntimatlon from the
United states that they would look upon
1t with unfriendly eyes.
The United States government, through
its officials. raised this infant republic. nour-
ishcd II. allowed Ii to grow and becom,
strong until the government and power Of
Aguinaldo had spread over the whole OF the
Islands bringing under his control people
that even the spanish government had never
ruled; then they find that they must not
compromise the United States government,
and with the idea that they are carrying
out this policy they ignore the Filipinos'
growing strength and refuse to listen to
| their overtures for the settlement OF din
cultles.
Results In n Conflict.
The result OF all these provocations has
been the battle of Manila between the in
surgent and American forces that must be
sun fresh in the mind Of the world When
the true facts are known and the number
OF women and children that were slain is
| published people will ask who were the
greater oppressors, the Americans or the
| Spaniards? The Americans in that one
day and night slaughtered more defenseless
people than Spain did in two centuries
The fate OF the treaty Of peace was to be
decided on the 9Th day of February and
| many people go so far as to declare that
| this conflict was brought about purposey
| Tor political reasons in order to ensure the
| ratification of the treaty with the Spaniards
| by the United States senate. That 1t was
not prearranged anair on the part OF the
| Filipnos we need only refer to the Ameri-
can officers reports. The Filipino officers
were all away at sort of jubilee meeting
| or feast and it is quite unlikely that il a
general attack was premeditated upon the
| American forces that their officers would
not have been in their places and Aguinaldo
near the direct movements. The news
papers here contain reports of women and
children shot down like so many sheep; they
speak of fifty being found dead in one
field seventy-fve in another; 1876 in one
trench and so on. Is this the work Of the
great American people, who entered upon
warfare owing to the cries for help by
| the poor Cubans.
by the time this letter reaches you the
passion of the conflict will be over and
then the American people want to use their
common sense and carefully investigate all
these disgraceful charges.
From what / have learned and observed
the acquisition of the Philippines by the
United States is sure to result in a costly
| experiment. The annexation of these
islands has no doubt been prompted by
pressure brought to bear upon the admin
stration by certain business interests. II
from such a course they look for any
benefit their expectations will be doomed
to disappointment. With whom do they ex-
pect to do business? There are from 10000
900 to 100000 Filipnos and a few hun
dred Europeans and these Europeans are
there to compete with the Americans
"ff, after the fall of Manila and the sign
ing OF the protocol, assurances had been
given to the Filipinos that they could leave
| their case in the hands of the Americans
and that they would be treated justly and
| fairly, the Americans would have eventually
owned the islands. Thus, all other things
being equal, by the goodwill and gratitude
of the islanders no one could have touched
the Americans in competition Today the
| word American is more detested by the
Fllpinos than the Spaniards ever were and
| business between Americans and Filipnos
| will only be possible If the latter cannot
| obtain from any other nationality that
| which they may require
| "A H. MYERS"