The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-07

himself and the Filipinos. I have traversed
the entire ground of government with him
in council and he has called his officials
from fifteen provinces to meet for their dis
eusslon, all stated as friendly but unofficial
on my part"
On Sept. Mr.. Williams cabled: To-day
delegations from four thousand Visayan sol
diers and also representing southern busi-
ness interests came to me pledging loyalty
to annexation. Several insurgent leaders
likewise. Spain cannot control. If we
evacuate anarchy rules
MR.. WILDMAN'S LETTERS.
On July IS Consul Wildman. at Hong
Kong. wrote to the secretary of state ex-
pressing his views on the then reported
policy of the United States government to
allow the Philippine islands to return TO
Spain. Among other things. he said. after
giving the particulars of his long residence
and intimate acquaintance among the peo-
pic Of the straits settlement: II consider
the forty fifty Philippine leaders with
whose fortunes / have been very closely
connected both the superiors of the Malays
and the Cubans. AgIinaldO. AgOncillo and
S2ndico are all men who would be leaders
in their separate departments in any coun-
try. while among tho wealthy Manila men
who live in Hong Kong and who are spend
ing their money literally for the overthrow
of the Spaniards and the annexation to the
United States men like the Cortez family
and the Para family would hold their own
among bankers and lawyers anywhere. In
spite of statements TO the contrary. l know
they are fghting for annexation 10 the
United States first and for independence
secondly In fact I have had the most
oil md
would not raise one finger unless I could
assure them that the United States intended
to give them United States citizenship if
they wanted It, There has been a system
attic attempt to blacken the name of Aguin-
aldo and his Cabinet on account of the
questionable terms of their surrender to
Spanish forces. year ago this month. 1t
has been said that they sold their country
for gold, but this has been conclusively dis
proved. not only by their own statements,
but by the speech of the late Governor Cen
eral Rivera i'm the Spanish Senate. / was
in Hong Kong in September. 1897, when
AguinadO and his leaders arrived under
contract with the Spanish government. They
waited until the 1st of November for the
payment of the money promised for the
widows and orphans of the Insurgents and
the fulhllment of promised reforms. Only
100000 Mexican, was ever placed to their
credit"
Mr.. Wldman says that on the breaking
out of the war he received a delegation
from the insurgent Junto and they bound
themselves to obey all laws of civilized war
fare and to place themselves absolutely un-
der the orders of Admiral Dewey if they
were permitted to return to Manila. He
says that or April q. after another confer
ence, he agreed on behalf of Dewey to allow
two of the insurgents delegations to accom-
pany the fleet to Manila, he going with
them. 1t was only later that he prevailed
on Admiral Dewey to allow Aguinaldo to
go Referring to Aguinaldo's organization
of a government he says it was absolutely
necessary to take such a step to maintain
control over the natives.
In conclusion Mr.. Wildman says: ST wish
to put myself on record as stating that the
insurgent government of the Philippine ISL
ands cannot be dealt with as though they
were North American Indians, willing to be
removed from one reservation to another at
the whim of their masters II the United
States decides not TO retain the Philippine
islands its ten million people will demand in
dependence and the attempt of any foreign
nation to obtain territory coaling stations
which they fought the Spaniards."
WARNED NOT TO MAKE PLEDGES.
The correspondence shows that Mr.. Wild
man was warned not to make pledges or dis
cuss policy with Agunaldo, and that he re-
piled that he made him no pledge and exact
ing from him but two namely, TO obey UNI
questionably the commander of the United
States force i'm the Philippine islands and to
conduct his warfare on civilized lines"
''Aguinal aldo" writes Mr.. Wldman, has
written me by every opportunity, and / be-
lieve he has been frank with me both regard
ing his actions and his motives. / do not
doubt that he would like to be President of
the Philippine republic and there may be
small coterie of his native advisers who en-
tertain a like ambition but / perfectly
certain that the great majority of his fol-
lowers and all the wealthy and educated
F'ilipiuos have but one desire-to become
citizens of the United States. AS for the
mass of the uneducated natives, they would
be content under any rule, save that of the
friars."
Consul General Pratt, stationed at Singa-
pore. details his last interview with Agui-
naldo, saying that he enjoined upon the Phil
ippine leader the necessity, under COmmo-
dore Dewey's direction, of assuming abso-
lute COnITOl over Ills lOICeS III lHe 1HIip-
pines. since no excesses on their part would
be tolerated by the United States, the Pres
ident having declared that the hostilities
with Spain were to be carried on in strict
conformity with the strict principles of civil
lied warfare Mr. Pratt states that to this
injunction Aguinaldo expressed the hope
that "the United States would assume pro-
lection over the Philippines for at least long
enough 10 allow the inhabitants to establish
a government of their own, in the organiza
ton of which he would desire American ad-
vice and assistance
Assistant Secretary Moore in a memo
randum to the secretary says: Mr.. Pratt
was instructed that it was proper for him
TO obtain the unconditional assistance of
General Aguinaldo, but not to make any
political pledges
Writing on June Is to Mr.. Pratt, Secretary
Day said: This government has known
the Philippine insurgents only as discOn-
tented and rebellious subjects of Spain, and
is not acquainted with their purposes. The
United States in entering upon the occupa-
ton of the islands as a result of its mill
tary 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 70 their former
attitude toward the Spanish government,
that obedience which win be lawfully due
from them
In a letter of June 20 Secretary Day re-
fers at length TO the report of Mr.. Pratt's