The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-31
He Defers His UItimatum, but Pro-
tests Against Our Attitude To-
wards the Filipino "RcpubIic."
MEMORIAL TO THE SENATE
ASKING THAT BODY NOT TO RATIFY
THE PEACE TREATY.
Young Spanish Girls Alleged to BE
Cruelty Treated by the Philip
pine Insurgents

WASHINGTON, Jan. 9O.-Sixto Lopez,
secretary to Agoncillo, the Philippine rep
resentative here, called at the State Depart
ment about o'clock this afternoon and left
with the chief clerk another communication
addressed to the secretary of state protest
ing against the attitude of our government
towards the Filipino republic The terms
of the protest do not go far as an ulti-
matum. The same fate awaits this COM
munieation as that which befel it's predeces-
sort will be automatically ignored.
Accompanying the communication is a
long memorial addressed to the Senate con-
tanning a comprehensive argument in oppo-
sition to the ratification of the treaty and
which the envoy asks the President to send
to that body The letter of transmttal con-
tains more than the mere request, but Agcn-
clio feels that he is bound by courtesy not
to make it public until an opportunity is had
by the State Department officials to make
a reply. The memorial to the Senate is
long document both historical and argu-
mentative in character and is a protest that
this government has no jurisdiction, natu-
raj or acquired through any of it's agencies
to adjudcate in any manner upon the rights
of the Philippine country and its people. He
refers to the historical fact that a large
number of my cOuntrymen have never been
subdued 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 to
the cause of liberty, have been in almost
constant Instruction against the govern
ment of Spain those conflicts existing con-
tinuously with greater or less fury for the
past hundred years.
The impression, he continues, has been
created in America that at the time of the
declaration of war between America and
Spain the Philippine revolution no longer
existed. He quotes from communications
from Consul General Williams at Manila
and Mr.. Pratt, as a result of which Agon-
clio says that without additional author
ity, it must be evident to your honorable
body that an extensive revolution existed in
the Philippine islands at the time of the
declaration of war by America against
Spain.''
The purpose of the Filipino patriots in con-
Quoting this revolution was, it is asserted,
TO secure the complete independence 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 a cause would lead to enormous ag
gregationS of American armies and naVieS
at their doors. Additional historical facts
are here presented and quotations made
from manffestos of the Filipinos and from
other documents from which, says the en-
VOy, it must appear that the Philippine
nation has achieved it's independence free
from any danger of losing it at the hands of
the Spaniards prior even to the signing of
the protocol"
Spain having been driven away from the
Islands and the inhabitants having estab-
hshed a government satisfactory to them
selves, and maintaining order throughout
the territories, what justification, Agoncillo
asks, can any other nation advance for in
terfering with his country refusing to ex-
tend toward it the obligations of interna-
tional laws? Could Spain, he asks, give to
any nation a better right than she pos
seSSed? She could not confer possession, for
she did not enjoy it, and any former right
of possession claimed by her had been ex-
tinguished by the destruction of her SOW
ereignty
Bearing on the discussion of the question
whether the American government can ac-
treaty, the memorial calls attention TO sew
eral notable and exact American prece-
dents' and Agoncillo says he could ask for
his country mo better fortune than to have
the Republic of America as at present con-
Stituted adhere to the teachings of inter-
national law as laid down by some of its
founders. -
Senior Agoncillo in conclusion, summar-
ICES the various reasons set out in detail
why the treaty should not be ratified, and
expresses an earnest hope that the repre-
sensations he has ventured to make will re-
ceive the grave consideration of the Senate
which contains so much of consequence to
his people