The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-07-19
A FILIPINO
ARGUMENT !
Aguinald6s Cavalry Leader Says
Independence Was Promised.
OoNTRADIoTs GENERAL oTI

He Insists Tint the Reported order
of the Filipino Government For the
Destruction ofManila was Absolute
Iy False-"This Is Not Race war"
Minneapolis, July 19.-The Times
publishes an interview which took
place May Is at San Isidro, Luzon, be-
tween it's special correspondent, Mar
tin E. Tew, Of the Thirteenth Mime
sofa, detailed by General Wheaton as
brigade Interpreter, and Major Lorenzo
l.. Zialcita leader of Aguinaldos cav
airy, and one OF the Filipino commits
sioners who went to General Otis with
propositions for an armistice.
Major Zialcita denied emphatically
that Filipino officials had ordered the
burning of Manila and the wholesale
murder Of Americans, and cited as
proof that many Filipino officers were
in Manila that night and were taken
prisoners.
He said the proclamation of General
Otis, proclaiming himself governor
general, had greatly incensed the Fill
pinos, but asserted that both the Fill
pino leaders and people believed the
Americans had begun hostilities.
Major Zialcita, speaking of the re-
puted promises of independence made
prior to che fall of Manila, when asked
by Mr.. Tew if in their eagerness for
independence the Filipinos had not
misconstrued the language of Ameri-
can officials and officers, replied:
There is not the slightest mistake
about this. Consul Williams verbally
made this statement to us, and we had
so much confidence in the good in
! tentions of the United States that to
us it meant as much as il it had been
delivered in writing.
Besides, when we were in Cavite,
number of us had the honor of en-
| tertaining General Anderson at the
Atheno Risal. This was before Manila
was taken by your forces. General An
derson on this occasion made a speech
/ in which he said that the Americans
had not come here for the purpose Of
| taking one foot of territory with the
view of permanent possession, but for
the purpose of giving the Filipinos
their independence.
"On Sept. 2l last year, on the oc-
casion of a fiesta, number of Ameri-
cans officers celebrated with us at the
residence of Pedarno Pacheco, and all
| expressed the same sentiments. On
many different occasions we were told
by men high in authority that Filipino
independence would be recognized"
On being asked If he really thought
the Filipino people were educated
sufficiently to conduct affairs of local
and national self government, the
young Filipino leader replied:
"Our people have always been mis-
| represented, both by the local and for
eign press. The friars are our worst
enemies, and have been active in this
regard, as they have always tried to
hold us in subjection. Educational af-
fairs have heretofore been in their
hands, and it has served their pur-
pose to prevent the people from be-
coming too wise. But even at this, the
vast majority of the people can read
and write. How could we prove our
| fitness or unfitness for self government
until we had been given an opportunity
| to show what we could do?"
Referring to the telegram of Feb. 20,
sent by General Otis, relative to the
order of the Filipino government to
burn Manila and massacre the whites
in the city, the Filipino emissary, with
flash or anger on his face, replied:
That was false, absolutely false. No
such order was ever issued by officials
at Malolos. If General Otis found any
such written order it was the work
of friars or some other enemy of ours,
| This is not race war. We realize that
in order to win we must have the sup
port of civilized nations, and must con-
duct our affairs accordingly"