The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-09-07

| hUOWJ Hub ubbtI1VJ'u W CohbioNVip WV
Hon. JONI BARRErr's statement in this
months Repie,o of Reuiers or has even
ventured to discuss Il squarely.
Mr.. BARRErr's earlier expressions OF
opinion respecting affairs in the Philip
pines and tho character OF the insurEent
leader and his cause have figured 30 long
among the principal documents OF the anti
expanslonist campaign here at homo that
the American adherents OF AGU1SALDo
must have been stupefed to read this frank
and manly confession OF error:
| my conclusion have only reached after most
patient study, boeauss VA. loath 10 believe IT, and
! originally felt and expressed much sympathy for
| AautsLI lido and the insurgents. This present opin
lon IA the result OF investigation on the ground and
! amounts 10 CON riction.'
! This present opinion" OF our former
| Minister to Siam, which. as he says, re-
verses some Of his past Impressions, but Is
| the result OF patient study and investga-
ton on the ground and amounts to con-
viction, may be summed UP briefly nearly
| In hls own words as follows:
| 1. The responsibility for the present
troubles Is with AdUIsAnDo and his adher-
ents, and not with the Americans. AGUI-
NALDo and his followers themselves pro-
voked the conflict which began on February
and Is still active.
2. No matter what We thought OF AGUI-
NALDo before he provoked this conflict,
I'VE cannot excuse him when unhridlod
personal ambition iInpels him to mislesd
his people. misrepresont Americas pur-
! poses, and finally declare war without good
| reason"
! Chief among the conditions which stimu-
lated AGt1NALpO TO give rein 10 his per-
sonal ambition so far as to defy the flag Of
tho United States were the sympathy Of
Americans OF the Atkinsonian kind, the
false idea that this sentiment would prevail
in America in the end, and. especially. the
hopes engendered by the delay last winter
in rstifying the treaty.
| As to what actually happened before the
outbreak Of February last and during the
| period Of negotiation between Gen. OT1ss
Commission, consisting of Gen. HUGHES,
Col. CROwDER and Col. JAMES F. SMITH,
and AGUINALDOs Commissioners, FLOREN-
TINE and AMBRosIo FLORES and MANUEL
| ARGUILEs, Mr.. BARRETT's statement sup
plies more information than has been pos
sessed previously by anybody not in
the secrets OF the Administration. 1t
| shows that our Commissioners all through
January last we're striving earnestly and
| faithfully to come to some understanding
with AGUINALDo THAT would bring about
lasting peace and permit the organization
OF stable government" On tho part OF
AGUNALDos representatives this attempt
to effect a peaceable settlement was met
by preposterous and impossible demands,
| R-IIz 49, H. l,aI "a
tack on the flag on February and AGUI-
NALDo's substantial declaration OF war on
the following day.
Now, Mr.. BARRETT was on the ground
and in constant communication with Gen.
OTIss Commissioners during the critical
and decisive period. He testfes that none
Of the three was an cxpansionst in the COM
mon acceptance OF the term. but all were
rather inclined In the other direction.
Everything possible and reasonable was
done by them to come to peaceful settle
ment. On tho other hand, the warlike
spirit inspired by AaUINALDos misrepre-
sensations was running strong among his
followers. From notes made at the timo
from personal conversations with Gen.
HUGHES Col. CRowDBR and Col. SMITH,
Mr.. BARRETT quotes this summary OF the
negotiations:
I'VE did every thing in orr power to appro ii mate
an understanding: mad, most liberal prupusi.
tons: We invited them tn make us Definite state
nents in return. but from first TO last were m ct
with characteristic dthcuities nrst they would Vi
US no practical outline OF what they wanted or
would accept. and, secondly, after saylnH as much
a. they dared. they would make the reservation
that their Congress might not approve They did not
seem to know what they did want. ana whom We en-
deAvored to help them they appeared 10 distrust u.s.
There neither continuity consiAtency in their
arguments. Finally, after much urging to give Ms
some plan. and after declining all our suggestions
which led up TO liberal degree Of autonomy. they
declared that the host thy cord accept the
surAnce Of absolute Independence. with thh United
states simply protecting them from torsgl inter
ference INVASION, ana Ia leave them entirely alone
, whenever they should order. At the same time
American lana forces were tn be Withdrawn at once.
, hut the navy to remain 10 protect them from
meddlesoms foreigners until their own navy was
Organized and built.
when We pointed out to them that such condi-
lions were unreasonable until they should prove
| = ir CapAbilttY of governing the whole group OF
- .dS. that our Government had = resp visibility
, | n all me world in seeing stable government
, | established Aud that simply defending taeni
without a voice in heir control OF Affairs might
involve us in WAS vi tn other rSous they could
would not see the situation in that light We even
|
would grant them every degree Of autonomy they
proved themselves equal tO-svon 10 obtain all tn,
advantages OF sSlt.2overnmsnt with the assistance
Il OF the strong guiding aud cooperating hand o.
t America. but all without avail Their policy rlthe
b than ours seemed TO be rule or ruin"
j We quote the whole OF this important
3 memorandum because it shows just why
n we are fighting now in the Philippines
q We are lighting there because AGUINALDO
4 the false and the ambitious, so decreed
Il We are Fighting because he overestimatec
) the number and influence OF his alics il
o the United States when he forced the
y issue and ordered the attack.
Q The Administration, Of course. has known
o all Of this since early In the year. In Mr.
y BARRETTs moderate and convincing state