Willmar tribune., 1899-07-19
DID NOT WANT TO FIGHT,
The New York World Publishes a Let.
ter by an Excellent Authority
Opon PhiIipnine Matters.

The New York World Publishes a Let.
ter by an Excellent Authority
Upon Philippine Matters.
New York World.
Herewith is presented a comprehen-
sive statement of the situation in the
Philippines.
1t is written by F. w. Sylvester, a
member of the firm of Louis Spitzel g.
Co., one of the largest merchant and
shipping houses in the far east, con-
tractors to the Chinese government,
agents for the Maxim. .Nordenfeld Gun
and Ammunition Company of London,
the Thames Iron Works and Ship
building Company, and other firms of
like standing. <
Mr.. Sylvester returned to London
lately from Manila and Hongkong.
He has intimate personal knowledge
of Aguinaldo and his followers. It
was he who sold Aguinaldo arms
through Consul Wildman.
He is recognized as one of the high
est authorities On trade conditions in
the East. No other man has had such
opportunity to learn the exact facts:
OXFORD STREET, LONDON,
Our campaign against the Fpnoss s IS IS tSyui bovnd
to be expensive, unsatisfactory and deplorable.
There is no doubt that eventually we shall con-
que: or wear these people out, but it will cost
more American blood and money than the
present administration ever supposed.
am an American, with patriotic sentiments
as strong as those of any American citizen.
was on the most intimate and friendly terms
with all the Filipino officials, from Aguinaldo
down. and therefore you must agree with me
that any statement make is Without bias.
The Fundamental i:rror.
The foundation of all the trouble lies in the
policy adopted by the administration when
sending Gen. Merritt to the Philippines The
only unwise but mad. Things had gone too far.
II : proper and less aggressive policy had
been pursued at the outset, every Filipino
would to-day be loyal to the Stars and Stripes.
The Filipino leaders were taken over to the
Philippine Islands by an American war vessel.
American officials encouraged them to organ
ize an army to fight the common enemy.
Although Gen. Merritt's policy was to ignore
the Flipinos, he never raised any objection to
their fighting in front of the American troops.
Although Aguinaldo and his followers could
.
up to the day of Manila's capture. the thought
never entered their heads that they were act
ing in any way hostile to the American gov
ernments wishes.
Comic Opera Capture.
The capture OF Manila was an opera boufe
affair. Everything was pre-arranged.
The earthwOrks nearest Manila had been
taken by the FipinOs and were occupied by
them. There were 10000 FILIPINO soldiers in
front of the American forces. The Filipinos
were asked to evacuate, and did so in complete
Ignorance OF the Americans intentions. When
the American troops marched into Manila the
United States regiments turned on them with
fixed bayonets
Aguinaldo told me that if the American gov
ernment would assure his people that the Phil.
ippines would not be handed back to the Span
iards, his army would disband Immediately
DO not want to relate the details of the diff
that occurred almost daily-differences in
which know the Filipinos were not at fault
1t would fill volumes.
My opinion is that the Administrations policy
America, presuming that the acquiring OF these
Islands means an enormous foreign trade. This
impression is wrong. We cannot establish a
preferential tariff over these islands in favor of
Americans without antag Onzing all other ma
tions. All other things being equal, American
merchants will never be able to compete in the
Philippine Islands with foreign merchants, be-
cause the minds OF the FilipinOs have become
so thoroughly poisoned against Americans that
they will not buy Anything American that can
be obtained elsewhere.
AS to the act that brought on hostilities-the
attempt of two Filipinos to cross the American
lines being fired upon and with some compan-
ions firing upon the Americans in turn-it is q
matter OF official record that all the higher
Filipino officers were in conference in their
headquarters at the time The t wo Fnipinos
certainly were not acting under orders.
1t is also a matter of record that as soon as
AgulnaldO got news OF the conflict he sent
messenger begging the Americans for Gods
sake to desist, declaring that whatever o few
OF his soldiers had done was without authority.
AguinaldO was told that it was too late; the
natives must take the consequences.
Had AguinaldOs message Of peace been list
ened to many American lives would have been
saved
The strict censorship exercised over the
press in Manila is against our American prirci-
pies Of free thought and free speech. We
must have something to conceal and what sur
priSes me most is that the American press has
to it.
II our troops coop up Aguinaldo and his fol-
lowers in LuZOn believe that AguinaldO will
then realize that his case is hopeless and will
come to terms with the United States govern
ment and end the war. The greatest stress
must be laid upon the necessity of thoroughly
the whole coast of Luzon.
There are over a thousand islands in the
Philippine group, and Aguinaldos plan will be
to get away from Luzon to one Of the other
islands as soon as active preparations are made
to make it too hot to hold him upon Luzon.
F. W. SYLVESTER.