The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-07-23

and friendly terms with the Filipino Off
Gals, from Aguinaldo down, and, there
Tore you must agrec with me that any
statement | make is without bias.
The foundation of all tho trouble lies in
the policy adopted by the administration
when sending Genera! merritt 10 the Phil
ippines. The policy was To ignore the Fill
pinos-a policy not only unwise, but mad.
Things had gone too far.
IL proper and less aggressive policy
had been pursued at the outset every FIJI
irino would today be loyal 10 the Stars
and Stripes.
The Filipino leaders were taken over to
the Philippine Islands by an American
war vessel American officials encouraged
them to organize an army to Rght the
common enemy.
Although GeLsTal Merritt's policy was TO
ignore the Filipinos, he never raised any
objection to their fighting in froat OF the
American troops Although Aguinaldo
and his followers could not understand
the generals peculiar position up to the
day OF Manilas capture, the thought
never entered their heads that they were
acting in any way hostile to the Amcri-
can governments wishes.
The capture of Manila was an opera
bouffe affair Everything was prear-
ranged.
The earthworks nearest Manila had
been taken by the Filipinos and were oc-
-eupied by them. There were 2O,p00 Fill
Pine soldiers in front of the American
forces. The Filipinos were asked to
eyacuate. and did SO, in complete lgnor-
ance of the Americans intentions. When
the American troops marched into Manila
the Filipinos tried to follow, whereupon
several United States regiments turned
on them With fixed bayonets.
Aguinaido told me that ii the American
government would assure his pe9ple that
the Philippines would not be handed back
to the Spaniards his army would dlsband
Immediately.
| do not want to relate the details OF
the difficulties between our forces and the
Filipinos that occurred almost daily, DIFF
ferences in which | know the Filipino5
were not at fault. 1t would fill volumes.
My opinion is that the administrator s
policy has been influenced by the business
element OF America. presuming that the
acquiring Of these islands means IN eGor-
nous foreign trade. This impression is
wrong We can not establish n Ireferen-
tial tariff over these islands in favor OF
Americans without antagonizing all other
nations. All other things being equal.
American merchants will never be bile to
compete in the Philippine islands with
foreign merchants, because 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 hostili-
ties-the attempt Of two Filipinos to cross
the American line, being fired upon with
some companions firing upon the Aneri-
cans in turn-it is matter OF official
record that all the higher Filipino officers
were in conference in their headquarters
at the time. The two Fllipinos certainly
were not acting under orders.
1t is also matter OF record tina. as
soon as Agulnaldo got news OF the con-
fict he sent a messenger begging the
Americans for Gods sake TO desist, de-
claring that whatever few of his SOL
ders had done was done without author
ity.N
Aguinaldo was told that 1t was too late;
the natives must take the consequences.
Had Aguinaldo's message OF peace been
listened to many American lives would
have been saved
The strict censorship exercised over the
press in Manila is against our Aneri-
can principles OF free thought and free
speech We must have something TO con-
ceal. and what surprises me most Is that
the American press has submitted TO IL.
Aguinaldo and his followers are not the
ignorant men most people suppose them
10 be- He deplores the present war as
much as any one He Is satisfied that
there is no earthly chance for his people
to accomplish anything by force OF arms;
he bases his chances for success and for
obtaining favorable terms upon three
things:
/. The climate. lack Of roads and the
consequent difficulties OF following him
into the interior.
Q. He knows enough OF American poll
tics to realize that when congress meets
and the loss OF American life and money
is brought up and discussed In the press
there is a possibility of his being offered
favorable terms.
8. He hopes that protracted warfare,
naralyzing the business of the European
houses In Manila. viii bring about inter
yentIon by some foreign power
II our troops coop up Aguinaldo and his
followers 10 Luzon. ] believe that Agui-
naldo will then realize that his case is
homeless and will come TO terms with the
United States government, and end the
war The greatest stress must be laid
unon the necessity Of thoroughly patrolling
the whole coast OF Luzon.
There are over thousand Islands In
the philippine group ard Aguipaldo's
MAN will be to get away from LIaon TO
one one of the other Islands as soon as active