Potosi journal. (Potosi, Mo.) 1894-1929, 1899-07-19
Aguina!do on Democrat Aid.

At last .Aguinaldo has said some
thing definite concerning his de
mands and the assistance ne counts
upon. His newspaper organ. In
uepcndencia. contains the text Of
his speech delivered a few days
ago at Tarlac. He wants indcpen-
dencc and proposes to fight for
what he calls the fathcrland until
the object is attained. 1t is evi-
dent from his language that he in
cIudes the entire Philippine group
and therefore his war Is still waocd
to secure full sovereignty, with
himself as dictator. Something is
gained by getting rid of doubt on
this point. The sovereignty is
disputed and the treaty deticd by
the armed natives. and the United
States must vindicate both, accord
ing to obligations accepted under
the usual forms of international
law, or acknowledge its defeat by
a single Malay tribe with q fuei-
tive capital and no government
except such rs one man can enforce
by military despotism. Aguinaldo
says the struggle must 90 on for
national honor, and the expression
leaves no doubt as to the alterna-
tive open to this country. One is
complete withdrawal from the is
lands and the other Il prosecution
Of the war until the insurgents are
crushed.
But Aguinaldo looks to the Unit
ed States for effective sympathy
and an eventual surrender of our
claims. This has long been charg-
ed, and now the Tagal leader ex
plicitly confirms it, naming the al
Iy whose support is to foil our ar
mics, humiliate this nation in the
eyes Of all civilized powers and
crown him as the Philippine dicta-
tor. The ally is the Democratic
party. He mentions it spccifical-
" and his words will stick to its
skirts forever. ''Some states of
the American union have arisen in
our favor" says Aguinaldo. ''Es-
rccialIy is the Democratic party
convinced that both victor and van
quishcd will lose precious lives.
Thus many of the people and many
statesmen censurc President Me
Kinlcy as inhuman for having or
-dered his military representatives
to seek means to bring about hos
tiIities with the Filipinos.' In
vain hereafter will the Democratic
party deny that Aeuinaldo counts
upon It's assistance and urges his
followers to keep on shooting un
til it comes to his relief through
the ccnsure and overthrow of the
present administration. To find
Aguinaldo keenly watching the
course of American politics and
begging his soldiers to hold out
until the Democratic party wins is
no surprise to those who have
watched events in Luzon. 1t is
the usurpers strongest reason for
continued hostilitics. He admits
it in the dircctcst language.
Hcnceforth American soldiers
who are shot down by Aguinaldo
are victims of his idea that the
Democratic party supports his
programme and will conccde what
he asks if it elects the next Presi-
dent and Congress. The election
is distant over fifteen months and
it will be more than two years be-
fore that Congress meets. Posi-
bly, Aguinaldo Is aware Of this. but
his dupcs are not. LengtIlcnIno
ont the war until the autumn OF
next year in hope of Il Democratic
rcfersal of national policy is the
present intention of the armed
TaeaIs. But for the coprerhcad
clamor in this country the recent
address at TarIac could have oircr-
cd no induccment for going on
with the war. If all parties, after
coming together to declare Wal