The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-16

member of tho Philippine commission.
spoke at Central Music hall tonight upon
The Philippine Question" The address.
which was delivered under the auspices
OF the Hamilton Club. a local Republican
organization. was received with every
manifestation Of approval. Mr.. Worcester
followed in the main the line Of argument
regarding the retention OF the Philippines
which had been published In tho report Of
the Philippine commission.
Philippiae ouestion Far-ReacAing.
Prof. Worcester said at the outset that
the issues raised by the Philippine Ques-
ton. directly or Indirectly. were more inn
portant, more far-rcaehing In their con-
sequences than any other nation has been
called upon to meet since its birth. He
deprecated the idea Of those willing to
make party politics OF questions which in
voivs the well-heing and the future des-
tiny of millions OF their fellow-beings.
Some Miaatatement~ Corrected.
Proceeding. he said:
IT all the accusations brought by thcsc
who deciaim against our so-cailed crime
In the Philippines are true. We have In
deed committed great transgression
a9sinsi the ne0ple Of those islanda pro-
pcee 10 take up rome OF the alleged facts
often quoted In support OF these serious
charges and scrutinizo them somewhat
closely shall try 10 make my exnmina-
tion wholly dispAssionase."
Prof. worcester then took up various
arguments presented against the Amcri-
can policy in the Philippines. quoting from
senate documents. from the proclamations
OF Aguinaido and from a mass OF official
evidence. most OF which has been made
public and answered the severe criticisms.
He also stated that member Of Aguin-
aides cabinet testified before the commits.
sion to the fact that even after his procla-
nation OF June Is he freely admitted that
no American had ever promised him inde-
pendence for his people.
There Was NO Co-cperation.
Prof. Worcester said. after citing much
evidence
II believe have shown that there was
no true cooperation between our land
forces and the Filipinos except In the fact
that we fought common foe. each In his
own way 1 may add that we required no
help In taking the city. Ii lay complete
iy at the mercy OF Dcweys guns and the
soldiers were expected to occupy IL, hot TO
take II. The hghting OF August is was per-
functory and designed only TO save tho
honor of the Spanish troops.
AGainsido's Modest Demands.
After the fall OF the city Aguinaldo
modesily demanded Of Gen. Merritt the
royal palace for himself. and In addition.
the principal churches. a sharap In public
funds and most important of all. the arms
and ammunition surrendered by the Span
ish troops, which he had long Planned 10
Ia m, al
quests were refused
Speaking OF fhe efforts TO avoid q con-
fict. Prof. Worcester says:
Did Not Know what They Wasted.
II am often asked The question: Might
not all this have been avoided f even
after ,he fall ~ Manila. the Americans had
come TO an understanding with the Fill
pinos.' ! am glad TO he able TO say two
such attempts were made, Gen Otis. who
did not believe that the insurgent leaders
were plotting trouble. had repeated inter-
views with one and another of them"
After detailing she fruitless negotiations
and citing from Gen. Otis letters, Prot
Worcester said:
THE Urine cause OF the failure of there
final negotiations lay In the fact that FIJI.
ipino commanders were unable to formulate
any definite statement OF their own de-.
sfres They dis say fssa. tfsey desired In
dependence under United States proten~
sion. but In discussion made II evident,
first. that they did not know what they
meant by these words and, second. that
they were not agreed among themselves
even as 10 the general demand"
At another point the speaker said:
Il have no hesitation In saying that the
United States did snhnlteiy more than
Aguinaldo's army toward driving cut and
destroying Spanish power In the Philippine
islandg II our claim 10 sovereignty was
shadowy. what shall we say az 70 the
claim ~ a tribe representing less than Dns-
sixth ~ The people of she islands. and ex-
ercssing Jurisdiction over but n small por-
ticn cs the Philippine territory"
Many FilipInos Are Friendly.
The speaker denounced as faisa state.
merits that the Americans had no friends
among the Fiiipinos. and declared we had
many good. true friends among the leading
Fylipsno1. lie proceeded:
Why IN Army IL Needed.
heard I. sasd that n only fraction of
she Filipino population IL IN arms against
US. ard tha, the great nA5orsty Of the peo~
rle are ready % accept American sossr-
esxn.y. shy ls Il thai we are compelled 20
send q great army 10 the islands, an