The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-06-30
THE TESTIMONY OF AN lMPERlALIST.

Inc impcflaIiSIS tel us Iltdt -ASulIaluO
| is a sorry fellow and that anarchy would
| have been the result if America had not
| bought the Philippine Islands from
| Spain. They declare that the Filipinos
are wholly unfit for the independence
| they DESIRE, and the best of them say
| that God would send punishment upon
the United States if our troops were
withdrawn from the islands.
| Mr. John Barrett. ex4Mimster to Siam,
| is the hottest cxpansionist i'll America
and has recently been toasted by the al
ministraticn's friends in the big cites
because of his advocacy of Il cause that
has few independent advocates. In the
advance copies of which are now in the
hands of the press, Mr.. Barrett contr-
butes an article can "Scme Phases of the
Philippine Situation" which contains
some facts that will confound imperial
lists. Mr.. Barrett saw Aguinaldo at
Hong Kong in May, 1898, just before he
McCmlloch. and heard Aguima!do make
a final statement of his intentions just
before cmbarking for the Philippines, =
and Mr. barrett says of his statement:
While / cannot quote his exact Ian
g,age, / remember that Gun his usual re-
served manner he said it was his inten-
ton to proceed to Cavite, and, after re-
porting to Admiral Dewey, go cm shore
and organize without delay n provisional
government and an army with which to
join us in making war ON the Spaniards.
and thus secure freedom for his people
from Spanish rule. AT this mo-
ment i'm line with general opinion in
America and elsewhere he probably be
ieved that it was not the intention OF
the United States to hold the islands i'll
actual sovereignty"
Mr.. Barrett then tells of the govern
mcnt established by Aguinaldo, the dc
votion of the people, their capacity for
self-government, the achievements of the
army in a way that refutes all the de-
traction of Agrnaldo and his followers
with which the impeIialist papers TEEN.
We quote at length:
After mis- arrival at Cavite, in May,
1898. Agllinaldo organized. with wonder
full rapidi,y. provisional government,
and i'm Il short time had an army which
was capturing Spanish outposts with
the Frequency of trained regulars.
Within thirty days after his arrival he
had taken over 1000 Spanish prisoners
and had practically gained control of
all the country of I4llzon outside of
Manila. leaving that city to our mercy.
During the latter part of May. and all
of June, before the arrival of oar troops.
his relations with our forces Were most
agreeable. There seemed to be no
friction. There was perfect under
standing between Admiral Dewey and
himself. although the former was care
full to avoid formal recognition. No
matter what estimate may be made OF
Agliinaldo's personal character. there is
40 reason why truthful credit should
not be given for what he actually did,.
Coming to Manik, at nearly the same
time. | witnessed the beginning as we'll
as the development of his authority.
1.-THE impression went abroad among
the masses of people that Agurinaldo
government and that the Americans
would assist him. The actual working
cf his government under the gums OF
our ships was sufficient evidence to them
of our approval. From one end of Ll-
zon to the other spread the report that
General Emilio Ag,linaldo. the exiled
leader of the former revolution, had re-
turned to his home under the protection
Al. all 4
wllicl had gone to war with Spain, and
would give them freedom and ;ndepelld
ence mt once. These influences had a
tremendous effect Before Aglb:naldo
had been i'm Cayite a month he not only
had more soldiers than he could arm
but contributions of large SUMS Of
money. with unlimited amornts of rice
and other raw food supplies brought in
ny the people for the support OF the
army
From this time on up to February 4.
1890, the people from north to south III
the island of Luzon, as well as those in
the coast ports of the Nisayan group.
were educated to believe that they were
to have absolute independence. The eyi
drnces to the contrary meantime became
known only to Agllsmaldo. his leaders
and certain patriots of his army, and
were not made known to the people
Here Asllinal1o may have first allowed
his personal ambition to outweigh the
good of his followers and the masses OF
the population.
newspapers were started. with the
special purpose of advancing Filipino in
tercsts. and nothing was published in
them which suggested other than abso
lutte independence. When the natives.
who did not quite understand why we
renelsned so long in the islands. asked
their leaders for AN explanation, they
We're informed that we were making
preparations to depart. and that it was
emily a question OF time when they would
be i'll full sway in Manila and elsewhere
1.-THE government. which was organic
cd by Aguinaldo ut Cavite. and continued
first at Rakor. and later at Malolos. de-
veloped into il much more elaborate af
fair than its most ardent supporters had
originally expected. by the middle of
October. 1893. he had assembled at
Malolos congress of 100 men. who
would compare in behavior. manner
dress and education with the average
men of the better classes of other .Asiatic