The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1899-07-19
Filipinos Declare They Were PROM
lsed Their independence.
THERE WAS NO MISTAKE
ASSURANCES WERE GIVEN BY
CONSUL WILDMAN.
Afterwards, It Is Claimed, General
Anderson Asserted That the Am
orleans We're Not IN the Philip
pines For the Purpose of Taking
One Foot of Territory.

Minneapolis, July 1S.-The Times to-
morrow morning will publish an inter-
view which took place May IS at San
Isidro, Luzon, between its special cor
respondent, Martin Tew of the Thir-
teenth Minnesota, detailed by General
Wheaton as brigade interpreter, and
Major Lorenzo L. Zialcita, leader OF
Aguinaldo'S cavalry, and one OF the
Filipino commissioners who went TO
General Otis with proposals for an ar
miStice.
Major Zialcita denied emphatically
that Filipino officials had ordered the
burning of Manila and the wholesale
murder of Americans, and cited as
proof many Filipino officers were In
Manila that night and were taken pris-
oners. He said the proclamation of
General Otis proclaiming himself gov
ernor general greatly incensed the Fill
pinos, but asserted that both the. Fill
Pine leaders and people believed the
Americans had begun hostilities.
Major Zialcita, speaking of the re-
puted promises of independence made
prior to the fall of Manila, when asked
by Mr.. Tew if in their eagernesS Tor
independence the Filipinos had not
misunderstood or misconstrued the Ian
guage of American officials and OIL
GERS, replied:
about this. Consul Wiidman verbally
made this statement to us, and we had
so much confidence in the good lnten-
tions of the United States that to US 1t
meant as much as if it had been deliV-
cred in writing.
General Anderson Promised Too.
Besides, when we were in Cavite
number of US had the honor of enter
tanning General Anderson at the Atheo
Rial. This was before Manila was
taken by your forces. General Ander-
son on this occasion made a. speech in
which he said the Americans had not
come here for the purpose Of taking
one foot of territory with the view of
permanent possession, but for the pur-
pose of giving the Filipinos their indie
pendence. On Sept. q, last year, on the
occasion of a fiesta, a number or Amer
lean officers celebrated with US at the
residence of Pedarno Pachao, and all
expressed the same sentiments. On
many different occasions we We're told
by men high in authority that Filipino
independence would be recognized.
What was the opinion OF the F1lipi-
no leaders in regard TO General Otis
proclamation of Jan.
THAT proclamation" replied the ma
Tor. was decidedly bad, and greatly
incensed the people everywhere. 1t
stated nothing clearly, and PROMISED
nothing. 1t was non-committal on all
points except that Otis declared hlmselt
governor general of the island, and that
our country had been purchased from
Spain. The Filipino people desired IN
dependence, not annexation.
Can Govern Themselves.
On being asked if he really thought
the Filipino people were sufficiently ed
foir Of
national self government, the young
Filipino leader replied:
Our people have always misrepre-
scented, both by the local and foreign
press The friars are orr worst enemies,
and have been active in this regard. as
they have always tried to hold US IN
subsection Educational affairs have
heretofore been in their hands, and 1t
has served their purpose to prevent the
people from becoming too wise. But
even at this, the vast majority of the
people can read and write"
Major Zialcita was told that many
people in the United States believes 1t
a sacred duty for the United States 10
take possession of and govern the Phil
ippines, inasmuch as the natives were
not capable Of self-goVernment. 10
this he replied:
''This would have been a reasonable
proposition if we had demonstrated,
after fair trial, that our government
was inadequate to protect life, property
and personal rights. How could we
prove OUT fitness or unfitness for SELF
government until we had been given an
opportunity to show what we could
do?"
Did Not Try to Burn Manila.
Referring to the telegram of Feb. -,
sent by General Otis relative to the
order of the Filipino government to
burn Manila and massacre the whites
in the city, the Filipino emissary, with
flash Of anger on his face. replied:
That was false. absolutely false. No
such order was ever issued by officials
at Malolos. If General Otis found any
such written order it was the work OF
trfars or some other enemy of ours.
This is not a race war. We realize that
in order to win we must have the sup
/ port of civilized nations, and must con-
duct our affairs accordingly"
Early the following morning the com
missioners, under escort, started for
! Manila. to see General Otis.