The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-07-13

A Strong Review of His Position Re
garding AguinaldO.
Washington Times.

Washington Times.
Mr.. John Barrett, formerly our minister to
Siam, having been accused by the. New
treatment of Aguinaldo and the Tagal
mutiny, has addressed a letter to that
Journal which IN it Prints He writes
hand that you intimate that 1 am incon-
sistent In my treatment of our Philippine
nSey rmt me a to take exception
entire text of my different addresses, you
would at once see that / have not been
in the. least degree inconsistent. Unfor-
tunately, some papers in America have
selected certain portions of my address at
Shanghai; made before the outbreak in
the Philippines and compared what at. I
parts of the former which referred In plain
terms 70 what my position would be II
Aguinaldo and his followers took up arms ms
States had done all in its power to pre-
vent war.
Il admit that when delivered my Shang-
hal address in January. 1898, I firmly OPP
posed lighting # it could be avoided, and;
his followers credit for all they had
at the same time that If he persisted in
fighting l could have no more sympathy
for him and his cause. Later and shortly
sonally for the last time, told him that
l had used my influence In every way pos.
wond b be Better for him 19 to
terms with General Otis and Admiral
Dewey. than TO fight, adding that If fight
ing did ensue the United States would be
forced to carry the war through to an end;
which would mean the complete removal
of all vestiges of nsurrection.
Since the fighting began, convinced from
personal study of the field that We did the
best we could to avoid a conflict, 1 have
taken the ground from my knowledge or
Malay or Filipino character that there
cessation of hostilities unless to give us
complete control Of the islands and peo-
ple-with, however, the hope that we can
establish a government there with large
degree Of autonomy.
What have said about the effect of the
so-caled anti-imperialistic agitation in the
Philippines has been based entirely on &C.
tual knowledge of the same, even to the
degree of seeing and having in my posses
sion the circular form of certain printed
quantities through the Filipino army and
among their people from the Filipino
press and the Hong-Kong agencies of the
Filipino Junta. 1 would have you bear in
mind that I have at no time assailed the
personal character or honesty of motive of
any man opposing our policy in the Philip
to speak highly of the character of men
leading this agitation In Boston the other
day made no attack whatever on the per-
sonality of Senator Hoar, but, on the other
hand, 1 referred in specific terms TO his
high moral and mental standards. My OBJ
observations were confined TO a simple
statement OF TACT, covering the use OF MS
address in Congress by agencies which very
likely he did not control / described the
effects of such speech upon the Filipinos,
because, again, l had tangible evidence
thereof
MY whole purpose in my different ad-
dresses in discussing this point has been TO
show that the agitation has been harmful
in that il has had the direct effect of en-
couraging the Filipinos to fight US: and the
great majority of the army and navy men
at Manila. particularly Admiral Dewey and
General Otis, If they could express them
selves freely. would confirm every word
say on this point.
"In interviews in speeches, and in arti-
cles for magazines, / have been inspired
solely with. the desire TO tell the truth: and
rather than be carried away by prejudice or
excitement, have spoken calmly and can
didy of the strength of Aguinaldo and his
forces and the influences which led up to
the present conflict. Because 1 thus
frank and state both sides / am called in
consistent where l am simply endeavoring
to confine myself to truthful descriptions
of conditions.
Considering the fact that in none OF my
addresses have L called names or descended
TO personalities in any shape or form, / am
surprised that certain men and papers, I'm
order to weaken my arguments, have seen
fit 10 make personal attacks on me, and in
that way cast reflections on the value OF my
statements. 1t would seem 10 me that such
discussions as these, which are for the ben
eft of everybody, should be conducted with
out impugning a mans motive or charac-
fer