The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-02-13
STUDY OF AGUINALDO.

A writer in the American Review of
Reviews gives a character sketch of
Aguinaldo which presents that leader
of the Philippines in a. somewhat differ
ent light from that in which he is re-
garded by most Americans. The follow
ing is an abstract of the article in
question:
To understand AguinaIdo thoroughly
one must understand the Philippines
thoroughly. To do this with existing
information is exceedingly difficult. 1t
is, therefore, more difficult to make a
correct and complete analysis of the
man.
In his features, face and skill Aguin-
aldo looks more like European than a
Malay. He is what would be called a
handsome man, and might be compared
with many young men in the province
of Andalusia, Spain. If there be truth
in phrenology, he is a man above the
common.
The phrenologist would be borne out
by the consensus of those who know
him. Friends and enemies agree that he
is intelligent ambitious, far-sighted,
brave. self-controlIed, honest, moral,
vtndictive, and at times cruel. He pos
sesseS the quality which friends call
wisdom and enemies call craft Ac-
cording to those who like him, he is
courteous, polished, thoughtful, and
dignifed; according to those who dis
like him, he is insincere, pretentious,
vain. and arrogant. Both admit him to
be genial, generous, Self-Sacr1hcing,
popular, and capable in the administra
ton of affairs.
Like all great men, he has had a
very checkered career. He claims to
have been born in the province of Ca
vite, and at any rate, it was in this pro-
vince that he was first known a lit
tie boy. His friends say that he was the
son of a Spanish general; his enemies
at Manila. that he was the offspring of
a dissolute but learned Jesuit. At the
age of he was a hOuSebOy in the home
of Jesuit priest in Cavite. A house
n O iS
the part of a house-dog rather than
that of a domestic servant.
If the head of the house is cruel he is
kicked and cuffed by everybody and
lives on short commons; if his master
is kind and affectionate he enjoys about
the same attention as one of the child
rem of the family. Aguinaldo's master
was a very kind man and took a deep
interest in the welfare of his little pro-
tege. He dressed him we'll, so much so
as to excite the notice and even the
wrath of some neighbors. More import
ant still, he gave the boy an education,
which, though unequal to what every
child receives in the United tSates, was
a hundredfold better than what is be-
slowed upon the little Tagals in Luzon.
About the year 1888 Aguinaldo had
some trouble with the authorities and
went to Hong Kong, where he obtained
his first knowledge of the great world
outside the narrow Spanish civilization
in which he had been brought up. He
Joined the crew of a Chinese warship
which had some European instructors,
managed to gain wide knowledge of
military and naval warfare. and read
many works upon strategy. During the
past year he surprised many new ac-
qua1ntanceS by his knowledge of the IA
NOUS battles of Europe and America.
In the beginning of our trouble with
Spain Aguinaldo showed remarkable
foresight He made contracts with ad-
venturers to deliver arms in the Phil
1ppines, and he displayed extraordinary
activity in personally visiting American
naval officers, consular representatives,
merchants, sea captains, and private
citizens. He also called upon the lead
ing English papers there and tried in
every way to arouse sympathy for his
people and his cause. In this work he
displayed a patriotism unmixed with
selfishness.
The mans shrewdness is seen in the
fact that, although he had the power,
he did not have himself appointed pres
1dent or dictator of either of the islands
the people, or Luzon itself. He was
simply the president of the revolution
airy government, and the revolutionary
government consisted of the command
ing officers of the revolutionary army.
Practically he gave his army q civil
and political phase and called it the
government. He continued the tribal
laid down a rough code of official Ell
quette, and closed the state paper
with directions as to insignia of office
In this he prescribed for himself a
collar of gold, a triangle badge of gold
q whistle Of gold, and a cane with head
and tassels of gold. This barbaric style
of ornamentatiOn may seem funny to
the American reader, but 1t is very
quiet when compared with some of the
official court dresses abroad. A simple
uniform would have but little meaning
to an eastern mind. The addition of