The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-31
AGONCILLO'S LAST
SCHEME OF PROTEST.
He Issues an Address to the
United States Senate.
Ii Denies American Jurisdiction
Over the Philippines.
\ Clever Play to Give Honr II
Chance TO Hara>s thc
Government.


cleverly worded memorial to the Senate,
impudent in its tenor, because it asserts,
among other things, that this country
has no Jurisdiction natural or acquired
in the Philippine Islands, and threatening
In its intention. because between the lines
it indicates that the Filipinos viii never
submit in peace to American possession.
4 copy of this remarkable document was
taken to the State Department late yes
terday afternoon by Sixto Lopez, secretary
of the iunta- 1t was addressed to Secre-
tary Hay. Today many copies of the me
mortal viii be circulated among the
members OF the Senate.
The Filipinos are playing their best
card. they believe Agoncillo claims that
his latest official paper contains his
heaviest argument. He seriously objects
to the "aggregations OF American armies
and navies at their (the FilipInosD doors,
quotes alleged international law, and gives
some interesting unwritten history and
correspondence between Aguinaldo and
President Mckinley, General Greene, and
other American officials and military men.
The document follows:
MEMORIAL
TO
TIE SENATE or THE UNITED STATES
Accompanying letter to the Secretary of State, of
date January 80, ls39
The interest of my country requires. because
OF the Pendency OF the Peace Treaty before your
honorable body, that present TO you some con
SiderationS bearing upon the relations between
the United States and the Philippine Islands.
IL would be impertinent in me, and shall not
attempt to make, any suggestions relative to the
treatment OF the document in question At the
sIme time, ] must be understood protesting
as the representative of the independent Philip
pine Republic that the United States has no
jurisdiction, natural or acquired, through any
rf gnaslfI qAsr d,-af
upon the rights Of my country and people
The fact remains, however. that action is con-
tenplaied, which, We are informed, is proposed
IL deemed Necessary, 10 be the basis of military
operations against the latest addition TO the
republics Of the world. such action being as
shail herein point out, without foundation in
Lest it may be thought that in addressing YOU.
am exceeding the just rights Of those whom
nave Tie honor 10 represent, | may be parCioned
,9t e!.lhs yout attention TO the fact that the
Constitution OF the United States provides in sub
stance that no person, howsOeyer humble he may
be, shall be deprived of his life liberty or
piorerH except by due process Of law-Ineaning
after the pTefciment Of charges. their careful
examination by tribunal competent and Of
acknowledged authority 10 deal Herewith and
~ trial where the accused or defendant NAV
I've present IN person or by attorney This con-
sttution9l declaration is not the origin bt,t
me expression OF a principle right inherent
IN tue nature Of things-and which receives no
sohed moral sJnctity because OF its recor,i+ior
brcduse circumstances require it to he called into
plsy 10y nation seeking the recognition Of its
independence - as
! cannot believe that in any ,osi,r ,;.
on the part of the american Reprblic toward no,,
."uHt! ihere IS an intent to ignore as 10 Tho
Gh iliiiioiis OF human beings / represent the
I'sH' lic hee Government Of America trese-,.s
- the oEiiest of her inhabitants but raibeT ,rs
if 10 think that in the rush of arms tIis riigit
Ipl 4 moment may have been olscIIred in Tho
eIlcd citizens ~ N-i''sHt
Ny justification for addressing Won Is Thar 7
@i S"iieitous, lest by any inadyerfence ar nris-
III n, =, ny own specious foundation may he
'' ~ virtue OF which the rights Of my country
men may be JeOpardized and pi,,irs nat. i
si,9n s .ntH. iedoundlEg hereafter, with adde,I
iDIcr' against The yEell-ieiny of Ameyic, 1'u
In presenting the considerations / dcsi-o no.,
!" summit It seems necessary for me first Ia ro
10 the historical fact that large nr,,nIar y,
iiy e'uhtr!inen have never been subdued iy Sr,,r.
'Hh power, and, against their Iiberties IL
oppressive Of Spain has rayer -, eIi 'ii1
sustain itseii: that the remainder ha,.,Tla :,
tHeii adhesion 10 the cause of liberty ba,s -
L aliiioSt constant insurrectiOn against the GOV,
'ihmeiii Oi Spain; these conflicts ryi.tir,, - -
liuuoIslv with create. OF Iey- f,,gy - - '"l' %
hundred yeIrs '' 'ie past
The impression has been created in ,no,i,-,
Ia u lhe lime Of the declaration Of war he.
lseeh America and Spain tho PhiIinti,. -
1l'ii no longer cNisted. Upon this r.,iur 1 ,,,,,
- appeal 10 the authority Of ms co1mtryrpe,
.t ''A'ildicilpn, but prefer 10 invite. yofr st
'''i 4" letter written by Nj Williams
a'irI >t2tcS consul general Al Mgril, -
datc of March .. l.gs: ''--
Fef'liiion never more threatening 10 srgfr
t,'pri' getting arms, money. and friends And
IL. '-.1l'iii'i ile spaniard-, resident aud sol
"i'is' probably hundred 10 one'
Aelm on March 81, I-9S. he wrote Teferrin., II
Tie then condition OF tie conflict. 80 "
ne Bililsh shipmlster there (at Cane Be
IAS"l Al IN" time reports about forty killed
and forty wounded. After slirrrnder he S,,
lii inc dead and wounded together In , bC,s,
and hy burning cremated all =
ndeT the same date he writes Of the dasertior
"i an shiife regiment OF the Spanish forces ~
iiis insurgents. SAYING further:
NOV ''o armed rebels, which for days hay,
NsH iit camp near Manila and have been r,.
$3.50 nom tlle mountains plan 20 attack th,
ilin'' -''' i'i' un'e'
On April 2s. lses, Mr Pratt wrote 4 letter +,
W. DAY, IN which lie speaks Of learning fron
''-ncial Ag7iinald0 the state and object s,Iyb
10 be- obtained by the present insilrrect ian,r,
in'yetneut, which though absent from the Phil
lppiEes. be sim directing
NithOui additional authority. it must be eyi
Hfil 10 lpur honorable body that an cNtensiy
revolution. existed ia the Philippine Islands a
ne tifn.- = tie declaration Of war by Americ.
t.sifst Spain.
l.'is revolutionary movement found at ID
head General Asuinaldo. now President Of N
PhIhppinc government, Of whom Mr.. Pratt wrot
Mr. Day: General Aglinaldo impressed me a
Of intellectual ability courage and worth
while again he said that no close observer 4
what i.as trauspired in the Philippines during IN
past four yeaTs could have failed 10 recogniz
that General Aguin2ldO enjoyed, above all other,
the confidence Of The Philippine insurgents an
the respect alike of the Spanish and foreigner
IN the islands, all Of which vouched for his ju
Tee and high sense OF honor and Mr. William
wrote Mr. Moore July Is, lsgs .Geners
ASuinlldn, AgoucilO, and Sandico are all me
Who would be leaders in their separate depart
rncnis IN 5ny county"
The purpose Of the Filipino Patriots in COZ
ductiEG this revolution was to secure the con
Islete Independence of their country, and in tn
effort they received the announcement of III
nited States, and .-cre never informed that II
obientiaU and preservation u such independent
would he regarded as a hostile act by Americ:
and they never believed that their struggle
such cause would lead 70 enormous aggreg;
tious 0i American armies and navies at the
doors
A, carly as May 90, ls9s. Mr. Pratt inclozed
Mr. Day the manifesto Of the Filipinos, beginnn
follows:
''compatTiois: Divine Providence is about
place independence within our reach, aud in
Way a free and Independent nation could hardl
wish for
Had the United States desired or intended ths
she victory oi the fiipinus when gained shoul,
like Dead Sea fruit turn to ashes in their grasl
surely a. this moment America ought not
lapc been reticent.
later. and on June 10, ls9s, General Aguinald
appealed directly 10 isesident Mckinley, his le
Ter having been forwarded under date of July
urging that the United State should make I
cudcay"r to deliver the possession Of the Philil
pines 30 England, but leave his country ''fr,
and independent, even if you make peace wit
Spain
Again General Aguinaldo not inform,
that Il VAS the purpose Of America, If possibl
to purchase the Philippine Islands from e
PEELED tyrant without consulting the wishes
tile inhabitants. who had established and we
maintaining successfully government satisfacto