The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1899-05-12
HE EXPECTS PEACE.


Chicago, May 8.-The Times-Herald
Of Sunday morning publishes the fol-
lowing Washington special, saying that
the statements contained therein were
obtained from one Of the highest of
ficials of the government, and may be
regarded as authoritative SO far as the
views of the administration are con-
cerned:
president Mckinley has expressed to
friends his firm conviction that the Fill
Pine insurrection will collapse within the
next 4S hours. This conclusion is based up
on the highly satisfactory cablegrams re-
ceived from Mr.. Schurman, president Of the
peace commission. Another conference be-
tween the peace commission and Agufnal-
dos representatives is probably now, or
soon will be, In progress.
1.-The result, the president believes, viii be
q decision Of the Filipinos to lay down their
arms as preliminary to the inaugura-
ton Of the form Of government which the
peace commission has recommended and
which the president has approved.
Tin view Of the suspicious outlook for an
early peace it is thought in some quarters
to be rather strange that the American
forces continue fighting. When high offi-
cial Of the administration was asked for
an explanation of this apparent neon
gruity he declared that vigorous measures
were necessary until peace had become an
accomplished fact.
""The trouble all along has BEEN he
said, that Aguinaldo's army has misun-
derstood our efforts at Cancellation. Every
act of kindness has been considered by
AgufnaldO as an evidence OF weakness, and
he would invariably follow all peaceful
overtures by orders for Increasing the
strength of his intrenchments.
The members Of the peace commission
the civilians as well as the military MEM
bers-have all agreed that the best method
for securing a speedy termination OF the
rebellion is to keep hitting hard while the
enemy is revolving In his mind the condi-
lions upon which he can have peace.
Our information, however, justff1es the
belief that there will be a cessation Of hos
hlities within less than 48 hours
THE form Of government which the
peace commissioners have recommended
has been the principal topic in Official
quarters here. The comment Is generally
favorable. Even If the substitute proposed
by the commissioners does not contemplate
independence for the Filipinos, they say it
will be more in keeping with our institu-
lions to control the archipelago through a
civil than through military government"
Manila, May 8.-Col. Manuel Ar
guelles, chief of staff for Gen. Luna,
who, with Maj. Jose Bengal, is here as
special envoy from Aguinaldo to plead
for an armistice, said frankly that the
Filipinos we're whipped. Col. Arguelles
comes from Gen. Luna, who is the COM
handing general of the insurgent army
He said:
1--WE know that we are whipped. do
not mind admitting that Aguinaldo Is dis
couraged. More than this, the troops are
determined to surrender, and they have
not been backward in submitting their po-
sition to the leaders. The situation now
is really this: The leaders of our soldiers
want some guarantee as to the treatment
they are to receive If they lay down their
arms. The leaders feel responsibility
toward the men in the ranks and they are
sincere in asking for a brief armistice In
order that complete surrender may be
made through our congress. I know that
the impression prevails that we are seek
ing cessation Of hostilities in order that
we may strengthen ourselves in the field,
but this view of the position we have as
sumed is great injustice to us. We are
honest in what we ask, and the Ameri-
cans do us great wrong in presuming that
| we are not sincere in what we say and In
| suspecting that we have some deep-la1d
scheme on foot. We cannot expect to win
surrender. You know that we must think
of the people in move Of this kind, fraught
| with the greatest importance to ourselves,
and we hope that when Gen. Otis is con-
V1nceQ OF our sincerity ne Will consent to
term Of peace sufficient for us to get to-
gether and make It lasting"
The military representatives of the
Filipino leader are much cast down at
the position assumed by Gen. Otis, but
the feeling here is that the American
general is making the only permissible
stand and will force complete sur
render.