The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-11-28
CONSULAR ANTICS.


faith in which Consul Pratt made his arrange
ment with Agunaldo at Singapore The Con
s-essional declaration OF war was before him. and il
specifically disavows any policy OF conquest or pur-
pose OF territorial expansion That he arranged with
Dewey and Consul Widman for Aguinaldos return
&c Luzon, IN the spirit OF that declaration, well
established as any fact in recent history The mystery
;hat awaits solution is, Why was Pratt dismissed for
making that arrangement while Widnan was retained
IN the service and promoted TO be Consul General?
I lie record shows that Wdman continued for long
time 10 in line with the Pratt agreement In his
official report 10 our State Department Wilduan says:
Immediately his arrival at Cavite Aguinado IS
sued proclamation which had outlined for him be-
lore he lett. He OF course organized government,
Of which he dictator, absolutely necessary step
II he hoped TO maintain control over the natives and
% that time 10 this he has been unnterruptedly
successful in the field and dignhed and Just as the
head OF his government In conclusion I wish TO put
myself record stating that the insurgent govern
ment OF the Philippine Islands cannot be dealt with
as il they North American Indians willing to be
removed from one reservation TO another"
In the correspondence printed by The Call on Sun
day Wildman, on June Il. 1898 officially advised
Agunaldo 10 parole his Spanish prisoners and depO
them and If any OF them broke their parole to give
such the full penalty" which Is death Now Aguin
aldo himself and the trained lawyers in his Cabinet
understood fully the import OF that official advice
4 military parole OF prisoners OF war must have be
hind II the civil power OF government, with lis mill
tary in the field and in possession OF prisoners
taken In arms fighting against il Agunaldo could
take the parole OF Spanish prisoners in behalf Of
the United States and bind them not 10 bear arms
against this country and shoot them for violating
parole Tor he was not an officer OF the United States
shoot prisoners io- violating il would have been nur-
der. Therefore il that Wdman, representing this
Government, was advising officially OF nation
atty TO be exercised by the Philippine government
On june 25, 1893, Wildman, who had been pro
NOTED 10 be Consul General wrote officially
Aguinaldo: DO not forget that the United States
undertook this Tor the sole purpose OF relieving
the Cubans from the cruetes under which they were
suffering and not for the love OF conquest or the hope
OF gain. They are actuated by precisely the same
feeling toward the Fiipnos" Nj Wildman Is sill
Consul General His proclamation for Philippine
government his advice that II exercise one OF the
most serious functions OF nationality in issuing mill
tary parole under death penalty, and his official
pledge that his Government rated Cuba and the Phil
ippines together; his Official report 10 this Govern
ment OF the existence OF civil government in the
Philippines, administered with dignity and justice"
by Aguinaldo-au stand without disavowal by our
Government and he remains in Office as our repre-
sentative
IN addition 70 this It appears, in Consul Wildmans
letters that the funds Of the Philippine government
consisting in part OF the payment made by Spain to
close the revolution OF 1896 were put in his hands
in Hongkong TO buy arms and munitions Of war for
Aguinaidos government, and that he acted in CON
with Agoncillo IN the purchase and shipment az
arms on the steamer Pasig from neutral ports 1t
further appears that this steamer was captured" or
detained by British authorities in Hongkong, with
arms on board purchased by Wildman and that upon
her release he sent her 70 Macao 10 clear from there
10 Canton. in the latter port 10 receive arms bought
with the Filipino funds.
Il appears then that this Consul General as proved
by his oun correspondence was engaged in violating
The neutrality laws and defying the neutral rights OF
both China and Great Britain Under the rule estab-
cry against Great Britain and China for this violation
OF their rights as neutrals. Mr. Wildman appears.
then by the testimony as ratying Pratt's agreement
which Howard Bray. who witnessed IT, says was "a
promise OF independe~ce'; as the author OF the
proclamation establishing Aguinado's government
lis adviser in highly national It's agent in the
purchase and shipment OF arms, and as not changing
this attitude until he was sued for Filipino money
remaining in his hands in the British courts at Hong
kong. VIII some one explain the mystery OF Pratts
dismissal and Wildman's retention? And will some
one explain how the United States. retaining him in
Office, avoid the responsibility for promises made
this Government?