The evening times., 1899-07-19
WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
AgonciIlo Thinks the Filipfnos VIII
Never he Conquered.

WILL CONTINUE TO FIGHT.
AgonciIlo Thinks the Filipfnos VIII
Never ne Conquered.
Paris, July 19.-The "Herald's'' Euro
pean edition publishes the following:
Senor Agoncillo, who styles himself
President of the Philippine Commission"
is still in Paris With him are Senior Luna
and General Ruego de Dios Two other
members Of the commission, DR.. Losada
and Captain Marti, are now in Hongkong.
Herald" correspondent interviewed
Senior Agoncillo on the present situation in
the Philippines. Agoncillo said:
Il have read the account in this morn
ings Herald OF the difficulties of the
correspondents in Manila in getting their
news out of the country. l have known
this for long time.
"The Manila newspater, La oceana Es-
pamela, was suppressed by the military au-
thorities out there because it expressed
views contrary to those ef the commanding
general. ~
The Filipinos have still the same ideas
and ambitions they always had-nameiy,
independence-an they will always fight
for it. From our point of view, the Ameri-
cans are really beaten, since they cannot
hold their own, and it will be necessary to
have many more thousand men to conquer
the islands. j 80
Look at this map. which represents Luz
zon. The Americans, took Manila and ad-
vanced on Malolos, and then to San FER
; nando which is now abandoned by them
and occupied by the Filipinos.
The campaign really centralizes about
the railway line leading from Manila to
Dagupan. But up to the present the
Americans have only advanced as far as
San Fernando. Toward the south OF Ma
Mia the towns OF Maguig, Binang, and
Santa Cruz, bordering on Laguna de Bay,
have been taken, but then abandoned, be-
cause the troops were required IN the
north, and because provisioning the army
was difficult All the district about San
Fernando and Santa Cruz and the adjacent
county is a swamp, and will continue to be
SO until December.
What is the result Of the campaign?
Nothing, SO far as the Americans are
concerned. The condition Of the country
in Luzon Is what 1t was before the hostili-
ties broke out with the Americans. 1t is
mostly in the hands Of the Filipinos, ex-
cept that the Spanish hold the island of
Jolo. Those portions Of the island OF Lu
zon which they formerly occupied are now
held by the Filipinos.
Besides Manila the Americans hold only
Iloilo, Cebu, and Bacolod. But they do
not hold the country adjacent to these
towns, except in the case Of Manila.
This is exactly the position of the
Americans. They have been carrying on
war against us, continuing the work and
trying. to subdue us as the Spanish did ever
since 1885, and we are not conquered yet.
THE American army in the Philippines
is really responsible for this present war,
but / do not hold the American people in
the United States responsible for it.
THE American people have been but i'm
perfectly informed by the United States
officials as TO the true position of affairs.
The army is also responsible for the COM
mencement of hostiIities.'
IF the Americans are determined to con-
tinue the war to the end what will be the
RESULT" / asked.
Agoncillo laughed as he replied I'VE
shall continue to fight all the same. But,
mark you, We hold you to your promises.
Admiral Dewey, the commander of the
Petrol, Consul General Wildman, of Hong
kong; Consul General Pratt, of Singapore,
and Consul General Williams. of Manila,
all promised US that if we aided the Ameri-
cans against the Spanish our independence
would be assured. 1t is now denied that
this promise was made, but President Nc
Kinley knows what the true state of af
fairs was and what our aspirations were.
True, Dewey vanquished the Spaniards
on the sea, but it was owing to the Filipi
nos that the Spanish were subdued on the
land. Have the promises made to our
people been fulfilled?
I'VE desire peace. but peace obtained
with honor. That is the aspiration of our
people.
When I was at Washington, 1 made
great efforts, as Aguinaldo's delegate. to
arrange the affairs of our people on a most
friendly basis with the American Govern
ment. asked the President for the in
dependence of the Filipinos and assured
him that our people would be extremely
grateful to the United States.
Again, / pointed out to the President
in another note that 1t was unnecessary to
send more troops to the Philippines during
the armistice as that would be interpreted
as threat by our people.
Il asked for an audience with the Presi-
dent, but all my overtures were coldly de-
clined.
Where, / ask the American people, in
the name of the Filipinos, is the recog
milton OF the independence of our country,
| as has been promised us? 1t would be
| more honorable for the Americans to de-
clare our independence than to continue
as they are doing. What the American Con-
| stitution says applies equally to us, namely
that no people ought to be governed
without the consent OF that people.
1T may be said that to withdraw your
| troops and declare our independence would
! be against the amour propre of the Ameri-
can people, but in this case it would be a
| false amour propre"
Have you any proposition to make
which would open the way for peace?" 1
| asked
IF had" was the answer. at would be
| made to TIE Government at Washington,
and not to the people at large. through the
intervention of newspapers. II the United
States Government desires to arrange mat
tiers with the Filipinos l shall be happy
to do all oah to promote good under
standing and aid toward the establishment
of peace"