The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1899-07-14
THE FILIPINO SIDE.
AguinaldO'S Grafton to His Followers
at TarlaC.
Calls Attention to the Anu-Expansion
Sentiment IN the United
States.

a copy OF the Independcnencia ha
reached Manila containing the speecl
which Aguinaldo made during tn,
recent celebration at Tarlac OF the an.
nual anniversary Of the proclamation OF
Filipino independence. In substance. it
is as follows.
"Filipno, beloved daughter of the
ardent sun of the tropics, commended
by providence to the care of noble
Spain, benot ungrateful to her salute who
warmed you with the breath of her own
culture and civilization. 1t is true she
sought to crush the inspiration for lnde-
pendence, as u loving mother opposes
separation forever from the daughter of
her bosom. This but proves the excess
of love and affection Spain feels for the
Filipino.
delicate flower Of the East, scarcely
eight months weancd from the breast o;
thy mother, thou hast dared 10 brave u
great and powerful nation, such as is
the United States, after barely organiz-
ing and disciplining thy little army.
Yet, we reply, we will be slaves to none,
nor allow ourselves to be deceived by
soft words. Let us continue to defend
our fatherland until independence is as
sured, for this is Justice. We shall see
at last that the great American nation
will acknowledge the right, which is on
our side.
"That doctrine of the great Monroe,
that America is for Americans, is not
forgotten, just as we affirm that the
Philippines are for the Filipinos. Some
states OF the American Union have
arisen in our favor. Especially is the
Democratic party convinced that both
victors and vanquished will lose precious
lives. Thus many Of the people and
many statesmen censure President Me-
kinley rs inhuman for having ordered
his military representatives at Manila to
seek means to bring about hostilites
with the Filipinos. These facts prove
that they wished to try us TO see il we
were able to live up 10 the second color
OF our banner, which signifies courage,
heroism and martvrdom. Therefore,
we should not resent this struggle with
the Americans. I'm spite Of this eX-
pressed desire TO dominate all the Phil
ippines, well convinced are they that
we fight with justice and right on our
side and that autonomy is all Il show of
deceit, only hoping 10 save a certain ac-
cumulated wealth. We have never con-
cealed our aspirations-that we aspire
but to Independence that we will strug-
gle on 10 obtain il, perhaps from those
who are now our enemies and tomorrow
will he our allies, rs they were for the
overthrow of the power of Spain.
I'VE might well accept this autonomy
America offers, but what can we do with
il ii our ambition is independence, and
il we are 10 accept it only later to over
throw 10y force OF arms the sovereignty
Of America? As ! believe it is the in
tention of the autOnomists to make use
Of treachery and deceit, we cannot ac-
cept such procedure. We do wish
To show our character of frankness and
and nothing more. Let us
avoid the example of those natives who,
having at one time been colonists, ac-
cepted autonomy 10 enable them 10
make their work surer, once everything
was prepared. History has given us an
of this in recent events. Let us
be persistent in our idea which is only
the legitimate and noble aspiration of
people which is desirOus at all cost to
preserve its national honor spotless and
ls pure as crystal. Thus, then, there
will not be a single Filipino autonomist.
Those who are so are, in the eyes of the
people, but time-seryers, fearful OF los
ing their riches, threatened by risks of
war. FilipinOs, let us be constant. Let
us strengthen the bonds of our union"
AguinaldO concluded with calling for
cheers for independence, the union of
the Filipinos and for the liberating
army.