Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1899-01-07
LETTERS Or v VILLAINS.
Official Correspondence From Our
Consul at Manila Made Public.
TELL OF SPANISH CRUELTY.
Likewise show That the Filipinos
Time and Again Expressed
Their Desire to De Annex
ed by Uncle Sam.

Washington, Jan. THE correspond
ence published officially in connection
with the peace treaty contains much of
interest from Consul Williams, who was
stationed at Manila prior to the war.
He was in constant communication with
Aguinaldo for some time after the bat
tie of Manila bay, and his letters throw
much light upon the relations with the
Philippine chieftain.
AS early as Feb. % last Mr.. Williams
wrote: THE governor, who is amiable
and popular, having resigned, wishes
credit for paciliration and certain rebel
leaders were given a cash bribe of ST.
$780, 900 to consent to public deportation
to China. This bribe and deportation"
he adds, "only multiplied claimants and
famed the fires of discomfort"
On March 10 he complained that let
ters and kilograms We're tampered
with, and he then found it necessary to
keep open house constantly for the ben
eft of American citizens there. He
dwels at this time much on the move
ment of the natives, showing the dlsloy-
atty of the native troops to Spain and
the growth of the rebellion, and he also
the Spanards.
One of these occurred on March %,
when a meeting of natives was broken
up by force, many being WantOnly
shot to death and g. taken prisoners.
The n"Xt day the 81 prisoners We're
marched in a body to the cemetery and
were then shot down. Many of these,
Mr.. Williams adds. were not partici-
pants in the meeting.
Drowned Like Rats.
He also reports that several hundred
20. .,.. ,,:'i,'oners were disposed Of by
being placed in low dungeons in the city
walls. where they We're drowned by the
rise of the tide. s.a.
He speaks of the influence of the
church as the greatest bar to progress
in the islands. Mr.. Williams alsSt.stat-
ed that every leisure hour was devoted
to the inspection of the forts, arsenals
and battleships IN and about Manila
even at that early das and that he was
sending information thus derived to
Commodore pSWey,. 10. with his fleet,
was then at Hongk ts1sss Spies were 50
thick that he did not dare copy his dis
patches in Office books.
Mr.. Williams left Manila on April 90.
He was a witness of Dewey's victory
and on May u resumed his reports from
Cavite His irst4vf T,ptch after that
date beefns WITH =, ssulnifte-- Ct the
fr: .'"n slss of the Philippine natives to
our country and to me as its represent
ative Scores of times" he continues,
Il have heard hopes expressed that Ell
ther the United States or Great Brit
ain would acquire these islands.
AEuinmldo's Hopes.
Aguinado told me today" he writes
on June 16. that his friends all hoped
that the Philippines would be held as a
colony of the United States" This was
only four days after the first formation
of provisional government by the ma
tives. Mr.. Williams says he was invit-
ed to be present when this government
was organized by the Filipinos, but
that he declined. For this he afterward
received a note of approval from the
state Genartment
On Aug. 4 he wrote: ut has been my
study to keep .on pleasant terms with
Aguinaldo for ultimate objects. Ad
miral Dewey says l have planted the
seeds of cordial co-opera ton. My ar
gun1ent with Agunaldo has been that
the conditions of government by the |
United states in the Philippine Islands |
would be vastly better for him and his
people in honor, advancement and prof
it than could exist under any plan fixed |
by himself and Filipinos. l have trav
arsed the entire ground of government |
with him in council, and he has called |
his officials from Is provinces to meet |
FOR discussion, all friendly but unofficial |
IN my part"
On Sept s Mr.. Williams cabed: TO
lay delega tiOns from 1000 Nisayan SOL
liers, also representing southern busi-
ness interests, came to me pledging 10y
atty to annexation. Several insurgent
eaders likewise. Spain cannot control.
If we evacuate anarchy rules"