The San Francisco call., 1899-07-28
EXPANSION eND DESTINY.

the adrinlstFaten ~ heaI date IN edily Jie'
1903 They the planest evidence that at1at tftse
policy Of conquest and aggression had been de
cided upon After giving an estimate OF the troops
probably needed in the West Indies against Spain.
General Merritt recommended large force tor
Manila, admitting it to be larger than seemed neces-
sary to meet the Spanish there, by saying: Before
we get through we will probably have to tight the
so-caed insurgents" Before get through
What?
The insurgents were not going to assist Spain. In
April 1903, before Dewey sailed from Hongkong to
fight the sea fight OF Manila Bay, and after the Fill
pno treaty OF alliance made by Consul Pratt at Snga-
pore had been ratified by Dewey and Wldman at
Honglong, the Filipino insurgent junta had issued
to their countrymen proclamation IN these terms;
"Compatriots Divine Providence is about to place
independence within our reach and in way the most
free and independent could hardly wish for. The
Americans not from mercenary motives, but for the
sake OF humanity and the lamentations OF so many
prosecuted people, have considered it opportune TO
extend their protecting worth TO Our beloved coun:
try. At the present moment an American squadron
is preparing to sail for the Philippines. We your
brothers, are very much afraid you may be induced
to fire upon the Americans No brothers,
make this mistake Rather blow your own brains
out than treat as enemies or fire shot al those who
are your liberators Take no notice OF the Spanish
Governor General calling you to arms although 1t
may cost you your lives Rather die than be migrate
iul to our American liberators The Governor Gen
eral calls you to arms! What for? To defend your
Spanish tyrants2 To defend those that have despised
YOU and even in public speeches asked for your eN-
termnation-those who have treated you little better
than savages? No, a thousand times lake note
The Americans will attack by sea and YOU must pre-
vent any reinforcements coming from Spain there
fore we insurgents must attack by land Where you
see the American flag flying, there assemble in num-
mers: they are our redeemers' Much other matter
in the proclamation dwels upon the independence
and sell government assured to the Fliplnos.
On July T. 1898, General Anderson addressed an
official letter to "Senor Don Emilio Aguinado, com
manding the Philippine forces, Cavite, Luzon-Gen-
eral have the honor to inform you that the United
States OF America whose land forces have the honor
to command in this vicinity being at with the
kingdom OF Spain has entire sympathy and most
friendly sentiments Tor the native people OF the Philip
Pine Islands. For these reasons desire to have the
most amcable relations with YOU and to have you
and your people cooperate with in the military
operations against the Spanish
One OF Dewey's officers, writing January 81, 1900
says "Aguinaldo reached Manila on May 20 OF last
year at which time there evidence that
knew Of OF a native organization. He created an
army in short time and Immediately commenced to
ing for he defeated detachment after detachment Of
the Spanish army took fort after fort captured regi
ments with arms and ammunition and in a short time
had captured every Spanish soldier the island OF
Luzon or had driven those not captured into Manila
Before August 10 these insurgents had actually cap
tured the whole OF Luzon. excepting Manila, from the
Spaniards. Alter taking all OF Luzon. with the
ceptions named, they conquered the Spanish in the
island of Negros and the city OF Cebu, and before
we reached Iloilo they had that city and the whole
island OF Panay.
1t is evident therefore, that in June 1893 there
no danger OF our having to fight the socaed insur-
gents" the aiders OF Spain and Merritt meant by
the phrase before we get through before we got
through wrestling from Filipino allies the islands
and cities which their vaor had conquested from the
kingdom OF Spain 1t means in fine that somewhere
in the administration in Washington, in June, 1893
it had been determined to hold the Philippines first
using the natives as allies under promise OF
independence to conquer them from Spain, as they
did.
At that time the most generous emotions of the
American people were in action On every face was
the flush and in every heart the thrill of unselfsh
sacrifice to make other people free as ourselves
There was not among sign Of any mercenary
motive The chink OF the dollar had not been heard.
President Mckinley had officially denounced conquest
as criminal aggression opposed to national code
OF morals" But at that very time. as proved by
Merritt's report conquest had been determined upon
and the policy crystallized which political snveers
now cali destiny" and basphemous hypocrites say
is 'the will OF Cod To do this the Filipnos were
betrayed by and Our people deceived by
their servants Washington. Last year not a single
volunteer could have been had to cross the Pacific
for conquest Instead of the fair boys, who brought
to camp their faces the bloom OF their country
homes, with lips consecrated by the farewell kiss OF
mothers whose parting pain mnistered unto by
the thought that their would fall if fall they
must an unselfsh sacrifice ior the freedom OF Others
we would have seen regiments of sulen conscrpts
marched unwilngly to wage war of greed against
the rights OF man.
IMPROVEMENTS AROUND THE Bay.
HEPORTS from San lose are to the effect that