Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-25

II I1ANN ~ 6GLOE i nEDE&N-
TIALS.
Washington, January 24.-Senor
Lopez, secretary to Agoncillo, the
Washington representative of Aguin-
aldo, called at the State department
at l o'clock this afternoon and lodged
with the chief clerk a communication
which, according 10 the common expec-
tation, marked the critical stage in
the Philippine question. This is the
third attempt made by the Filipino
representatives to secure official rec
ignition from the United States gov
eminent. Secretary Hay at the time
the communication was presented was
attending a meeting OF the cabinet at
the White House, SO that all hal Chief
Clerk Michael could do under the cir
cumStanceS was to receive the paper
as he would any other handed in to
him.
The advices from Manila which have
reached the war department are far
from ~reassuring. 1t is understood that
Gen. Otis reports an expectation on
his part that the insurgents are about
to force an issue and if this should
be SO the result cannot be foreSeen.
Manila itself and not Iloilo, as might
at first be supposed, is regarded as the
danger point just now.
While the instructions to Gen. Otis
have been to avoid any hostile clash
with the natives, so far as that plan is
consistent with the maintenance of
his position, it is realized here that it
is within the power of any excited or
intoxicated person to precipitate a
battle between the two opposing forces.
For it must be understood that there
is nothing in Gen. Otis construc-
tons to prevent him from most Wig
orously defending himself and the in
terests confided to his charge. Gen.
Otis is so sure of his ground that the
officials here feel no doubt as to the
outcome of a hostile collision between
the Americans and the insurgent
forces under Aguinaldo, particularly
as Gen. Otis would have the enormous
advantage of the full cooperation of
the American feet under Dewey. But
it is particularly desirable that yer a
battle ending in victory be avoided
Just now, for the President has by no
means surrendered his conviction that
the misguided F%ilipinos can be brought
Il an understanding of the real object
of the United States and peacefully
accept the conditions sought to be i'm
posed.
Manila, January 20, via Hong Kong,
January 24.-The Independence to-
day issued a supplement containing a.
despatch p%urporting to come from Ma
lolos, the seat of the rebel government
1t comments upon the appointment Of
the commission and says:
THE FilipinoS naturally suspect this
as a new attempt to humbug. Both
Dewey and Spencer Pratt promised us
independence if the Filipino republic
was stable. The Filipinos are disil-
lusioned. They believe the commits
sion is a ruse to gain time till they
have accumulated formidable forces,
when America, abusing her strength,
will begin a war to ratify her cover
eighty"
The Independence than alleges that
all the commissioners are partisans of
colonial expansion and incidentally as
serts that the archbishop also favors
annexation, with the sole object of
gaining the sympathies of the winning
side, immaterial which, in the interests
of the religious corporations"
The Filipinos of Caloocan and Gega1-
angin, mistaking salutes exchanged be-
on January IS, moved three thousand
~.-, - 49, Fr~-A - >-lA- 80 I-+4Iz 49,
ering the adjacent country, but they
did not attack the American lines.
Reports from the interior indicate
that Aguinaldo's authority is now gen.
orally recognized. Every available
male is being recruited and arms de-
pots are being established at San Baer-
nandino, Union, Trinidad and other
large towns. The surrounding country
is being levied on for supplies and the
Filipino troops are living on the fat of
the land. while the native villagers are
compelled to subsist on rice.
There is some friction between the
Filipino civil and military authorities.
but they are united on the question of
independence.
1t is estimated that there are fully
10000 Filipinos under arms and it is
said that there are nearly fifty Maxim
guns at Malolos. some of them having
been recently acquired.
The Filipino military authorities are
convinced, they say, that the Lmeri-
cans will be unable to work effectively
outside of Manila in the event of hos
~tilities. hence they feel confident Of
the future.