The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1899-07-20
AS FILIPINOS SEE IT.
Interview With Aguinaldo's
Cavalry Leader.
BURNING OF MANILA ORDER DENIED.
The TngnIs' General Says Indcpend-
ence Was Promised His People by
American OGcials-wcrc In
ccnscd at Otis 'ProcIamntion.

MINNEAPOL1S, July 19.-Thc Times
today publishes an interview which took
place May Is at San Isidro, Luzon, be-
tween it's special correspondent, Martin
Il. Tew of the Thirteenth Minnesota. de-
tailed by General Wheaton as brigade
interpreter, and Major Lorenzo l.. Iial-
cita, leader of Aguinaldo's cavalry and
one of the Filipino commissioners who
went to General Otis with propositions
for an almstice.
Major Xialcita denied emphatcally
that Filipino officials had ordered the
burning of Manila and the wholesale
murdcr Of Americans and cited ns proof
that many Filipino officers were in
Manila that night and were taken prison
ers.
He said the proclamation of General
Otis procaiming himself governor gen
eral had greatly inceused the Filipinos,
but asserted that both the Filipino lead
ers and people believed the Americans
had begun hostiltics.
Major Xialcita, speaking of the re-
puted promises of independence made
prior to the fall of Manila, when asked
by Mr.. Tew if in their eagerness for in
dependence the Filipinos had not mis-
understood or misconstrued the language
of American officials and officers, re-
piled:
"There is not the slightest mistake
about this. Consul Wildman verbally
made this statement to us, and we had so
much confidence in the good inten-
tions of the United States that to us it
meant as much as if it had been delivered
in writing.
Resides, when we were in Cavite, a
number of us had the honor of enter
tanning General Anderson at the Atheno
Rial. This was before Manila was
taken by your forces. General Anderson
on this occasion made a speech in which
he said that the Americans had not come
here for the purpose OF taking one foot of
territory with the view Of permanent pos
session, but for the purpose of giving the
Filipinos their independence.
"On Sept. u, last year, on the occa-
sion of fiesta. n number of American
! officers celebrated with us at the resi-
dence of Pedarno Pacheco. and all ex-
pressed the same sentiments. On many
different occasions we were told by men
high in authority that Filipino independ
ence would be recognized"
What was the opinion of the Filipino
leaders in regard to General Otis proc.
| lamation Of Jan. AZ"
THAT proclamation, replied the ma.
jor, twas decidedly bad and greatly in
censed the people everywhere. 1t stated
nothing clearly and promised nothing. II
was noncommittal on all points except
that Otis declared himself governor gen
eral of the islands and that our country
had been purchased from Spain. The
Filipino people desired independence, not
annexation"
On being asked if he really thought tn,
Filipino people were educated sufficiently
to conduct affairs of local and nationa
self government the young Filipino lead
er replied: "Our people have always beer
misrepresented, both by the local ant
foreign press. The friars are our worst
enemies and have been active in this re
gard, as they have always tried to hole
us in subjection. Educational affairs
| have heretofore been in their hands, ant
it has served their purpose to prevent th'
people from becoming too wise. But evel
at this the vast majority of the peopl
can read and write.