The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-05-26
LIGHT ON THE
PHILIPPINE QUESTION!
That the Filipinos Were Our Allies
is Proved by Official Cores
p~ondence.
Why ARE THEY OUR ENEMIES NOW
Some Information Wanted.-A Few
Questions for Republican ImperiaIisss
to Answer.

EaCSIio!io y NFplDilI6II lAiIp'lAdA1Sso
to Answer.
The treaty OF peace with Spain has
been ratified by the Queen Regent.
Copies Of it have Deen exchanged be-
tween the two governments in WASH
ington. When that was done peace
was completely established, and, as one
Of the results, the United States will
have succeeded to the sovereign rights
Of Spain in the Philippine Islands.
The rights thus secured are an un-
known quantity. For over three humid
red years Spain has been in possession
OF the city and bay OF Manila, and OF
other coast towns n settlements. II
sovereignty goes only with possession
and control her sovereignty in the Phil
ippines has been limited. 1t will be
somewhat difficult to mark a boundary
line between what have been her pos
sessions and what have remained in pos
session Of the unsubdued portion of the
islanders. The treaty imposes upon
the Congress Of the United States the
sole power to determine 1.-The civil
rights and political status of the native
inhabitants" of the Philippines. This
great power can be exercised only by
Congress. It's exercise by the Presi-
dent would be a fragrant %usurpation
and an impeachable offense. OF course,
therefore, an extra session of Congress
will soon be called. Congress cannot
assemble upon Its own authority. 1t
can only meet in extra session when
called by the President. For the Pres
ident TO refrain from calling an extra
session would be for him to stand be-
tween Congress and the power vested in
it by the treaty which the constitution
declares to be a part OF the supreme
law Of the land. When Congress shall
thus assemble it will be the duty OF the
President to give to the Congress in
formation on the state Of the union and
recommend to their consideration such
measures as he shall Judge necessary
and expedient."
While waiting for the happening Of
these events in their proper order the
the American people have a right to be
informed why it is that in anticipation
Of them, and IN anticipation Of any
action by Congress, the armies of the
United States are making war upon
the Filipinos for the enforcement OF
an executive policy to which Congress
may be wholly opposed, but which may
permanently so influence the destiny
both Of this country and the Philip
pines as to neutralize the power of Con-
gress over the subject matter; The
information that is most wanted is why
the United States is at war with the
people of the Philippine Islands. We
were at var with Spain. Admiral
Dewey and his brave men destroyed
the Spanish feet in Manila Bay on the
lst of May, 1898. 1t was W months
and a half after that before a truce wa:
signed preparatory to the negotiation
of a treaty of peace. Did the Filipinos
then join the Spaniards and become
our enemies? On the contrary, they
were our allies and our friends. A rev
@olution in the Philippines had bee
terminated IN the previous December
by an agreement between President
Aguinaldo in behalf of the Philippine
rebels and Governor General de Rivera
on behalf Of Spain. These terms in.
cludcd the condition that the principal
rebel leaders must leaye the country
The Spanish government very soon re
pudiated TIE agreement: and left the
rebels free to resume hostilities. Ag'
uinaldo visited Singapore late in April
Our United States Consul, Mr.. Pratt
being aware of his presence in thai
city, sought an intervie v with him, anC
obtained it on the oath Of April. A
full report of this he forwarded to the
State Department on the 9th of April
In that interview, in which, Of course
our Consul made no pretense Of an!
authority to speak for the government
Aguinaldo agreed with him that il
view of the war just commenced be
tween the United States and Spain, il
would be dangerous for the Philippine
insurgents to continue Independent
action against Spain. He expressed
mis- willingness to cooperate with oul
Government, and to confer with Com
modore Dewey on the subject. Consu
Pratt then april 24) cabled to Comma
dore Dewey through our Consul-Gen
eral at Hongkong, Mr.. Wildman, il
the following words:
"Aguinaldo. insurgent leader, here. Willcom
to Hongkong arrange with Commodore for gen
Ell al cooperation insurgents Manila If desired
Telegraph. Pratt
Commodore Dewey replied as follows
'Tell Aguinaldo come soon as possible.
Dewey"
Aguinuldo sailed from Singapore fol
Hongkong on the Goth. A Singapore
newspaper gave an accounto of the Phil
ippine revolution, the terms of peace
already alluded to, their Reputation BY
the Spanish government, and the
movements of Aguinaldo up to thai
time. Mr.. Pratt forwarded this to the
State department, expressing his re