The evening times., 1899-02-22
The phiIippfne Horror.

The Philippine Horror.
The humane and civilized methods Of
which Agaknaldo boasted in recent proc
lamation. are fully exposed in the orders
of massarfe issued by an important officer
of the insurgent government. OF the au
thenticity of the orders there seems to
! be no doubt in the mind of General Otis.
That there were conspirators in Manila
| who were to assassinate American officers
| and soldiers was known week ago. when
| their plot was TO have been put into eXecu-
ton. II was only by the prompt arrest of
| Filipinos who were supposed 10 be the
| leaders, and of an armed gathering in
! hall in a secluded part of town, that the
outbreak was prevented. II is understood
! that information was conveyed to the pro-
vost marshal of the intended butchery and
of the headquarters meeting by native
or natives. but ii is only now that General
! Otis has been able 10 lay his hands on the
written orders issued under the authority
of Aguinaido's alleged government at
Malolos
The Filipinos who constitute what is
called the Territorial militia are in the city,
and at this moment many are in prison.
| They were directed TO meet in the streets,
armed and to massacre all the Americans,
including the women and children. They
were to Iiberate the desperate criminals
of the Bilibid prison-monsters who had
been imprisoned by the Spanish courts,
mostly for murder-and turn them on the
unsuspectng Americans. This was TO be
done at the time General Otis had learned
the uprising was 10 take place-at o clock
on the evening of February fifteenth Al
that hour The Americans were in the
/ streets, many of Them on their way 10
the various entertainments. The orders
are as bloodthirsty and dastardly as those
| issued to the Spaniards in the Carlist war
and executed with fiendish accuracy.
OF course these instructions place the
| Filpinos beyond the pale of civilization
They can only be regarded as cutthroats
and desperadoes who are entitled to none
of the rights of patriots struggling for in
/ dependence or to the consideration that Is
/ commonly given 10 misguided insurgents.
| 1t is nc longer surprising that the prison
ers captured by our troops expected death
and perhaps torture. They knew what their
been accustomed to receive in punishment.
The plot reveals the yellow streak in the
I Filipincs and must discourage the friends
of liberty who had hoped that in time the
influence OF the Americans might qualify
the natives for a human style of life. 1t
is not apparent that the masses of the
rebels misguided as they have been. had
knowledge of or sympathy with the mon
strous yillainy. but there is only TOO much
cause 10 fear that they would not be shock
ed by the discovery.
Aguinaldo must be held TO full respOn-
sibility for this proposed horror until he
acquits himself by revealing the exact con-
dition Of the rebel cause, if that is possi-
Bile. II has been affirmed by persons who
claim 10 have accurate knowledge, that
I Aguinaldo has become q mere tigurehead
and is without any real authority: that the
outlaws are in the control OF desperate
men who receive advice from foreign ad-
venturers who have been stranded in Asiat-
ic ports and who are eager 10 take ad-
vantage of any lawless outbreak for their
own benefit. In a recent newspaper inter
view General Otis expressed the opinion
that the Filipino army had escaped from
Aguinaldos power and that he holds his
position as figurehead only by abject
submission TO the plots Of the foreign SOL
diers OF fortune. This may be true. but
The alleged government of which he is the
president is directly involved in this awful
business and ne in common with his fell
lows. must be held 10 account for il.
We do nol see how the Hoars and Hales
can continue TO be blind TO the char
acter Of the selfish monsters who are in
the lead of the rebellion against American
auta"fi'r net this plot has been ex-
posed, or how they can nourish the ho
t.--., l..I, ---- l.--, pendence could mean
anything else than series of bloody out
breaks with the massacre of innocents. 1t
must give new continuation TO the judg-
ment of the American people that in our
( duty TO civilization we must establish our
/ Government in the Philippines and main
/ tain il for an indefinite time.