The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-10-27
SIDE LIGHTS ON the WAR.
Corporal F. P. Mcmahon Talks En-.
tertainingly on the Philippines.

tertainingly on the Philippines.
Corporal F. P. Nc Mahon, late of
Company M, sauntered into THE
UNION sanctum the other day and
knowing him to be a close observer of
current happenings the writer took
advantage of the opportunity to
gain a little more knowledge rel
alive to the Philippine question
from one who had been on the
ground there to see things for HIM
self. Corporal Mcmahon served
gallantly with the local volunteer
company in the Philippine campaign
and to some extent, at least, made
a study OF the country, the. natives,
the cause Of the present war and
why it is being carried on.
What in your opinion. caused
the outbreak Of hostilities on Feb.
ruary 5th,' asked the editor of The
UNION.
"Well,' began the corporal, cit
was this way. 'fhe Spanish had
surrendered the city of Manila to
the Americans some ten days
before the South Dakota regiment
reached there. The Filipino army
had co-operated with our troops
against the Spaniards; "hen the city
surrendered it was promptly oc-
cupied by the American forces.
Aguinaldo's forces were not given
much recognition. This caused
some bitterness Of feeling toward
the Americans. l don't think it
would have been advisable to allow
the Filipino army to enter Manila
at that time, but inasmuch as they
had co-operated with our troops in
the campaign against the Spani ,h
their representative leaders at
least, entitled to some
recognition. This was denied then,
however, and the Filipino army lay
outside the city for several months
in a state of inactivity. After
Manila had been in American hands
for some time Aguinaldo pressed
for some statement regarding the
disposition of the Islands, fearing,
evidently, that they might be turn
ed back to Spain. No assurance of
any satisfactory character or other
wise was given him, the reply being
in substance that he must lay down
his arms and the Americans would
dispose of the matter as they saw
fit. This situation continued for
several months, each days delay
causing the relations to become
more strained. Aguinaldo feared a
return to Spanish rule, was SUSPECT
GUS Of American diplomacy and
having no assurance as to what
Americas future program was re-
fused to disarm his men. This was
the situation when hostilities open
ed on the 5th of last February, and
the next day after the trouble began
Aguinaldo sent word to the Ameri-
can authorizes deeply %deploring the
clash and assuring them that it had
come about without his previous
knowledge or consent and he asked
for a cessation. But the thing had
started and the campaign Was push
ed from that time on. There was
nothing for the natives to do then
but fight or surrender, and they
chose the former. The whole
trouble originated from a failure to
give the native army the recogni-
ton due them"
How about Aguinaldo's army
is tia body of semi-savages, made
up of the riff raft OF the islands?"
queried THE UNION.
Indeed it is not" went on the
corporal. "Aguinaldo's forces COM
prise the best element of the popu-
lation. There are very few among
them who cannot read and write
readily ia their own language.
When hostilities opened busine IS
men disappeared from Manila
and turned up in the native army"
"How about their being capable of
self-government?" asked the writer.
They are amply capable of
governing themselves" continued
the corporal, "that is, a government
suitable for their people. 1t would
not com up to our standard, to be
sure, but it would till every require
ment in that country
care the natives indolent and
lazy?" was the next question.
"Emphatically no." promptly an
swered Corporal McMahou. "They
are industrious and ambitious.
They raise crops, are engaged in
manufacturing pursuits on business
principles. When not molested
they appear as happy and contented
as any people under the sun. Take
it where foreigners are interested
in business there, the business it.
self is carried on entirely by the