The Wellington enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 1899-1900, 1899-10-04
CURIOUS PATRIOTS"
DR.. GLADDEN. DISCUSSES AeylNALDo
AND HIS r FOLLOWERS

Alleged Insurgent Governments Repre-
sents "ths Consent Of the GOverned."
In "a recent lecture on the Philip
pines, DR.. Washington GLADDEN., one Of
the most eminent divines in Ohio,
whom no one can charge with partl-
sanship, cleared up some facts about
which a persistent effort has been
made to befog the public. He said in
part:
1t is true there exists, on paper, the
constitution of a government called
"The Revolutionary Government" OF
the Philippines. How was this consti-
tuition adopted? In some convention
of the people? Was the consent Of the
people obtained to this organic laT?
NOT at all. 1t was composed and put
lshed by Emilio Aguinaldo, in the eA
ercise Of dictatorial powers. 81 hereby
declare as follows" is the preface to
this document 1t is Given at Cavite
23d of June, 1885," and signed by
Emilio Aguinaldo.
On the 18th of last June a congress
was called by decree of Aguinaldo,
but the congress had no power to al
ter or amend this constitution, only to
act under it. And the election of del
egates to this congress, in each prov
ince, was managed by a lieutenant of
Agulnaldo under specific orders given
by him. Only the aristocracy of each
district were allowed to take part in
this election and to select delegates to
this congress. 1t must be evident to
all that "the consent of the governed"
had not been extensively sought in this
transaction. The congress thus sum-
moned by the dictator met last Sep
tember at Malalos; its character may
perhaps be indicated by its choice Of
president-president Of the congress,
of course-for Aguinaldo has made
himself the president of the revolu-
tionary government. This congress
chose for its presiding officer Don Pc
ulO AICJdhuIO aLSluO a 5I5nlHSdhb
choice when we go back little in his
tory for the record of this man.
In 1896 there was a serious rebellion
in the Philippines, led by Aguinaldo
and some of his associates. 1t was
maintained with varying success until
Spain, finding her hands full in Cuba,
made overtures to the rebels, and
compact of peace was signed, by which
the 'insurgent leaders, including Agui-
naldo, were to receive the sum of
$1,O00,000 and quit the country, never
to return without the permission Of
Spain. Certain reforms in the colonial
administration were also promised by
Spain. The rebel leaders fulfilled their
part Of the contract, expatrlating
themselves and taking refuge in Hong
kong, where 100000 of the promised
sum was sent them. The rest has not
yet been paid, and the promised re-
forms were shamelessly repudiated.
The man who acted as go-between
In this transaction between Spain and
the insurgent leaders. representing the
latter, was this same Don Pedro Pa
terno. AS soon as the insurgent lead
ers were we'll out of the country he
came down upon Spain for his COM
pensation. He wished to be made a
"grandee of Spain of the first class"
the title not less than that of duke;
he must have right to a seat in the
Spanish senate and money enough to
keep up this state, and to be able in
his own words, "to buy over the wills
OF and unite all the insurgent chiefs
to bring them to surrender to Spain
He names $1,O0O.OOO. His letter making
these demands read in public session
of the congress of Madrid, June 16,
1898.
After Dewey's vnctory Aguinaldo re-
turned to the Islands and raised once
more the flag of insurrection against
Spain. Then, while the relations of
the insurgents and the Americans were
still amicable, this same high-minded
patriot, Don Pedro A. Paterno issued
manifesto to the Filiplnos urging
them to stop fighting with Spain and
make an alliance with her. Let u.s."
he said, struggle, therefore, side by
side with Spain, we who love the Phil
ippines united and free. Long live
Spain"
Three months and half later Agui-
naldo's congress met at Malolos, and
the inspired deputies chose as their
presiding officer Don Pedro Alexandra
Palermo, the man who six months be-
fore had been begging the Spanish
ministry to make him grandee and
give him S1,OO0,00O to spend in bribing
these very insurgents to keep quiet;
and who, three months before had been
praying them to desist from their re-
bellion and join him in crying viva
Espanoi" Just what sort of a patriot
the man must be who, with such a rec
ord. could accept this place. and just
what sort of patriots the men must be
who, knowing him perfectly, could Sc
lect him for it, leave you to explain
We must acknowledge, in justice to
those who have been guiding our own
affairs. that they were not to blame
for hesitating to surrender the control
OF the Philippines to a government
thus organized and led.
The Democratic plank on the Phil
ippines. in plain English Is an ex-