Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1899-06-03
NOT GENERAL.
Trouble in th] Philippines Fo.
mented by Small Band,
FICTION ADDS TO FLAME.
Belief at First That Americans and
Insurgents We're Acting in Unison
Subsequent Withdrawal From
ASuinaldO of Better Element -
General otis Story.

General otis story.
Washington, June 1.-General Otis, in
| the reports of his subordinate officers ON
| the operations around Manila up to
| April q. gives a short SUMMARY of the
Philippine insurrecton against Spain,
! laying stress on the fact that a small
! band of the natives of LuZon, leaders of
the rebellion of SO against Spain, were
| induced for monetary consideration to
| leave the island.
These men returned to the vicinity of
Manila after the destruction of the
| Spanish fleet there, being as General
Otis says, encouraged without author
| ity to attempt the organization of what
they We're pleased to denominate an in
dependent government for the Filipino
| people,"
General Otis tells of the landing of
Aguinaldo from an American vessel and
OF the insurgents taking advantage of
| the active hostilities between the United
States and Spain to capture southern
| points and increase their strength. In
| dependence, General Otis says, was pro-
| claimed by Aguinaldo in August, and as
| early as June he had warned the United
States authorities against the landing
of its military forces on Philippine soil
without first obtaining his consent, be-
cause, as he expressed it, the Filipino
people might consider the occupat on of
Philippine territory by North American
troops a violation of their rights"
General Otis adds: when the United
States forces landed from their trans
ports near and to the south OF Manila for
the purpose of attacking the city, the
fiction that they were acting as allies of
the insurgents and in furtherance Of
Philippine independence appears to have
been conveyed by insurgent leaders,"
General Otis describes Aguinaldo's eff
forts to strengthen his lines in prepara-
ton for hostilities with the United States S
during this time and explains the growth
of the insurgent independent movement
by stating that in the absence of Spanish
authority, many able and conservative
Flipinos gave adherence to this SEEM
ingly de facto government. Many of
these withdrew their adherence when the
radical element declared it's hostility to
the United States.
Describing briefly the tension that ex-
listed at the time. General Otis includes
important correspondence in explanation
of his course betw cen himself and Aguin-
aldo. Early in January, when General
Otis was asked by conservative Fill
pinos to appoint committee of army
, officers to meet an insurgent committc e
and effect a compromise by which peace
might be maintained, General Otis re-
fused to recognize an insurgent govern
ment, but was willing to negotiate with
Agunaldo or a commission appoint ed by
HIM.
Aguinaldos sponse and General Otis
reply are set out in extracts from the re-
port. Aguinaldo wrote:
IT have been informed after the inter-
view between the commissioners of my
government and Mr.. Carman that there
will be no Inconvenience on your part in
naming as commanding general repre-
.entatives that will confer with those
whom I will name for the same object.
although it not being explained to
me the reason why you could not treat
with the commissioners of my govern
ment. l have the faculty of doing the
same with those of the commanding gen.
eral who cannot be recognized. Never
theless, for the sake of peace have con-
sidered it advisable to name as COM
mandinG general a commission COM
posed of the following gentle men: Flor
entino Flores. Ambrosio Flores and
Manuel Arguieles, that they may to-
gether represent me and arrive at an ac-
cord with those whom you will name
with the object of using such methods as
will normalize the actual situation Gre
ated by the attitude of your government
and troops. If you will deign to attend
to said commissioners and through these
methods come to some understanding, if
only temporarily that will insure peace
and harmony amongst ourselves, the
Filipino public would reach greatful
glory"
To this letter General Otis replied as
follows:
II have the honor to acknowledge the
receipt OF your communication of today
and much pleased at the action you have
taken. l greatly regret that you have
not a clear understanding of my position
and motives, and trust that my explana-
ton, assisted by the conference / have
invited will make them clear to you.
I'm my official capacity l am merely
the agent of the United States govern
ment to conduct its affairs under the
limits which it's constitution and laws
impose and not to recognize any ma
tional or civil power not already for
mally recognized by my government un-
less especially authorized to do so by the
instructions of the legislative of the
executive of the United States For this
reason | was unable to receive officially
the representatives of the revolutionary
government and endeavored to make
that inability clear to the distinguished
gentlemen with whom had the pleasure
to converse a few evenings since. You
out my entire official connection with af-
fairs here has been consistent, and it has
panied me that have not been able to
receive and answer communications of
the cabinet officers of the government at
Malolos fearing that | might be err
ron"ously charged with lack of courtesy.
Permit me now, briefly. general. to
speak of the serious misunderstanding
which exists between the Filipino peo-
pie and the re representatives of the United
States government, and which I hope
that our commissioners. by a thorough
discussion, may be able to dispel,
sincerely believe that all desire peace
and harmony. and yet. by the machna-
tons of evil disposed persons. we have
been influenced to think that We occupy
the position of advarsaries.
THE Filipinos appear to be of the
opinion that we mediate attack. while
l am under strict orders of the Presi-
dent of the United States to avoid con-
Believed to &c Murder.
Bridgeport. Conn, June 1.-The body
of man. evidently an Austrian Jew,
aged about 3d. was found about II a.
m. Yesterday, covered with coats and