The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-05-02
MIsREPREsENTAT OF THE
AGUINALDO PRESS.

Tt now seems to be the purpose of the
newspapers which have opposed the estab-
lishment of our authority In the Philippines
to make 1t appear that the administration
is welcoming with much fervor the renewal
of the requests of Aguinaldo for cessation
of hostilities looking to peace after it had
rejected his early proffers in that direction.
The Pittsburg Dispatch, one of the papers
referred to, in order to establish basis for
its assumption of change of sentiment on
the part of the President gives the following
as history:
Both to recognize facts and to estimate
the bearing of this change in the situation
on future events II Is necessary to recall
that this is not the first attempt OF the
natives to secure peace. They sought the
friendship of the United States by rising
and shutting up the Spaniards I'm Manila
when We wanted their aid. After we had
secured Manila with their assistance they
sent mission to Washington and Paris
to ask for peace and the friendship OF the
United States and got only rebuns Tor sneir
there have been direct newspaper assertions
passed by the censor though unofficial, that
they have have sought tho to Out
The Filipinos. If Admiral Dewey. Generals
Merritt. Otis and other leaders are to be
believed, began to show their hostility to
the United States soon after Aguinaldo APP
peared. True. while our war ships were
where they could have shelled Manila the
Fflipinos who took the occasion of the pres
ence of our navy TO rise had forced the
Spanish army within the Notifications of
that city. which was the natural place for
IL to go. Aguinaido did not seek the friend
ship of the United States, but issued a
bombastic proclamation declaring himself
the head OF the Filipino government. In his
report General Merritt says that, after his
arrival, Aguinaldo did not communicate
with him nor in any other manner show
his friendship for the United States. 1t is
not a fact that I'VE secured Manila with
the assistance of Aguinaldos army" He
could not have taken Manila alone. and not
a man Of his assisted our army in taking
the town. Nor is it true that Aguinaldo
sent a mission to Washington and TO Paris
10 ask for peace and the friendship of the
United States. There was no occasion for
Aguinaldo to ask peace. because there was
then no war, and would have been none
IL he had not begun it. The Friendship"
which he asked of the United States was
an agreement to recognize his proclaimed
government as the government of the
Philippines.
At the time that Aguinaldos eager am
bassadors visited Washington and Paris the
President was not in position to negotiate
with Aguinaldo for the reason that the
terms of the treaty had not been agreed
upon when his messengers first appeared
at the cities named. Even after the treaty
had been negotiated the President could not
enter into negotiations with Aguinaldo until
1t had been ratified both by the United
States Senate and the Spanish government.
Before the Senate had ratified the treaty
Aguinaldo attacked the American army.
and. as has since been made clear, planned
the assassination of every white person in
the city. IL at any time since Aguinaldo
began hostilities he has sued for peace Gen.
Otis and the Presidents commission have
not regarded his suit as sipcere. In fact.
there is no probability that the Filipino
dictator and plotter of assassination made
a few days since.
1t Is quite remarkable that all OF the
naval and army officers who have had close
communication with Aguinaldo have de-
clared that he cannot be trusted. 1t would
seem that men like Admiral Dewey and
Generals Merritt. Otis and other command
ers should know more of the mans charac-
ter than those men in this country who
have never been within thousands of miles
of him-some OF whom furnished Agoncillo
money while in Washington. which he used.
IN part. to inform his chief of the pros
poets of defeating the treaty and finally to
advise him TO attack the Americans before
the vote was taken IN the Senate.
The meeting of the element in Chicago on
Sunday which is silent when the name OF