The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1899-01-30
AGUINALDO'S PROTEST.
Text of the Filipino Scrced Oppos
ing the treaty.


representative of the Fiiipinos 10 This
country, who was at that time IL PARIS,
prepared an insolent protest against the
ratification, which was presented to The
members of the Peace Comm ssion When
Agoncillo returned to Washington from
abroad for the purpose OF enG94yoIilg 20
thwart the ratification OF the Treaty by
the Senate he brought with him copies of
this Official protesta contra d .ra.aLu de
paZ de Paris The paper was IA both
Spanish and English and copies have been
frequently circulated among the members
OF the Foreign Relations Committee and
Senators and Representatives in Congress
during the past few days. The protest in
full is as follows:
The very noble and gallant Gcn,.t. l.a.ilio
-tguinaldo president Of the Phinp, "a, Gepuolic,
aud his government have honuI,u i.g wiiu the
post of ofirial representative 10 t.c yp.y Honor
able President and Government OF the United
states OF America, CcNulving on mt, ~ the same
me, the duty of PROTESTING agains, an lcsuiu-
lions contrary 10 the independence that UUgIII-
Try which might be passed 10y the Peace Commits
sion in Paris.
This has already terminated its ions, and
the resolutions PASSED cannot be -cCt pied as OBJ
iigatory by my government, since tisr commas
sion has neither heard, in any WISE admitted
TO It's deliberations, the Philippine nation. who
held an unqucsionablc right to intervene in
them, in relation 10 what might affect their fu-
turc.
/ fulfill, therefore my duty. when protest, as
/ do in the most solemn manner, in the name OF
the president and the national government Of the
philippines, against any resolutions agreed upon
at the Peace Conference in Paris, as long a. the
Juridlcal, political, independent personality OF the
ilplnn people is ciltlteiy unrecoEnlAed, and at
tempts are made in any form 10 impose these
inhabitants, resolutions which have not been
ned ipIr fDp, one
Who can legally decide as TO their future in his
tory.
Spain is absolutely devoid Of a status and pow
er TO decide, in any shape or form, the before
mentioned matter. The union OF spain and the
PHILIPPINES founded solely Two historical
facts, in which the exclusive rights of .uc FIJI
ipinos TO decide their own destiny Was implicitly
recognized.
First-Thc Blood Treaty. tPacto de Sangre)
of the l2th Of March, 1865, entered into between
the Gen Don Miguel Lopez de Lcgazpi and the
Filipino sovereign, Sikatuma, compact which
at the Peace Conference in PARIS, as long the
side, by the Monarchs OF Mindanao. Bisayas, and
Luzon, and by the Supreme Chief of that Cuntcd-
Grafton, the Sultan Lac.ndola: prOclaimin- as a
consequence, the autonomous nationality of the
Kingdom of New Castillo" formed by the Phil
iPpiTe Islands, under the sceptre OF the King Of
Spain.
second-The so.called Constitution of Cadiz, -
in the discussion, vote, PRONUNCIATION, and cXecu-
took ~ active part; and by which constitution
the nationality OF The SPANS made ehec-
tive.
But from the very first moment in which the
pennsular public powers attempted 10 impose
their absolute sovereignty the islands the Fill
ipinos protested cnergetirally by force of arms,
and from the first attempt, in 1sli, the struggle
in defence OF their political personality was I'M
planted.
When, in 1897. the violent deprivation of their
rights was contaminated, the Fiiipinos again pro-
tested, Spain sustaining against them fTatrlci-
dal and inhuman struggle. which has lasted from
that time onwards mp TO the present DAY.
Falsehood. which always characterized the &C
tionS Of the peninsular authorities, constantly
hid from the world the fact OF the real situa.
ton Of force, which has lasted almost hundred
years.
Al length at the end Of the present century,
the Spanish forces have been completely routed
by those of the natives, and Spain cannot now
even allcge the possession by her of the ISLANDS;
because the perIaaneney OF handful OF PENN
sular soldiers approximately 400 who are hold
ing out, beseged in one or two toTtFesses in the
south of the archipelago, cannot constitute such
a right The Spanish government has ceased
to hold any dominion by deed and night; and
the only authority which exists there and pre-
serves order is that constituted by the Fihpinos,
with the solemn sanction Of their votes, the only
LEGAL f0unt Of positive modern power.
Under such conditions, the Spanish Commits
sioners in Paris have not been able, within the
principles of the law Of nations. TO give up OF
transfer what, If they had, they have totally
LOST before the signing OF the protocol at Wash
ington and the arranging OF the terms OF the
Peace Treaty in Paris.
The Filipino people who consented to the
blood treaty. and the constitution Of 1872,
annulled those conventions by reason of Spain
not complying with her undertakings, and renewed
their sovereignty by the solemn proclamation Of
the Philippine Republic the lst Of August,
ls9s, and by the establishment of government
and q regular and well-oTlered administration,
tod lE he tag Of
II any jnTidical effect can he attributed tc
the Spanish action in the Peace Treaty, within
the principles OF international law, it is the ex
piiCit remuneration OF all future pretonsion oycl
the land, the dominion and possession oi which
she has lost. and therefore is only OF 10 make
the recognition Of the corporate body of th'
Filipino nation, and that Of their rights to ul,
effectively in respect OF their future.
The United States OF America, on its part. can
not allcge better right 10 constitute itself al
arbitrator Is 10 the future OF the Philippines.
on the contrary. The demands Of honor and goo,
faith impose on it the explicit recognition Of til,
political status OF the people. who. loyal to thei
conventions, were devoted ally OF their force
in the moments Of danger and strife. The nOb
Gen. Emilio Aguinaldo and the other Filipino
chiefs were solicited ~ place themselves at tn
head Of the suffering and heroic Of tina
country. to fight against Spain, and to secon'
the action of the brave and skillful Adnira
Dewey.
At the time Of implorng their armed co on
Grafton, both the commander OF the Petrol am
Captain Wood, in Honrkong. before the declare
ton OF war, the American Consul Generals Nj
Pratt, in Singapore, Mr.. Wldman. in lIOngkong
and Mr. Williams, in Cavite, acting as inter
national agents Of the great American nation a
moment of great anxiety, offered to rccoGniz
the Independence of the Filipino nation, as 500
IS triumph attained.
Under the faith Of such promises an America
! man-of-war, tho McCulloch. was placed at I'll
! disposal Of the said leaders, and which took theI
/ to their native shores; and Admiral Dewey him
/ self, by sending the msn-oi-war; by not dsnyin
! 10 Gcnelai AgulnaldO and ms companions ia
! eNacting of his promises when they were pr,
| sented to him Oh board his flagship IN the Ba
Of Manila by receiving the said General Aguina
do before and after his victories and notable dec
Of arms, with the honOrs due to the commando
] in-cilief q: an allied army, and chief OF an il
( dependent state; by accepting the efhcscious &c
operation Of that army and of those generals; h
recognizing the Filipino flag, and permitting
TO be hoisted on sea and land, conscnting tn;
| their ships should sail with tho said flag with
the places which were blockaded: by receiviu
solemn notification OF the formal 9roclamstio
I o; the Philippine nation, without protestin
I against it, nor opposing III any way its exis
+ cncc; by entering into relations with those gci
erals and with the national Filipino authoriti,
recently established, recognized without que
/ tion the corPorated body and autonomous So
| ereignty Of the people who had Just Eucceedt
I in breaking their letters and freeing themsely
by the impulse OF their own force
And that recognition cannot now be denied
the honorable and serious people Of the Unite
/ States Of America, who ought not to deny n,
discuss the word given by their officials and rel
! rcscntatives in those parts. in moments so
emn in gravity for the American Republic.
To pretend 10 put now in question the sttr
buies Of such public missionaries. after Il
danger, would be an act OF notorious iniustic
which cannot be consented 10 by those who La,
the unavoidable duty Of preserving unstained II
brilliant reputation Of the sons Of the great n
ton founded by the immortal Washington, who
first glory was, and has always been, the col
slant fulflmcnt Of their word OF honor.
II must be remembered here that the Filipino
did not fight paid troops or inerccnaries
America. On their arrival, they only received
reduced number Of arms. which were delivered