The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-01-25
THE CRITICAL STAGE


In Filipino Aflnirs Believed to Have
Been Iscachcu--GcncraI Ctis Sure OF
His Position Should Il Clash Come.
WASHINGTON, D. Clan. H.-Senor
Lopez secretary to Agoncillo. the
Washington representative OF Aguinal-
do, called at the state department at
o'clock this afternoon, and lodged with
the chief clerk a communication which,
according TO the common expectation,
marked the critical stage In the Philip
pine question. This is the third at
tempt made by the Filipino representa-
tives to secure official recognition from
the United States government. Secrc-
tary Hay at the time the communica-
ton was presented was attending Il
meeting of the cabinet at the white
house, so that all that Chief Clerk Mi
chaci could do under the circumstances
was to receive the paper as he would
| any other handed in to him.
The ,advices from Manila which have
reached the war department are far
from reassuring. 1t Is understood that
General Otis reports an expectation on
his part that the insurgents are about
to force an Issue and If this should be
so the result cannot be forescen. Ma
Mia itself and not Iloilo. as might at
first be supposed. Is regarded as the
danger point just now.
While the instructions to General Otis
have been to avoid any hostile clash
with the natives. so far as that plan Is
consistent with the maintenance of his.
position, IT Is realized here 1t Is within
the power Of any excited or intoxicated
person to precipitatc II battle between
the two opposing forces. For 1t must
be understood that there Is nothing In
General OTIS constructions to prevent
him from most vigorously defending
himself and the interests contidcd TO
his charge. General Otis Is so sure of
his ground that the officials here feel no
doubt az to the outcome OF hostile COL
lislon between the Americans and the
insurgent forces under Aguinaldo, .par-
ticularly rs General Otis would have
the enormous advantage of the full
corporation of the American fleet un
der Dewey. But it Is particularly de-
sirable that oven Il battle ending In VIC
tory be avoided just now, for the Prcsl-
dent has by no means surrendered his
conviction that the misguided Filipinos
can be brought to an understanding OF
the real object OF the United States and
peacefully accept the conditions sought
to be imposed.
LONDON. Jan. %.-Thc Filipino jun
ta here to-day received cable mes
sage from Agonclllo. Agulnaldo's repre-
sentative at Washington. declaring
that the prospects were improving.
though the work was difficult.
The absence OF direct news from Ma
Mia and the receipt Of secret intelli-
gcnce from Washington Is causing the
gravcst anxiety among the Filiplnos
here. The arrests OF FilipirOs by Ma
jor General Otis and the news that
numbers of Fillpinos have fed Is re-
Earded as Il most serious occurrence. /.
Is pointed out by the Filipinos that this
Is exactly what happened in 1926 under
General Blanco. when the Fllipinos OIL
the following day attacked the Span
ards and the revolution broke out.
The members of the Filipino iuntn II
this city say they are 80 anxious to
avert war that they arc cabling Manila
today urging the Filiplnos mot to
start hostllItics II there Is the rcmotcst
possibility of avoiding trouble"