The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-28
AMERICANS AND FTLIPINOs.
DIR. Seaman A. Knapp's Patriotic Reply to
Senator Honr.

SenRtor Honr.
From the Christian Advocate.
My attention has been called to the letter Of
Senator Hoar In your issue OF April u. 1t Is
due the American people that the facts should
be correctly stated. whether they favor the re-
tentlon OF the Philippines or the reverse. and It
lie not in harmony with the spirit OF our race to
allow great questions to be settled by arrogant
assertion from any source. however exalted.
Allow mo to state the case of the United States
va. the ARuinaldo Government. as l understand
It, from some personal knowledge OF conditions
in the Philippines.
/. The assumption that we are trying to i'm
pose Government on the Filipinos without
their consent cannot be maintained in the light
OF the following facts. perfectly authentic and
easily proved: (al Aguinaldo and his voluntary
following represented at the mencement
OF hostilitles less than one tenth OF the terri
tory OF the Philippine Islands. and never had
even nominal control over more than two
seventies. The people OF the other nine -tenths
OF the territory were opposed to him and his
ambitious schemes. tbl Over so per cent Of
the property interests In the one tenth Of ter
rltory within the provinces OF his Tagalog sup
porters were opposed to him and his plan Of
government They had no faith In his sincerity.
2. ARuinado was fugitive in Asia. and be-
fore he was allowed to return and organize q
following he signed a written agreement with
the officials OF the United States Government.
consisting OF four articles, two Of which re-
call: Ca) That he would. in all material re-
spects. be obedient to the authorities OF the
United States in tho Philippines. tb) In case
the United States elected to hold the Philip
pines. that he would do all in his power to bring
the natives into harmony with this plan. This
was stated to me bya responsible official who
was present when this agreement was signed.
3. Arms and ammunition were furnished him
under the terms Of this agreement
4. With American arms and support. 1t was
easy for Aguinaldo and his followers to over
awe people without any weapons for defence.
5. Early in his career the so-called Agui-
naldo government m ade sweeping con lscations
OF personal and real property. l examined
maps and plats OF 10000 acres OF improved
real estate in provinces adjacent to Manila
which had been conflscated by him, and this
was but small portion of tho real estate thus
seized In addition to wholesale conflscation
foreign owners were not allowed to visit their
estates In the country without paying heavy
tribute for the privilege.
q. The heightened declarations FORA free gov
eminent by Aguinaldo have been mainly form
ulated to influence American public opinion. In
reality his government has been extremely
despotic and tyrannical. as evidenced by the
rotary Of the Treasury. for advising against
prolonging the contest with the United States.
and by his disregard Of property rights.
Z. From the first there has been no effort or
apparent desire upon the part OF the Agunado
Government to make amicable adjustment
with the United States. The insurgents be-
lieved they could easily defeat the American
forces. at least they openly asserted it. and
holding this delusion. they did not want any
amicable arrangement.
&. Prior to tho fall OF Manila to have quietly
withdrawn and left the Spanish army and the
foreign residents to their fate. after destroying
the Spanish fleet. would have been an act Of
cowardice and inhumanity too Infamous to be
considered. Since the fall Of Manila there has
been no time when the American troops could
have been withdrawn without openly or COW
ertly retreating before an insolent and agrees
sive foe.
=. Had the insurgents sought peaceful So
luton OF the differences. the United States
could not have turned over the control OF the
islands to such an irresponsible Govern ment
without mourning liability for heavy dam
ages to foreign owners OF property.
10. 1t has never been shown. and cannot be
shown. wherein the acquisition OF the Philip
pines differs in principle from the acquisition
OF New Mexico. New Mexico was acquired as
people. If it "trampled under foot the prin-
cip!es upon which the American republic itself
rests" why have American statesmen re-
manned silent for nifty years and legislated
annually to perpctuate the so-called enormity?
IL. The allegation that the Philippines have
been acquired with the intent to govern them
without the consent OF their people is pure
assumption. as unjust as it is unpatriotc.
Every declaration Of our Government every
page OF our history or traditions. and every
impulse Of the American people openly contra
diets such statements. All the froth OF turbu-
lent rhetoric about violating the principles OF
Washington and Jefferson arises from the false
assumption that the nsurGent Government I'M
der Aguinaldo represents the people OF all the
Philippines. Once coaccde the fact that il was
the purpose Of Aguinaldo and his adherents to
use the arms provided by the United States to
force Tagaog domination upon the people Of
North Luzon and upon the tribes which inhabt
the other islands. and the veil is lifted from the
romance OF Philippine liberty. and the tragedy
OF Tagaog usurpaton and cruelty is revealed.
~ Whatever may have been the causes the
fact is evident that the United States is en-
gagged in war. and. II hostities be prolonged.
II will be because the nsurgent eade rs are en-
couraged to believe that some party may soon
come into power which will recognize Tagalog
supremacy in Luzon. and possibly aid them In
an effort to subjugate the remaining 1899
islands OF the Philippine group which have
never recognized Aguinaldo's Government
- While thoughtful and loyal men are read
ing what our foremost statesmen said about
liberty let them also read and ponder what
they said about giving moral aid and comfort
to the enemies OF our country when we are
engaged in war. S.A KNAPP
LAKE CHARLES. La. June.