The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-01-31
HE TRIES THE SENATE.
Agoncillo Files Protest Against the
Peace Treaty.

Washington, Jan. 31.-Senor Lopez,
secretary of Agoncillo, the Philippine
representative here called at the state
department yesterday afternoon and
left with the chief clerk another COM
munication addressed to the secretary
of state protesting against the attitude
of our government toward the Filipino
republic" The terms of the protest do
not go as far as an ultiKatum. The
same fate awaits this communication
as that which befell it's predecessors, it
will be automatically ignored.
Accompanying the communication is
a long memorial address to the senate
containing a comprehensive argument
in opposition to the ratification of the
treaty and which the envoy asks the
president to send to that body. The let
ter of transmittal contains more than
the mere request, but AgOncillO feels
that ne is bound by courtesy not to
make it public until an opportunity is
had by the state department officials to
make a reply
The memorial to the senate is long
document, both historical and argumen-
tative in character, and is a protest
that this government has no jurisdiction
natural or acquired, through any of it's
agencies, to adjudicate in any manner
upon the rights of the Philippine cOUn-
try and its people. He refers to the
historical fact that a large number of
my countrymen have never been sub
dued by Spanish power, and as against
! their liberties, the oppressive arm OF
Spain has never been able to sustain
itself; that the remainder, because of
their adhesion to the cause of liberty,
have been in almost constant insurrec-
ton against the government of Spain;
these conflicts existing continuously
with greater or less fury for the past
hundred years.
The purpose of the Filipino patriots in
conducting their revolution was, it is
asserted, to secure the complete indie
pendence of their country, and in this
Alx-xr
of the United States and were never in
formed that the obtaining and preserva-
+. ton of such independence would be re-
garded as a hostile act by America, and
they never believed that their struggle
in such a case would lead to enormous
aggregations of American armies and
navies at their doors
Additional historical facts are pre-
scented and quotations made from man
ifestos of the Philippines and from other
documents from which, says the envoy,
it must appear, that the Philippine ma
ton had achieved its Independence free
from any danger of losing it at the
hands of the Spaniards prior even to
the signing of the protocol"
Spain having been driven away from
the islands and the inhabitants having
established a government satisfactory
to themselves and maintaining order
throughout the territories what justifi-
cation, Agoncillo asks, can any other
nation advance for interfering with
it the obligations of international laws.
Could Spain, he asks, give to any ma
ton better right than she protested?
She could not confer possession for she
did not enjoy it, and any former right
of possession claimed by her had been
extinguished by the destruction of her
sovereignty.
Bearing on the discussion of the ques-
ton whether the American government
can acquire right to the Philippines
from Spain by treaty the memorial calls
attention to several notable and exact
American precedents-" Agoncillo says
he could ask for his country mo better
fortune than to have the republic of
America as at present constituted ad-
here TO the teachings of international
law as laid down by some of its foun-
ders."
Senior AgonciIlo summarized the var
ious reasons set out in detail why the
treaty should not be ratified and ex-
presses an earnest hope that the repre-
sensations he has ventured to make will
receive the grave consideration of the
senate before final action is taken upon
the treaty which contains SO much Of
consequence to his people"