The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-04-25
MANILA's NIGHT OF TERROR.

Now that the letters of special CORE
%spondents at Manila are received by mail
and are being published the American peo-
pie can obtain more accurate information
regarding what has been going on about
that town since Aguinaldo undertook TO
seize the city and put all European resi-
dents to death. We are able, moreover, to
obtain accurate information regarding those
Fflipinos who have been extolled as patriots
fighting for free government. The last issue
of Harper's Weekly contains the story Of
"Manila's Night of Terror told by its
special correspondent, Mr.. John F.. Bass.
Those who desire to get an insight into the
character of the people who support Aguin-
aldo should carefully read the article al
luded TO. A few statements therefrom are
Of interest.
Aguinaldo had laid his plans and was pre-
pairing to put to death all Americans in
the city by attacking outside and causing
an uprising inside Manila early in Feb
ruary. but the repulse his men suffered de-
layed but did not cause him to forego his
plans of massacre. One Sandico, Aguin-
aldo's minister of the interior. had made
himself useful in the headquarters OF Gen.
Hughes, provost marshal. and was active in
organizing clubs, presumably to promote
the sentiment of annexation. Gen. Hughes
discovered that such was not the purpose,
and when discovered Sandico fled to his
chief. 1t was soon discovered that the clubs
were the oundation of an organized army
in Manila. The muster roll of one regiment
was found. The plot of Aguinaldo was TO
attack outside while the force inside was
TO rise and destroy the city. In spite OF
the defeats outside, the territorial militia,
as the forces inside the city were called.
got together on Feb. 10. OF this and Of the
purpose of Aguinaldo there can be no doubt
because the original orders are now in pos
session of General Otis. In effect the orders
read:
On Feb. Is the soldiers of the territorial
army shall assemble in the streets of a GER
tain district in Manila, armed with knives.
revolyers and rifles ready for work. Only
Filipino families are to be spared and not
molested. All others. of whatever race, are
to be killed without mercy after the eX-
termination of the American army. The
signal for the uprising in the town is to be
given from a general attack outside the
town. The territorial militia are to rise in
the different districts, and sh~arpShooterS
will begin their work.
That night General Hughes nipped the
uprising in the bud by capturing 15 of its
leaders while in session. This. however. did
not end the conspiracy. 1t simply postponed
the execution of the fiendish plot, which,
the writer says. caused st. Bartholomew
TO sink into insigniicance'@a plot not only
to massacre American soldiers, but all
white noncombatants of whatever national
ity-men. women and children. This mas
sacre was TO be preceded by the torch.
which was applied the night of Washing
tons birthday. Eddies OF flame arose in
the Tondo, or native district, and then came
the crack of musketry. The provost guard.
a handful of men, were attacked in their
quarters by Filipino soldiers. Every house
contained a sharpshooter. Bullets flew in
every direction. Some fires were burning in
three places, and insurgents within and
without fired upon the handful OF daunt-
less Americans. AT dawn the Americans
pushed through the barricades of the Fill
pinOs 10 find no enemy where a few minutes
before a heavy fire had been kept up-only
a mass of half-naked groveling Fflipinos
shrieking for mercy. who had thrown away
their arms and torn of their uniforms. In
the course Of the article the Manila CORE
spondent says:
The war has developed into a race war.
After this let no one raise his voice in favor
OF Aguinaldo's government or army. There
Is no choice OF methods. \ strong military
government untempered by mercy is the
only method of dealing with this people.
Up TO the time that l set my eyes upon
this document (ordering a general mas
sacre) | had a great deal of sympathy with
the native. however mistaken he might
be in his vague ideas OF liberty. To-day
/ understand that 10 them liberty means
the opportunity TO give unbridled license
10 their mad racial Instincts.
a few people may be SO misled as TO
compare A~guinaldo. the plotter OF mas
sacre. With George Washington. but the in
telligent American people will resent the
stigma cast upon that great man when they
learn from truthful correspondents what
manner of men Aguinaldo and his asso-
ciates are.