The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-06-02
A LETTER FROM AGUINALDO.
Translated from the Spanish for The
Register.-A Short Letter From
Brave Allen County Volunteer.
Another 8 Million Gasser.


Among the papers which Lewis
Coffield sent to his parents from
Mslolos was small daily, called
1.-The Heraldo Filipino" printed in
Spanish and apparently the official
organ of the Filipino Republic.
Among much other interesting matter
is contained letter from Aguinaldo
to his people which is OF peculiar in
terest just at this time. The letter
was evidently written soon after the
proclamation .of the Republic by
the Filipino Congress. Mr.. Frank
Scott has kindly translated it and the
REGISTER is glad to present to its
readers the first English version of it.
MALoLos. January 20, 1899.
Dear Countrymen:--No You will re.
member that in the snort space of
eight months we have had three diff
ferent systems ofgOvernment: iirstwas
Dictatorisl, afterwards Revolution
airy and now Republican, the last of
which has received our best efforts,
to perfect that we may show to all
nations that we are following in their
footsteps in the just aud pacific
government Of our citizens. UneX-
pressable is my joy as also my thanks
to the dignified Representatives of
ouTIProvinces who have left imprinted
on the pages OF our constitution their
great love tlr oar Country. Now we
are as one, aud we have reached the
point where We may call ourselves a
Flower OF strength"
Now the civilized world knows
whether we are unciviliZed, as the
Press has many times stated, instigat-
ed by the Priesthood which put us on
IA level with African Savsges and who
at the last exnibitisn AZ Madrid eX-
hibited Igarratos az examples of all
the Filipinos, but now every one UNI
derstands their efforts TO lower Us IN
the eyes of the civilized world.
We can say aloud 10 those who do
not yet care to believe us, that we can
and will demonstrate and publish our
civilization not alone by words but by
deeds as well.
Let them come and contemplate the
manner in which we govern ourselves
and admise the tranquility aud peace
that r-igns in our provinces and see
if there exists those grave wounds
from our Holy revolutions as has al
ways remained from the revolutions
Of other countries.
If rs yet we have not been recOg-
nized as government by Europe, the
pusilanimity Of the government Of
Hpain is to blame, which dazzled by
the gold of the priests have placed
every obstacle in our way. The same
priests who through the Vatican in
Rome have had their representatives
in Washington working for our an
nexation to america, to the end that
they may return here rs subjects OF
that country, very undigntied pro-
ceedipg for the so called ministers of
Jesus Christ.
y
every effort to strengthen ourselves,
and what will be the result in this
country of ours +? Whatever may
have happened in the past, am con-
tidenl thai the justice of our cause
will triumph, because there are many
foreigners aud representatives OF
governments watching our every
action and moreover there is in the
United states a powerful party of
Democrats of great influence who
have spontaneously constituted them
selves our defenders in Washington
and oppose our annexation to Amer.
lea because they recognize our ability
TO govern ourselves and the justice of
our cause, for which we extend to
them our friendship and most pro-
found expression of gratitude.
We turn our eyes to Mother Spain,
as we called her; now we do not hear
it, She is great, and magnanimous
Filipinos should not forget her bene'
fits. We should thank her for what
she has taught US although the in
struction may have been defective
Her fault in my eyes was her exces:
of love. | wish to explain. Spain
Jealous of the beauty of her daughter
restricted her liberty. The daughter
feeling oppressed claimed her rights
and .hese not being allowed, firing
of waiting and suffering wished t.
libeIate herself Spain struggled t.
maintain her authority, and when a
the end she was conquered relin
pushed her voluntarily. and grace
fully admitted her error. Therefor
let us recognize her as friend anC
thank her.
Now we have the Filipino repnbli