Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-10-05
WAR IN THE PHILIPPINES.

Letter IN Chicago Record.
To the Editor: There has been so
much of misstated truth published that
the following facts, swellsestablished by
variety of testimony, should be kept
in mind in considering the question OF
tho Philippine war:
L The last census taken by the Span
ish government ilSS7l gives about
1900, coo inhabitants in the Philippine
Islands. Over 10 per cent OF them can
read and write. Six millions are mem
hers of the Christian Catholic Church.
About 70, 600 are Chinese 300, coo Mo
hammetlans and 100000 heather. We
are fighting the Christians, but have
made treaty with the Mohammedans
tSulus) by which our flag floats in pro-
lection over them, their polygamy and
their slavery.
>. American officers VINO travelled the
length and breadth of Luzon last year
testify to the good order which PREVAIL
cd and that the government was evil
| IDENTIFY firmly established; also, that
| the people were without doubt cabable
of self. government, being peaceable,
industrious, thrifty and civilized.
3. The Filipino congress which as
sembled soon after Spain's final defeat
contained larger percentage of uni
versity graduates than our American
| congress.
4. These people had been fighting for
liberty for years. Spain had rracti-
cally no foothold outside of Manila,
and therefore the most that Spain could
give us for the 500, 900, 600 paid her was
a quitclaim on her lettering possession
OF that one city.
.. The Filipinos were our accepted
allies in the final overthrow of Spain.
| 6. The Filipinos did not begin the
present war. Sergeant Andrea of the
United States signal corps, in COM
menting on the impression that they
treacherously fired the first gun, says:
ION February 4th four Filipino soldiers
attempted 10 pass our lines at San Juan
bridge Our guards called upon them
to stop, but they did not, probably not
understanding what was said to them.
Oul guards fired upon them, wounding
or killing two, the other two running
back TO their blockhouse. The guard
continued to fire after them, and this
involved in the firing the insurgent
guard at the blockhouse. A general
engagement took place during the night
Gen. MacArthur's report OF this matter
says that Col. Torres came over TO the
American lines tho next morning under
a flag of truce as an envoy for Aguin-
aldo, and said that the engagement had
taken place contrary to Aguinaldo's
wishes, and that he was sorry it had
occurred, and proposed the establish
ment of neutral zone between the two
armies, SO as to avoid trouble of this
sort in the future. Gen Otis refused
to stop the fighting. saying that the
fight, having begun, must go on to the
bitter end" This statement is also
verified from other uncensored sources.
Z. Aguinaldo later sent second
emissary with like proposals for peace,
but was similarly rebutfed.
s. The Filipin embassy which visited
Washington to the interests of peace
was unceremoniously snubbed and de-
MED a hearing.
o. Admiral Dewey in his official re-
port. of June 9th, 1898, described the
Filipinos as far superior in their in
telligence and more capable of self
government than the natives of Cuba;''
also, 81 have given him tAguinaldo)
to understand that j consider the in
surgents as friends, being opposed to a
common enemy"
10. Under our government Congress
alone has power to declare war, and
therefore this war is unauthorized and
illegal, the entire responsibility for il
resting upon the President and his ad
yisers. l...
IL. The Filipinos are fighting for PRE-
cisely tho same principles that our fore
fathers fought King George forth,
right 10 govern themselves-a righ
which is declared by our Declaration
of Independence to be inherent in ever!
people.
r. The plea that having begun thu
slaughter of the F'ilipinos we canno
stop without national dishonor is spe
J cious and vicious on its face. We ar,
wrong, and national dishonor consist
!, , in continuing.
Ii. In spite of all that has been don
the slaughter OF the innocents, tn
sacrifice of nearly 5000 of our own boy
: in blue, who arc dead or disabled--w
, have ghiaed practically nothing. A
! this date we hold very little outside o
Manila. The utmost that we have eve
held bears about the same proportion
. to the Island of Luzon that the count
5 of Ottawa bears to the State Of Ohio.
) "a. In one of his speeches in 1898 Mr.
Mckinley declared that ''forcibe an
; nexation is criminal aggression. ~
To- Abraham Lincoln declared tina
mo man is good enough to govern
$ another man without his consent y
Edwin ID. Wheelock.
i Chicago Sent 18th.