The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-13
OF MANILA
Is Treated With Ridicule-An
Opera BOuffe Affair.
The FiIipinOs Weren't Treated
Fairly He Says.

and Ammunition company of London;
The Thames Iron Works and Shipbuild-
ing company, and other firms Of like
standing.
Mr.. Sylvester returned to London
lately from Manila and Hong Kong. He
has intimate personal knowledge of
AguinaldO and his followers. 1t was he
who sold AguinaIdo arms through Con-
sui Wildman. He is recognized as one
of the highest authorities on trade con-
ditiOns in the east No other man has
had such opportunity to learn to exact
facts.
London, July 13.-Our campaign
against the FilipinOs is bound to be ex-
pensive, unsatisfactory and deplorable
There is no doubt that eventually we
shall conquer or wear these people out
but it will cost more American blood
and money than the present administra-
ton ever supposed.
I am an American. with patriotic SEN
timents as strong as those of any
American citizen. I was on the most
intimate and friendly terms with the
Filipino officials, from AguinaldO down.
and therefore you must agree with me
that any statement I make is without
bias
The foundation of all the trouble lies
in the policy adopted by the admins
tration when sending General Merritt
to the Philippines. 1t was to ignore
the FIHpinOs, policy not only unwise,
but mad Things had gone too far If a.
proper and less aggressive policy had
been pursued at the outset every Fill
Pine would today be loyal to the Stars
and Stripes.
AMERICANS ENCOURAGED FILL
PINOS.
The Filipino leaders were taken over
to the Philippine islands by an Amert-
can war vessel American officials en-
cOuraged them to organize an army to
fight the common enemy. Although
General Merritt's policy was to ignore
the FflipinOS he never raised any OBJ
lection to them fighting in front of the
American troops Although AguinaldO
and his followers could not understand
the generals peculiar position up to the
day of Manila's capture the thought
never entered their heads that they
were acting in any way hostile to the
American governments wishes.
The capture of Manila was an opera
bouffe affair. Everything was prear-
ranged. The earthworks nearest Mani
Ia had been taken by the FihpinOs and
were occupied by them. There were
10000 Filipino soldiers in front of the
American forces. The FilipinOs were
asked to evacuate, and did so in COM
plete ignorance Of the Americans in
tentiOns. When the American troops
marched into Manila the E'ilipinOS tried
United States regiments turned on them
with fixed bayOnets.
AguinaldO told me that if the Amerf-
can people would assure his people that
the Philippines would not be handed
back to the Spaniards his army would
disband Immediately. I do not want to
relate the details Of the difficulties be
tween our forces and the F7ilipinOs
that occurred almost daily difficulties
in which I know the Fflipinos were not
at fault. It would fill volumes.
BASIS OF THE POLICY.
My opinion is that the administra-
TONS policy has been Influenced by the
business element Of America. presuning
that the acquiring of these islands
impression is wrong. We can not estab-
fish a preferential tariff over these is
lands in favor of Americans without an
tagOnizing all other nations.
All other things being equal Ameri-
can merchants will never be able to
compete in the Philippine Islands with
foreign merchants, because the minds
Of the FilipinOS have become so thor
oughly poisoned against Americans
that they viii not buy anything Ameri-
can that can be obtained elsewhere
AS to the act that brought on hos
Titles, the attempt of two FiHpinos to
cross the American line, being fired
upon, and with companions firing upon
the Americans in turn. it is a matter of
official record that all the higher Fill
plnO officers were in conference in their
headquarters at the time. The Fflipinos
certainly were not acting under orders
1t is also a matter of record that as
soon as AguinaldO got word of the
conflict he sent a messenger begging the
Americans for Gods sake to desist de-
clartng that whatever a. few of his SOL
diers had done was without authority
Aguinaldo was told that it was too late
the natives must take the consequences
Had AguinaldO's message of peace been
listened to many American lives would
have been saved.
The strict censorship exercised over
the press In Manila is against our Amer
lean principles of free thought and free
speech We must have sonnet hing to
conceal, and what surprises me most is
that the American press has submitted
to it.
SOME PRAISE FOR AGUINALDO
A foil
the ignorant men most people suppose
them to be. He deplores the present war
as much as anyone. He is satisfied that
there is no earthly chance for his peo-
PIE to accomplish anything by force of
arms. He bases his chances for success
ana Tor obtaining favorable terms upon
three things. First. the climate lack
OF roads and the consequent difficulties
Of following him into the interior.
Second, he knows enough of American
politics to realize that when congress
meets and the loss of American. life and
money is brought up and discussed in
being offered favorable terms. Third.
he hopes that prOtracted warfare
paralyztng business of the FSIronean
houses in Manila, will bring about inter-
vention by some foreign power.
If our troops coop up Aguinaldo and
his followers in LuZon, believe that
Aguinaldo will then realize that his
case is hopeless. and viii come to terms
with the United States government and
end the war. The greatest stress must
be laid upon the necessity of thorough
~ patroling the whole coast of Iuzon
There are over 1000 islands in the
Philippine group, and AguinaIdo's plan
will be to get away from Luzon to one
OF the other islands as soon as active
preparations are made to make it too