The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-07
Consul Williams Report on His Transac.
lions with Aeuinaldo.
REBEL LEADERS WERE GIVEN CASH BRIDES
This WAS sraiu's Why 81 pactfyin1
III cm-At the Outset They FnN-
0rcd American Control.

was in constant communication wit
, Agulnaljo for some time after the battl
, OF Manila bay. and his letters throw muc
, light upon the relations with the Philippiu
chieftans.
AS early as February 20 last Mr.. VIII
} Jams wrote; The governor general. who
: amable and popular, having resigned
| wishes credit for pacifcatioE. and certatl
rebel leaders were given cash bride o
81, $1,000 to consent to public deportation
to China.
This bride and deportation. he adds
only multiplied claimants and famed the
fires OF discomfort"
"Agu1aldo told me today he writes or
June 10, that his friends all hoped thai
the Philippines would be held as colony
OF the Unlted States" This was only foul
days after the first formation OF pro-
visionai government by the natives.
M Williams says he was invited TO be
present when this government was or
ganl2ed by the PHILIPPINES, but that he de-
cliIed. For this he afterward received a
/ note OF approval from the state depart
melt. On August he wrote; 1T has - n
my study TO keep on pleasant terms wI,h
| Aguinaldo for ultimate objects. Admiral
Z
cordial cooperation. My agreement with
Aguinaldo has been that the conditions
/ oil government by the United States in the
Philippine islanas would be vastly better
Tor nm and his people in honor advance
nlslt and profit than couldi exist under any
plan fixed by himself or the Philippines.
have travefsed the entire ground OF gov
einment with him in counsel, and he has
called his officials from fifteen provinces
on tat ad
iiiendiy. but unofficial en- my part.
On July 16 Consul Wildman wrole to the
secretary oil state expressing his views on
the then reported policy OF the United
States government 10 allow the Philippine
islands TO return to SPAN. Among other
things he said: II consider the forty or
fifty Philippine leaders, with whose for
tunes have been very closely connected,
both the supsniors of Malays and the Gu
bans. Aguinado, Agoncillo and Sandico
are all men who would be leaders in Their
separate departments IN any country. In
spite OF statements to the contrary, know
they are fighting for annexation to The
United States first aud for independence
secondly. In fact / have had une mo t
prominent leaders call on me and say taey
would not raise one finger unless | cou.d
assure them that the UniieH States in. |
tended 20 give them United States citizen |
ship If they wanted II.
In conclusion DIR. whitman says: II
wish to put myself on record as stating
that the Insurgents government of the
Philippine Islands can not be dealt with as
though they were North American Indians,
wiling to be removed from one reservation
to another at the whim OF their masters.
IL the United States decides TO not re ain
the Philippine islands its 10 900, GOO people
VIII demand independence and the attempt
OF other nations 10 obtain territory or coal
f.tt .,,ty
spirit with which they ,icught the Span.
iards."
The correspondence shows that MIR.
Wildman was warned not 10 mike pledges
Or discuss policy with Agufnado, and TIA.
ne replied that he made him no pledges.
and eXacted from him but two--to obey
inquestionably the commander of the
United States forces In tae Philippine
Stands and to conduct his warfare on civ
LIKED lines.
consul General Pratt, stationed at Sin !
'apore, details his last interv-ew with
\gnlnaldo, saying that ne enjosned upon :
he Philippine leader the necessity. under !,
commodore Dewey's directions. of assum-
ng absolute control over his forces in the
art would be tolerated by the United =
tates the president having declared that =
ostiities with Spain were to be carried :
n in strict conformity with the str,ct !,
rin0ples OF civilized warfare Mr.. Pratt =
tates that TO this Injunction Agu,naldo !,
Npressed the hope that the United States .
ould assume protection over the Phil D. a
mes ior at least long enough to allow &
.e inhabitants TO establish a government
their own, in the organization OF which .
g should accept American advice -
ASSISTANT Secretary Moore.i In memoran- n
nm 10 the secrenry. says: Mr.. Pratt was a.
strncte1 that 1t was proper for him to +.
tain the unconditional assistance of "
eneral Aguinaldo. but not 10 make any q
titical pledges a.
Included in Gensral Msrritt's testimony. m
rs statement from Admiral Dewey, in a,
bich he speaks of the natives Of I>iZon In
gentle and docile, and says of them that | III
lnder just laws and with the benefits OF
puiar education. they would make coed In
mems. He adds that they are more "
.eilgent ana better capable of self gov w
nment than the Cubans. or
On July "a Aguinaldo wrote to General an
iaerson, saying that he had coma from ac
ing Kong 10 make common cause with pa
Americans against the Spal4ards, but
eng mat the American troops should
Hniuhicate in writing to him before
embaFking at the places intended to be
,upied. IN order to prevent trouble vii
copying 10 a letter from Consul Wild IN
n, holding out to him the advantages of
annexation TO the United States, Agui- pll
90 writes on August /, that il is an
lfihg Picture, but that he doubts ii he ,
bring HIS people to see It's beauty
says lie asks for the recognition OF tie IN
iipnine government In order 10 ioln civ
] US IN annexation. and suggests hat ,or
american forces should co-operata a.
those Of the Philippine goverpmsnt ne
n August n he wrote to General Me-. TOW
uisihs that the Philippines should have gis
asre ~ governing Manila, and remind- =
ths american general of the share A,
as people In its Subjugation. NAl
." Voiume also contains a letter from
erai Sir Andrew Clark, who Is referrod
note OF transmission by Hon. .John g
then ambassador to Great britain tihs
me as. the greatest living autbori,ias
.nalenu on all subjects connected with
government OF the Islands in the Malay 4
,fseiring to bis own SUCCESSFUL sc,,on
pa for. the pacifcston CT he MAY ~
','.' ne says: II believe the task ~ H
Iy,hs the PHILIPPINES would be no NOR.
III, and perhaps easter. than -ba,
! accomplished in the Malay peuin-
NO doubt the presence OF another
, military force would at first be de-
We AT one or two important centers 4
atsch more consequence to am,is
moVision, more specially of gmn- ~
anie 10 move freely among the is
ana ascend the rivers" -