Washington sentinel., 1899-02-11

under Professors Nalda anu DulNl asO'
He was a bright student, but nothing is
known of his college career. Shorty
after this time he committed what IS an
objectionable sin, both secular and reu
gious, in the Philippines by joining the
Masonic Order. Masonry was a pro-
hibited thing in the Philippines under
Spanish rule, and any man joining the
organization might under an ancient
law be tortured and executed. About
this time lin 1881 he had some trouble
with the authorities and went to Hong
Kong, where there was fair sized col
ony of Philippine exiles and also OF Fill.
pinos who had crossed the China Sea in
business enterprises. Here he obtained
his first knowle dge Of the great world
outside OF the narrow Spanish ciViliza'
ton in which he had been brought up
HS attended the drills and parades OF
the British gaTrisons, trequented the
gunshops on Queens Road, purchased
firearms for his own use, and IN every
way tried to increase his fund OF pracu
cal knowledge. According to report ne
crossed over into Kowloon and served
a short time in the Chinese army, and
then finding that nothing more could
be learned from the corrupt mandarins
who officered the troops but never
drilled them, he obtained his discharge
and Joined the crew of Chinese war
ship which had some European in'
. aI.i.1 1,sa TNanNaIn
Giffin and is said to have served under
him several months. Whether these
rumors be true or not, one thing is clear;
during his stay in Hong Kong and that
neighborhood he gained a wide knowl-
edge of warfare, both military ald naval
and read many works upon strategy and
the campaigns Of Bonaparte, Wellington,
Won MOltke and Grant; and there are
numerous photographs in existence in
that city OF him in both soldier and
sailor uniforms, During the past year
he has surprised many new acqualnt-
ances with his knowledge and accurate
opinions upon the famous battles and
generals Of Europe and America during
the present century.
Nor was his learning confined to the
science Of war; either at Hong Kong or
in Luzon he picked up at least a smatter.
ing Of Latin, French, English and
Chinese. Upon this point friends and
foes clash with considerable vehemence.
His friends pronounce him fine llnguist
while his foes aythat he has a parrot
like knowledge of the tongues which he
pretends to speak. At any rate, he
speaks and writes admirable Spanish,
French, Taeal, Visaya, and some Igor
rote-the three most important native
tongues in Luzon and the middle island
of the archipelago.
At the breaking out Of the great insur.
rection in 1896 AguinaldO appears to
have been holding some political posi-
tion under a native politician in a pro
Wncial town. He was very popular in
his own jurisdiction and treated his
troops and the people OF his district with
great tact and consideration. He en-
loved the esteem OF his superiors and
was on good terms with the Spanish
officials and with the Iesuits who served
as schoolmasters and doctors. He was
not on good tel ms with the Franciscans
or Dominicans. One Of the former laid
an information against him for being a
Mason. and a member of the latter
threatened to have him removed as
being opposed to the interests OF the
Church il that part of the province.
Here again Dame Rumor steps in land
with pIausibility) with a story that
Aguinaldo blocked both proceedings by
the iudicious payment of money to the
officials at the capital.
AS war became an assured fact Aguin-
aldo and Consul Wlldman, of Hong
Kong, grew more and more intimate.
It would not be fair to sit in judgment
at the present time upon either Of the
two men; nevertheless, it is certain that
either one or the other made serious
mistakes. If not positive blunders.
Aguinaldo, Agoncllo, and the other
Philippine leaders declare that Wildman
promised independence to the islanders
and claimed to have authority from
Washington to make this promise.
WildmaD, on the other hand. denies the
promise, and states that he merely en-
deavored to gain the assistance of the
revolutionists against the Spaniards in
the campo ign that was then to come. In
Hong Kong itself the understanding,
according to the foreign consuls and the
local press, was that an agreement had
been made between the two with iul,
knowledge or authority from the Amer.
can Government. At any rate, immed-
lately after the victory Ol Admiral
Dewey at Manila AguinaldO, followed in
a sholt time by his colleagues, crossed
over to Luzon and organized the insur.
rection upon the biggest scale ever seen
in the archipelago.
In this labor he displayed extraordi.
nary ability marked by a personal
magnetism Of A very high character. In
nearly every one OF the 26 provinces OF
Luzon he soon had the fires OF rebellion
under fierce headway. In each district
he picked out leader, and for the
capture OF each Spanish force and garfi-
sonhe outlined a rough plan ofcampaign.
During this work he suggested the
character of Napoleon BonaParte more
than of any other general of modern
times, Like Bonaparte, he seemed TO
exert a strange fascination upon his
people. Wherever he went he was
followed by troops OF admirers, and
while other generals suffered at times
he and his camp we're always supplied
with the choicest supplies aud comforts.