Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-06-01

l
unable to receive officially the repre-
sentatiVes of the revolutionary govern
ment and endeaVored to make that in
ability clear to the distinguished gen
tlemen with whom l had the pleasure
to converse a few evenings since.
You will bear witness that my course
throughout my entire official connec-
ton with affairs here has been consis-
tent and it has panied me that / have
not been able to receive and answer
communications of the cabinet officers
of the government at Malolos. fearing
that / might be enormously charged
with lack of courtesy.
Permit me now briefly, general, to
speak of the serious misunderstanding
which exists between the Filipino peo-
pie and the representatives Of the
United States government and which
hope that our commissioners, by
thorough discussion may be able to dis
pei. l sincerely believe that all desire
peace and harmony and yet by the
Vaccinations of evil disposed persons
we have been influenced to think that
we occupy the position of adversaries.
The Filipinos appear to be of the
| opinion that we mediate attack, while
| | am under strict orders of the Presi-
| dent Of the United States to avoid con-
| fiict in every way possible. My troops
| witnessing the earnestneSs, the COM
paratively disturbed and unfriendly at
| ttude OF the revolutionary troops aud
many of the citizens of Manila con
| Guided that active hostilities have been
| determined upon, although it must be
J clearly within the comprehension Of
| unprecedented and rejecting minds that
/ the welfare and happiness of the Fill
| pino people depend upon the friendly
I protection Of the United States.
"'he hand of Spain was forced and
she was acknowledged before the WORLD
that all her claimed rights in the coun-
! try hay" departed by du" process Of
! law. This treaty acknowledgment
! with tn" conditions which accompany
! il, awaits ratification by the Senate of
| Ih- United States ana the action of its
Congress must also be secured before
the executive Of that government can
! proclaim a definite policy. That policy
| must conform to the viii Of the people
of the United States expressed through
| its rcpr, ScntativcS in Congress. For
that action the Filipino people should
( wait ut least, before scVering the eX-
listing friendly relations.
/ am governed by desire to further
the interests Of the Filipino people and
shall continue to labor with that end III
view. There shall be no conflict of
forces if | am able to avoid il ana still
! shall endeavor to maintain Il position
to meet all emergencies that may arise.
Permit me to subscribe myself, gen
eral, with the highest respects.
Your most obcdicnt servant.
F.. s OTIS,
Major Cen. L. S. Vols. Commanding
Cen. Otis says the negotiations between
the two commissions reached no conclu-
sion Thr inSurgeut commissioners pre-
scented as the desire of the insurgents.
absolute Independence under the protec-
tion Of the United States. but the nature
and scope Of the protection wished for,
they could not explain. ana the conference
| ended IN failure.
In the latter part Of January. the insur-
gents became aggressive, Interfering with
the American troops, and finally Gen.
Otis wrote Gen. Aguinaldo. calling atten-
ton to the arrest by Filpinos Of some
American soldiers and a newspaper cor
respondent and requesting an eXplana-
ton. Gen. OTIS letter added:
n am doing everything possible to pre-
| serve the peace ana avoid all friction an
til the Filipino people can be made fully
| acquainted with the sentiments ana in
tentiOns of the American government.
J
ciatc the endtaVOrs of the United States
and will again look upon that country a
their friend and protector. | also fully
| believe that the present unrest is the re-
suit of the Vaccinations of evil disposed
| persons.
Agunaldo replied that the men We're
| arrested inside of his lines for breach of
| a decree fOrbidding foreigners to ap-
proach the insurgent lines. He added: ~
must state that in consideration Of the
friendship Of the Filipino people for the
| Americans. the said soldiers have not
! been imprisoned. but detained, in accord
ance with the spirit Of the decree OF Oct.
| ~ last. They have been lodged in the
| GubiernO AIilitar. ana have been issued
| the daily rations of our officers If they
have been uncomfortable il Is due e the
| excessive sObriety OF our race ana OF our
| soldiers who are accustomed to eat but
little and to sleep on the hard ground.
with these explanations ! believe,
general, you will understand the motive
Of the detention OF your soldiers TO-DAY
liberated. and who have been treated
with all due consideration. | therefore
hope that your dissemination may be an
other motive on which to base our friend
IL relations with the great American re-
public. and in consideration of these !
also decree the liberty Of the coffespoh-
Gen. OTIS report explains that the
Americans We're not outside our mes ana
saws he quotes the correspondence mere
IN tn snow The efforts Of the American
authorities to maintain peace. lie neNi
tells how the American Sol"iers We
|
had continuously labOrod to Strengthen
their lines. threatening to drive tn'
! Americans out Nc the island, ana now
tinIlIv. on the night Of Feb. I, the derl-
, onstratiun was made which resulted III
. TN killing Of a Filipino by an American
l sentry and the firing on the Americans
= ~ the inSurgcnt troops. Gen. GUS 81!
, The insurgent army had thus succeed
| oil i'm drawing the fire of Il small outpost
; which they had evidently labofed Win
. ali their ingenuity to accomplish IN ofdF
T tn iusiifv i'm some way their prenedlta teu
attark III IL not believed that the ch'tl
t intmrgcut leaders wished to open hostlIl-
r | ti.s 1T This time. as they were nor toih-
= | nI.trIy prepared to assume the iillllttiN -
| !Thrv desired two or three days more L.
. ,t.rC.cf their arrangements, but Inc Htii
{ ~ their army brought on the crisis WlllcH
A ,ntfrfuatrd their action. 1hcN coulu ~
: Lnt.n leIayrd long, however Tor " WEI
II tbeir object to force an issue before IN,
z American troops then en- route coulu #
,Tb. renurt then refers to the uniformll
e ,iIitarv operations which followed in'
t,,tbr.5k Of hostilites, ana speaks hl@hi\
a ~ IN efficiency displayed BY the troop
In,iar the most trying ordtdlS.
Z A REIGN OF TERROR
= p,ev,iIs al San Isdro and San Miguel-Iw'