The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-02-21
NO VIOLATION OF GOOD FAITH.

dom let them do it.
NO VIOLATION OF GOOD FAITH.
The San Francisco "Argonaut'
charges that Consul Wildman made
some sort of a compact with Aguinaldo
at Hongkong which is binding upon
our Government, by which the 1nsur-
gent leader was to be recognized ana ms
Government when established acknoWl-
edged as a Power. 1t further charges
that the President approved that COM
pact, if not directly then by silence.
We beg that the San Francisco paper
will open the volume of official cores
pondence, the full record on the sub
ject, and it will find that nothing of the
kind was done.
The Consul had no authority to make
any compact or agreement even if he
undertook it. Consul General Pratt
of Singapore first saw Aguinaldo. IL
was he who sent him to Admiral Dewey
and the records-just out-show that
he distinctly refused to make any
agreement with Aguinaldo when the
latter besought him to a promise that
his insurgents. should be recognized.
So careful was the State Department
to hold the United States representa-
tives in the Orient in check that it
called on Mr.. Pratt to report precisely
l,a +oId on6 warmed
him that if he had made any agree
ment with the rebel General it WAS
void, he having no authority, and that
the only attitude the United States
could maintain toward Aguinaldo was
that of nation which finds itself at
war with another Power, and under a
peace protocol discovers q portion Of
the subjects of that Power in insurrec-
ton against it. Secretary Day went
beyond this and informed our Consuls
that Aguinaldo had not even asked of
the United States any recognition
So much for a story calculated to
place the American Government in the
attitude Of violator of solemn pledges
and treaties. Truth is, there is not
line to show, nor shadow of testi-
mony to indicate that we have been
bound to Aguinaldo in any sort of
agreement made by any one, at home
or abroad.
True it is that Aguinaldo was asked
to give Admiral Dewey information val
liable in attack upon the Spanish fleet,
and that the rebel leader complied.
True it is that he was permitted by
Admiral Dewey to take arms from
Cavite for his followers, but 1t was
done to act as our ally, to aid the naval
officer in guarding prisoners and oc-
cupying immediate points near the ar
senal and navy yard, since Dewey had
no army for such purpose
Moreover the act of Aguihaldo in thus
serving Dewey was voluntary. was not
the result of the Admiraps seeking. but
the outcome of Aguinaldo's then strong
desire to aid us. This he did because
by American arms alone could the
Spanish power be overthrow. All
lugubrious expression on the part of
not a few of our exchanges over the
assumed act of bad faith on the part
OF the United States toward Aguinaldo
and his following, is without a shadow
of support in fact. Sentimentally II is
unworthy since we had, up to the time
the rebel forces fired upon our troops
from trenches constructed for the very
purpose, taken no position towards the
insurgents inconsistent with friendly
regard for them. We had not done
more than this, refused to recognize
their so-cal1ed Government as an in
dependent Power a thing impossible to
be done while the treaty with Spain
was still hanging fire, even if we had
reason at all for recognizing that as a
Power. which could not present the Gre
dentials of a force capable of assuming
international obligations and of main
tanning them.
The six days bicycle torture at San