The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-01-31
ACONCILlO PERSISTENT.
Ne Presents Another Communication 10
the State Department.
II is HISTORICAL AND ARGUMENTATVf.
The Philippines FouGht for INDIE
pendence from spain and Not for
Purpose of Being Annexed.

secretary to Senior Agoncillo, the PHILIPPINE
representative here, called at the state
department about o'clock this afternoon
and left with the chief clerk another com
munication addressed to the secretary OF
state protesting against the attitude OF our
government toward tho PHILIPPINE "repub-
lie" The terms of the protest do not 30
as far as an ultlmatum. The Same fate
awaits this communication as that which
befell It's predecessor-it viii be diploma
tically ignored.
Accompanying the communication is q
long memorial addressed to the senate con-
tanning comprehensive argument In OPP
position to the ratification Of the treaty
and which the envoy asks the president to
scnd to that body.
The letter OF transmttal contains moro
than the mere request, but Agoncillo feels
thnt he Is bound by courtesy not to make
IL public until an opportunity Is had by
z the State department officials to make u
reply
The memorial TO the senate is long
document, both historical and arguments
tive In character and is u protest that this
government has no jurisdiction, natural
or acquired, through any of its agencies to
OF the Philippine country and its people.
He refers to the Historical fact that a
large number OF my couiitrymen have
never been subdued by Spanish power and
rs against their liberties, the oppressive
arm of Spain has never boen abio To sus-
f lain itself; that the remainder, because of
their adhesion to the cause of liberty. have
been In almost constant instruction
against the government OF Spain; these
conflicts existed continuously with greater
or less fury for the past hundred years.
The impression, he continues has been
created In America that at the time OF the
declaration OF war between America and
Spain, the Philippine revolution no longer
existed. He quotes from communications
from Consul General Wildman at Manila
and MIR. Pratt, as a result of which Agon-
clio says that without additional author
lily IL must be evident to your honorable
body that an extensive revolution existed
IN the Philippines at the time OF the
declaration OF war by America against
Spain"
The purpose of the Philippine patriots In
conducting this revolution YVES, IL Is as
serted, to secure the complete indcpend-
eDce of their country and in this effort
they received the encouragement OF the
United States and were never informed
that the obligation and preservation Of
such a republic would be regarded as q
hostile act by An,cricp and they never
believed that their struggle In such q cause
would lead to enormous aggreEations of
American armies and navies at their doors.
Additional historical facts are here pre-
scented and quotations made from mani
festos of the PHILIPPINES and from other
documents from which says. the envoy,
it must appear that the Philippine ma
ton has achieved its independence free
from any danger of losing il at the hands
OF Spaniards prior even to the signing Of
the peace protocol
Spain having been driven away from
the islands and the inhabitants having es-
tablished a government satisfactory to
themselves and maintaining order through
out the territories what justification"
Agpncillo asks, can any other nation adj
vance for interfering with his country or
refusing 10 extend TO Il the obligations OF
international law?p
Could Spain, lie asks. give to any nation
better right than She possessed? She
( rSnld not confer possession for what she
did not enjoy and any former right OF pos
session claimed by her had been extin-
Gu!shed by the destruction of her soyer-
eighty.
Bearing on the discussion of the qtes-
fion whether the American government can
acquire right TO the Philippines from Spain
by treaty the memorial calls attention
TO several notable and exact American
presidents" and Agoncllo says he could
ask for his country mo better fortune
than to have the Republic of America. AS
at present constituted. adhere to the teach
fngs OF international law as laid down by
some of its founders"
Senior Agoncillo. in conclusion. summar-
ICES the various reasons set out in detail
why the treaty should not be ratified and
expresses an earnest hopo that the repre-
sensations he has vcntured to make VIII
receive the grave consideration of the con
Ate before Anal action is taken upon tho
treaty which contains so much OF conso-
quenco to his people.