The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-07-18
FILrPINos DIDN'T WANT no FIGHT

cOmprenenslVe sJatemenJ OF Jne SlJua
tion in the Philippines. 1t is writer
by F. W. Sylvester, q member OF the
firm OF Louis Spitzel g. Co., one of the
largest merchant and shipping houses
In the far East, contractors to the Chi
nese Government, agents for the Max.
im-Nordenfelt Gun and Ammunition
Company, of London, the Thames Iron
Works and Shipbuilding Company and
other firms OF like standing.
Mr.. Sylvester returned to London
lately from Manila and Hong Kong.
He has intimate personal knowledge oi
Aguinaldo and his followers. 1t was
he who sold Aguinaldo arms through
Consul Wildman.
He Is recognized as one OF the high
est authorities on trade conditions in
the East. No other man has had such
opportunity to learn the exact facts:
Oxford Street, London, July l.
Our campaign against the Fllipinos
Is bound to be expensive, unsatisfactory
and deplorable. There Is no doubt
that eventually we shall conquer or
wear these people out, but 1t will cost
more American blood and money that
the present administration ever sup
posed.
am an American, with patriotic
sentiments as strong as those OF any
American citizen. l was on the most
intimate and friendly terms with all
the Filipino officials, from Aguinaldo
down, and therefore you must agree
with me that any statement | make Is
without bias.
The foundation of all the trouble lies
in the policy adopted by the admins
tratiou when sending General Merritt
to the Philippines. The policy was to
ignore the Filipinos-a policy not only
unwise, but mad. Things had gone too
far.
II a proper and less aggressive policy
had been pursued at the outset every
Filipino would today be loyal to the
Stars and Stripes.
The Filipino leaders were taken over
to the Philippine Islands by an Ameri-
can war vessel. American officials en-
couraged them to organize an army to
fight the common enemy.
Although General Merritt's policy
was to ignore the Filipinos, he never
raised any objection to their fighting in
front OF the American troops. AL
though Aguanaldo and his followers
could not understand the generals pc
culiar position up to the Gay OF Manila's
capture, the thought never entered
their heads that they were acting in
any way hostile to the American
governments wishes.
The capture of Manila was an opera
bouffe affair. Everything was prear-
ranged.
The earthworks nearest Manila had
been taken by the Filipinos and were
occupied by them. There were 10000
Filipino soldiers in front of the Ameri-
can forces. The Filipinos were asked
to evacuate, and did so in complete
ignorance of the Americans intentions.
When the American troops marched
into Manila the Filipinos tried to fol-
low, whereupon several United States
turned upon them with fixed
bayonets.
Aguinaldo told me that If the Ameri-
can government would assure his people
that the Philippines would not be
handed back to the Spaniards his army
| do not want to relate the details of
the difficulties between our forces and
the Filipinos that occurred almost
1aily, differences in which l know the
Filipinos were not at fault. 1t would
I'll volumes.
My opinion is that the administra-
lions policy has been influenced by the
business element of America, presum-
ing that the acquiring of these islands
means an enormous foreign trade.
This impression is wrong. We cannot
establish a preferential tariff over
these islands in favor of Americans
antagonizing all other nations.
All other things being equal, Ameri-
can merchants will never be able to
in the Philippine islands with
foreign merchants, because the minds
Of the Filipinos have become 80
thoroughly poisoned again Americans
that they will not buy anything Ameri-
can that can be obtained elsewhere.
AS to the act that brought on hostil-
Ities-the attempt of two Filipinos to
cross the American lines, being fred
upon and with some companions firing
upon the Americans in turn--it is a
matter of official record that all the
higher Filipino officers were in confer
ence in their headquarters at the time.
The two Filipinos certainly were not
acting under orders.
1t is also matter OF record that as
soon as Aguinaldo got news OF the con-
fiict he sent messenger begging the
Americans for Gods sake to desist, de-
claring that whatever few OF his sold
lers had done was without authority.
Aguinaldo was told that it was too
late; the natives must take the conse-
quences.
Had Aguinaldo's message of peace
been listened to many lives would have
been saved.
The strict censorship exercised over
the press in Manila is against our
principles of free thought
and free speech. We must have some
thing to conceal, and what surprises
me most is that the American press
has submitted to It,
Aguinaldo and his men are not the
Ignorant men most people suppose