The Bellefontaine Republican. [volume] (Bellefontaine, Logan County, Ohio) 1855-1905, 1899-01-17
A BAD CAUSE
Needs the Support of Unfair
Statements and Arguments.

We have been watching to see wha
arguments would be advanced by those
who advocate the subjugatien of the
Philippines. The folio wing paragraphs
| from the Cincinnati Commercial Trib-
une, are perhaps as fortible as any.
thing We have seen. 1t says:
''It is matter of record that after
making all possible trouble for Spain
by inciting the insurgents into rebellion
this gallant young leader made a deal
with the Spanish authorities whereby
he undertook to withdraw all the Fill
ipiuo leaders and leave the country in
consideration of so much money. That
he did in furtherance of his compact
60 to Hongkong and there remain until
taken back as an advisory member OF
Admiral Dswey's expedition is also an
established fact.
"He was made part of this movement
for purpose, of course. He was to
hold the insurgents in check, and WIS
taken only upon his solemn promise
that under no circumstances would he
foment trouble. He was present as a
subordins ate part of the American force
Having broken faith with Spain by thus
returning, it was to be expected that he
would play fast and loose with the
United States. He has done so."
The argument in this, is, that Aguin-
aldo sold his country to Spain, after
wards betrayed Spain, and then turned
against the United States. Which of
course proves that the Philippines
ought to be suhjugated, and THEN
country made a colony of the United
States. 1t is short argument, and it
answeres it's purpose, if it won't wash.
But let us look at these paragraphs
from the Commercial Tribune:
1T is matter of record" that the
first paragraph is not true. 1t was long
ago exploded. 1t was Spanish lie to
start with. The Philippines were in
revolt. They were getting the better of
the Spanish. The Spanish Governor of
the Island asked for truce, called the
leading Philippines together, ana told
them if they would law down their
arms, he would pay the expenses they
had incurred, grant the concessions
they had asked for, and guaranteed that
none of the Philippine leaders should be
arrested for the part they had taken in
the rebellion. The Philippines accepted
the offer, laid down their arms, and the
money was paid as agreed. There the
Spanish fulfllment of the agreement
stopped. They utterly failed to grant
any of the concessions asked by the
people, and began to arrest the Philip
pine leaders, throw them into prison,
and execute them. Aguinaldo and
other leaders had to flee to China. This
is not at all the story the Com. Tribune
tells, but it Is the tue one.
Asto the sec nd paragraph it is as far
wrong as the other. On its face itshows
that it is not true. It charges that
Aguinaldo left Hongkong with Dewey,
only to hold the insurgents in check,
and was taken only on the solemn
promise that he would not foment
trouble. "He was present." the G. G.
says, "as subordinate part of the
American force" If this is true, Aguin-
aldo went to Manila not to help himself
or his people. Pray, what then, did he
go for? Does the G. g. suppose for a
minute that Americans have no memo
ries? Don't we know that Aguinaldo
went with Dewey as an ally? That he
piloted Dewey into the harbor, and gave
him much valuable information; that
Dewey gave him arms and ammunition
from the arsenal at Cavite, to arm the
insurgents, and that they drove the
Spanish into Manila and would have
captured the city but for Aguinaldo's
faithfullness to Dewey and our country.
When our army came, Aguinaldo's
forces held the Spanish inside the forti-
fcation ns, and gave up their own posi-
tions, only to give way to our forces?
Aguinaldo was Fl khting for his country
and his people, and he was recognized
as an ally of our country, until the
Spanish surrendered and new in
fuence sprung up at Washington that
sought to treat the struggling Cubans
and Philippines as subjects.
The Commercial Tribune in its blind
zeal for Expansion" makes the foolish
statement that Aguinaldo left Hong
Kong with Dewey to hold the lnsur-
gents in check, when it was not known
but Dewey would need all the help be
could get, when he got to Manila, for it
was then an open question, whether
our army or the Spanish navy would be
sunk.
II it is necessary to trsduce fhe patri.
o.s of the Philippines, and to misreprs
sent history, to back up the cause oi
Expansion" which is now interpreted
as subjugation, then it is certainly q
bsd cause.
It is well for the country that the
Administration repudiates these ideas
of expansion, and says a permanen
SUB jugation is not thought Of by tb,
resident.