The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-06-18

Having thus been enlightened upon the
sentiments OF the high personages on the
American side it remained to me to ascer-
tain the views of the Filipino leaders. One
evening L visited Florentine Torres. pres
ident of the Philippine committee of Manila.
Torres was a magistrate under Spanish rrle
and is a very intelligent man.. he said:
The position of the Philippine committee is
4 very difficult one- We are doing what
we can TO bring about pacification, but when
we shall have found a solution Of the eues-
ton with Mr.. Schurmann it wlll be neces-
sary to cause Aguinaldo to accept it. and
there will be great difficulty
Why do you fear the opposition of
Aguinaldo? is he an ambitious man?'
No, but he has illusions. He hopes for
the Intervention of great European powers,
as in Crete, and he even counts on the CO.
operation Of Japan
And you, sir. for what do you hope?'
"'Oh. as for myself, 1 hope the war will
soon be finished. for 1t is running u.s. We
landed proprietors would accept a govern
ment similar to that of Canada. We in no
way wish for the departure of the Ameri-
cans. for, in that case our fortunes would
be swept away. 1t is not only question
of Aguinaldo and his troops. of a nationalist
revolutionary movement created by the in
surrection. The lower class of people and
many of the chiefs are military socialists.
will cite. for example. Luna. who for a
long time frequented the Socialist clubs of
Europe; Santiko. who at one time had in
Huence among certain Socialist committees
of America. and the poet Paterno, who is
an enthusiastic Socialist. Also. rest well
n mr. ia
more against the capitalists, to whatever
nation they belong. than against the Amer
leans
NO REAL AUTHORITY.
Regarding the declaration of Torres.
there are two important observations which
1 ask permission to present Immediately.
The first is that as a matter of fact, the
Philippine commission with which Mr..
Schurmann is treating has no real authority
and is in no way an ernanation from the
rebels as a whole. The result is, 1 have
already said, that Mr.. Schurmann. in spite
of his good will, seems to me powerless to
obtain serious results. Were he to find
solution of the situation with the Philippine
commission 1t would afterward be necessary
to have it accepted by Aguinaldo and his
troops. and everything would have to be
done over again.
1.-THE second observation Is the import
ance which should be attached to this entry
upon the stage Of socialism In the Philip
pines. 1t explains the dissensions which
exist among the Filipinos and naturally will
result in the Americans finding. before the
conclusion of peace. serious support among
the better classes.
II afterward had Interviews with sew
eral influential FIlipinos, notably, with Gre
gorio Araneto the frN minister of justice
of the government of Aguinaldo. They all
confirm the statements oQTorres.''
II was struck with the fine presence of
your soldiers. They are big men. strong,
supple and agile, which bear testimony to
the beauty of the American race. But, un-
happily. 1 know that precisely on account
OF their physical strength. they experience
great difficulties in enduring the climate OF
the Philippine islands. This seems paradox
ical. and yet it Is so. In warm and damp
countries it indisputable that
very vigorous men do not endure
the climate as well as smaller
and more degenerate individuals. Besides
this, the American troops have. In my opin-
ion, rations which are too heating. Admira-
bly, supplied with PROVISIONS. the soldiers
eat too much meat and not enough rice. 1t
is an error. think. not to adapt themselves
better to the exigencies of the midst in
which they live.
Your soldiers fight with great bravery,
but it is impossible not to remark the lack
Of discipline among the volunteers. The
latter conduct themselves well under fire,
but they pay little attention to obedience
to their chiefs"