Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-10-13
No Promise Ever Made.
A Chapter OF Historical Facts about the
Course of the united states Toward
the Philippine Rebels.

tells his followers that they ought to pray
devoutly for the success of the Democratic
party in the United States next year, be-
cause that party will compel the United
States to fulfill the promises of independ-
ence "made to us in all solemnity, though
not put in writing" This is renewal for
the thousandth time of the story that, at
the outbreak of the war with Spain, and
lust as Dewey was moving on Manila,
promise was made to the Philippine rebels
that, if they would stand by the United
States, this country would in turn stand
by them and give them their independ-
ence. The Boston Journal quotes chap
ter of facts on this subject which is worth
reproducing for the information it con-
tains.
Aguinaldo, the Journal says, acknowl-
edges that there was no writing, and thus
asks us to believe that the archipelago was
given away by word of mouth by somebody
He does not name the person who made
gift so far beyond the power even OF the
President of the United States, but later in
his manifesto he continues to give the i'm
preston, without saying so, that the prom
Use came from admiral Dewey and the
limited States consuls at Hong Kong and
Singapore"
Evidence of the highest quality exists to
prove the absolute contrary AS far back
as December 1897, two months before the
Maine went to Havana, and four months
before the war began, the United
States government in dispatches to its
representatives in the far East, pro-
claimed the policy of emo entanglng
alliances" with the Philippine insurgents,
which was ever afterward rigidly main
tanned. AS early as November, AguinaI-
dos friend, Agoncilo, then resident agent
in Hong Kong of the insurgent faction,
placed himself in communication with
Consul General Wildman with regard to
co6peration between the American and in
surqeut forces i'm the event OF war be-
tween the United States and Spain. Mr.
Wildman cabled to Washington for in
structions. The state department under
date of Dec. 10 replied, requesting Mr.
Wildman to inform Agoncillo that no
such alliance could be considered. "You
should courteously Decline" so Mr. Wild
man was instructed, Ito communicate
with the department further regarding his
(Agoncillo's) mission"
There could not we'll be more emphatic
negative than this to the first suggestion
of a Philippine alliance. When the war
actually broke out these insurgent over
lures we're resumed, but they always met
the same decisive answer. The negotla-
tions with Aguinaldo were not conducted
by Admiral Dewey. They were the work
of Consul General Wildman at Hong Kong,
Consul General Pratt at Singapore and
Consul Williams, who had been stationed
at Manila. In an official report to the
state department Mr.. Wildman, who was
the leader in these talks with Aguinaldo,
stated: "We made him no pledges and ex'
tracted from him but two, viz, to obey un
ouestioningly the commander of the United
States forces in the Philippine Islands anc
to conduct his warfare on civilized lines.
Consul General Pratt was specifically in
structed by cable on June 16, 1898, t(
"avoid unauthorized negotiations will
Philippine insurgents" In longer des
patch on the same day the state depart
ment said:
"This government has known the Phil
ippine insurgents only as discontentec
and rebellious subjects of Spain, and is no
acquainted with their purposes. While
their contest with that power has been q
matter of public notoriety, they have Meth
oeIy, 60 vad from this GOVERN
ment any recognition"
The consuls dealt unofficially with tn
insurgent representatives. They maintain
ed pleasant personal relations with them
that was all. When Consul Williams de
clined to attend the Inauguration of tn
provisional government of the so-cale,
Philippine republic, his course was ap
proved by despatch from Washington
When the consuls procured Admiral Dew
ey's consent to take Aguinaldo and two o
three of his friends over to Manila, it was o.
condition that they ''place themselves at
solutely under the orders" of the Admiral
And a little later Secretary Day cabled:
1.-THE United States, in entering upo
the occupation of the islands as a result o
do so in the exercise of the rights whicl
the state of war confers, and will eXpec
from the inhabitants, without regard t
their former attitude toward the Spanis
government that obedience which will b
lawfully due from them"
Neither at this time nor any other tim
was independence even as much as mer
toned by our officials in their dealing
with the Philippine insurgents Nor wa
there, indeed, any occasion for it. o
June 10, 1898, six weeks after Dewey ha
crushed Spanish sovereignty in the battl
of Manila Bay, Consul Williams reporte
to the state department that "Aguinald
told me today that his friends all hope
that the Philippines would be held as co
ony of the United States"
Mcfarland the well informed CORES
pondent of the Boston Herald at Wasl
ington, telegraphs that Mr.. Hanna will nc