Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1899-01-12
THE FRIEND OF AGUINALDo.
Consul General Williams Cultivates the
Amenities and Gathers Valuable In
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT by Dewey.

Washington, Jan. THE coTreSpon"
dence published officially in connec-
ton with the peace treaty contains
much of interest from Consul Will
Jams, who was stationed at Manila.
prior to the war. He was in constant
communication with Aguinaldo for
some time after the battle of Manila
bay, and his letters throw much light
upon the relations with the Philip
pine chieftain.
Amiable Simpleton.
AS early as February % last, Mr..
Williams wrote:
''The governor general, who is ami
able and popular, having resigned,
wishes credit for pacification, and some
rebel learders were givena cash bride OF
81 csc, 900 to consent to public deporta-
ton to China. This bride and deporta-
tion,' he adds, "only multiplied claim
ants and famed the fires of discon-
tent
On March 10, he complained that
letters and kilograms were tempered
with.
The Influence OF the Church the Greatest
Bar to Progress.
He speaks of the influence of the
church as the greatest bar to progress
in the islands. Mr.. Williams also
stated that every leisure hour was de-
voted to the inspection of the forts,
arsenals and battleships in and about
Manila, even at that early day and that
he was sending information thus de-
rived by Commodore Dewey, who, with
his fleet, was then at Hog Kong.
Spies were so thick that he did not
dare copy his dispatches in office
books.
Was Witness of Dewey's Victory.
Mr.. Williams left Manila on April
%. He was witness of Dewey's VIC
tory, and on May IL resumed his re-
ports from Cavite. His first dispatch
of that date begins with assurance
of 1.-THE friendliness of the Philippine
natives to our country, and to me as
its representative. Scores of times"
he continues, Il have heard hopes eX-
pressed that either the United States
or Great Britain would acquire these
islands,"
Hoped that the Philippines Would be Held
as a Colony.
lOlu 1lc uC
writes, on June 16, that his friends
all hoped that the Philippines would
be held as a colony of the United
States
This was only four days after the
first formation of a provisional gov
eminent by the natives. Mr. Williams
says he was invited to be present
when this government was organized
by the Filipinos, but that he had de-
clined, for which he afterwards re-
ceived a note of approval from the
state department.
Planted the Seeds of Cordial Cooperation.
On August he wrote:
"It has been my study to keep on
pleasant terms with Aguinaldo for ul-
innate objects. Admiral Dewey says
I have planted the seeds of cordial CO.
operation. My agreement with Agui-
naldo has been that the conditions of
government by the United States in
the Philippine islands would be vastly
better for him and his people in honor.
advancement and profit than could ex-
list under any plan fixed by himself
and Filipinos. I have traversed the en-
tire situation with him, and he has
called his officials from Is provinces
to meet for discussion of all grounds
stated as friendly but official on my
part
Came Pledging Loyalty to Annexation.
On September 5 Mr.. Williams ca
bled:
"To-day's delegations from 1000
Viscayan soldiers, who are also repre-
senting southern business interests,
came to me pledging loyalty to annex
alton. Several insurgent leaders like
wise. Spain can not control. If we
eyacuate anarchy rules"