The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-25

ronsdum demonstration that, according to all
American precedents. the Philippine repub-
NC was entitled to recognition, and In the
same letter invited the attention of the sec
retary to the present strained conditions at
Manila, where overzeal on either side might
create a condition resulting In grievouS loss
OF ne ana urging the necessity OF an carry
and frank communication between the rep
resentatives of the two countries. lie FUR
tner calls attention TO the fact that since
his letter was written the very circunl-
stances he feared have brought the two
countries to the edge of war, and says the
language used by him was so prophetic that
subsequent facts have amply JUSTIFIED It's
employment.
He now desires to call the attention of the
secretary to certain conditions which, in his
opinion. require immediate allevietion, There
are, he says, at the present time twenty
Thousand American troops at Manila, con-
trolling a population of about three hundred
thousand. "A number of war vessels are
stationed in the harbor, and many American
men-of-war and transports are 10 be found
within the archipelago although the actual
possession Of the American troops extends
over not to exceed one hundred and forty
three square miles out Of more than two
hundred thousand" Despite the enormous
forces now in this extremely circumscribed
sphere. I'VE are informed through the pub
lie prints that other vessels Of war have
been ordered from distant parts of the
glcce TO reinforce those now among the
ISLANDS in question, while few days ago
transport sailed from New York city carry
ing about two thousand soldiers and having
Manila as its destination, and, we are
Iurther informed, regiments of troops are
under orders to proceed by way or San
Francisco to the Philippines. The public
prints inform US also that an attack IS con-
templated OIL the Philippine islands; the
islands to be taken in detail, the smaller
ones first the larger ones blockaded so that
they may not assist those first attacked,
Agoncilo says that it is naturally the inn
preston of his government and people that
these warlike preparations indicate existing
or immediate military operations in the
Orient and they readily conceive that II
must be contemplated that such operations
are to be leveled at the existing govern
ment of the Philippine islands. LAS the rep
resentative of the Philippine government"
he continues, Il hesitate to give adhesion
to this idea for / cannot believe that there
is any present or future difficulty between
the American and Philippine governments
justfying warlikc activities, and, be-
lever in the humanity of the American peo-
pie, refuse to acQuiesce in the idea that
America designs war on the Philippine
| islands,
Agoncillo points out the fact that but late
ly the United States and the Philippine gov
ernment have been associated in conflict
against common enemy the United States
! OF Spain from the West Indies, While the
| desire of the Philippine republic has been
| practically attained by the almost complete
| expulsion of the Spanish government from
| the Philippine islands, the Philippine gov
! ernment now holding as prisoners OF war
| between nine and ten thousand Spanish SOL
| diers and the Spanish possessing only few
| small garrisons in isolated points Of minor
! Importance. He is therefore unable to con-
of the United States, lately employed
against common enemy, should be turned
| against Americas recent associate.
The United States, he says, has no active
enemy in the Orient, having proclaimed an
armistice with Spain. 1t IS true, lie con-
| tinues, that Spain has undertaken to con-
vey to the United States lis alleged claim
| against the Philippines, a claim whth Spain
was not capable Of enforcing and which
| never found its origin in the consent Of the
! people of those islands. He inquiries: Are
/ my government and people to be left to sup
| pose that it is because Of some desire on the
part of the American government to en-
force against its late associate this exploded
claim that the United States is massing its
| forces at the late capital of the Philippine
He points out that the Philippine islands
| are in a state of order. possessing a govern
ment satisfactory to their inhabitants and
! without an enemy within their borders offer
| ing any resistance to its operations, and are
| a peace with all the world. He is sure the
! secretary of state will appreciate. in view of
the circumstances detailed. the uuieting re-
| assuring effect upon the minds of his coun-
| trymen to result from disclaimer upon the
| part of the American government of any in
| tention to attack their liberties and inde-
| pendence
! Continuing, he says that notwithstanding
the difficulty he labOrs under in not having
| been formally received, he finds it his inn
| perative duty to call the attention of the
| secretary - the disturbing facts enumer-
| ated, TO the end that he may receive such
| assurances as will satisfy his government
| that II IS not the intention of America to
| make war upon the new republic of Asia
| and which will explain to it the reason why
| large armies and naVies should be dispatched
| to the Philippine islands, and which will re-
| leVe his countrymen of the fear that now
| possesses them that their liberties are in
danger at the hands of a republic whose
name they have always believed was asso-
ciated with freedom and to which they first
came for recognition. He expresses his graf
| itude to America for services rendered,
! hopes that friendly relations may continue
! and urges the Importance of an immediate
! answer