The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-01-24
NO FEAR OF DONs.
Spaniards Would Not Court Another
Licking by AIIying with FiIipinOs.

Licking by AIIy1ng with F1I1pInOs.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 23.-Secretary Alger
this afternoon said that while he would be
pleased to hear that the Filipinos had liber-
ated the Spanish prisoners held by them he
had no official information to confirm the
statement to that effect coming from
Madrid. General Otis has been cabled for ac-
curate information respecting the number
of these prisoners, but so far he has not
given the information. The government is
pledged to endeavor to secure their release
and it will use every proper effort to do it,
but it cannot be held to the performance
of the impossible. and must be allowed it's
own time and the use Of what it deems
the best means to accomplish the task. 1t is
not to be supposed for a moment that the
Spanish government, no matter how desir-
Gus of securing the release of the prisoners
more speedily than could be accomplished
through the efforts of the United States gov
ernment, will enter into any al
lance with the insurgents. Techni-
cally the war is still in progress, al
though active hostilities are suspended and
any conduct on the part of the Spanish
government that would tend to increase he
difficulties of the United States in dealing
with the insurgents may have to be reck-
oned for This statement might not ne held
to apply to a simple effort on the Fart Of
the Spanish government tc secure the re-
lease of their subjects, bur ii could not be
tolerated that they should enter into any
sort of an alliance with people who are
practically in rebellion against the United
States.
The officials here are not moved by the
reported threat of the Filipino Junta in
Europe to withdraw Agoncillo and his fel-
lows from Washington if they are not speed
lily recognized officially While Agoncillo has
been well treated informally, he has not
been recognized by the government and it
may be stated positively that ne will not be.
The Filipino representatives here are not
prepared al this time to state when their
efforts to obtain recognition for the Aguin-
aldo government are to cease. This is a
question. they say, which will depend en-
tirely on circumstances that may develop
as result of their attempts to be diplo-
matically received here and the action of
the Senate on the peace treaty.
Senor Agoncllo. the chief agent of
Aguinaldo. said tonight that the reports he
had received from his government showed
no change in the condition of affairs in the
islands. and there was no particular news
to communicate. The revolutionists have
a regular form of government and are car
rying out it's functions. He and his asso-
ciates here would use every proper effort TO
obtain recognition for them, and he hoped
their work would be crowned with success.
Up to this time. however no reply had
come from the State Department TO their
letters asking for the recognition desired.
Senior Agoncillo evidently dscredited the
reports that he would be recalled to Manila
in few days if his efforts were not sue
cessful, as he stated that there had been
no word from Aguinaldo to return home.
The envoy made ii very clear that the Fill
ipinos would not provoke hostilites with
the United States. but that every attempt