Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1899-10-24

! II. allsOr them placing Within himself
allpower and authority Though provid-
| ing for assemblies and a congress the
decree practically gave none of these
power except in subordination to him
self, the whole being dictatorship of
Aguinaldo and civil government only
in form and name, without any of the
attributes that pertain to organized
civil government
| By the protocol we were to possess
and occupy the city of Manila, and
Spain the territory outside. This left
the Spanish army then in Manila free
to defend its possessions outside if
menaced by Aguinaldo, as it was not
| known whether he would or would not
| respect the armistce. After the pro-
tocol, and without knowing that it was
signed. General Merritt aud Admiral
Dewey conquered Manila and made
prisoners of war of the Spanish army,
Idepriving Spain of her military power
outside as against Aguinaldo, SO Ag-
uinaldo was free to seize much of the
territory outside and did seize and use
it to strengthen his army for five
months between the protocol and The
| ratification of the treaty, impressing
| the peaceable inhabitants with their
property and resources into his SER
vice. lie did this with little or no op-
position, there being no army TO oppose
and in this way he organized a large
force tc operate later against the Unit
ed States. That he would so use it
WIS apparent even before the treaty
was signed, by his investment OF Ma
Mia, though he knew that we would
] not disturb him unless attacked, and
that we could not under the protocol.
This Investment of the city continued
after the treaty was signed, and then
became an act of war against the Unit
ed States, and no hair-splitting cas-
uistry can make it anything else, us he
then knew that the islands were ours
on the ratification of the treaty, as the
city bad been temporarily under the
protocol.
The president, desiring to avoid con-
flict with Asuinaldo, and to show our
purpose toward all the inhabitants,
made known TO them that they would
be given full protection OF life and
property, and enter upon the fullest. en-
| joyment of freedom and liberty con-
sistent with social order and with our
own obligations incurred by the treaty
under the constitution and laws of our
country, and that they would, have ma
tive participation and control in their
affairs to the largest practicable extent
| during military occupation and pend
ing action by congress. All these were
rejected, and Aguinaldo continued the
hostile Investment of the city. even to
the extent of sending into the city a
1 secret order calling on the Philippine
inhabitants 'sto rise in the night and
slaughter the people of every race and
land save only those of Filipino blood"
| These oyer,ures continued through
the month OF January, but all to no
purpose, Aguinaldo insisting all the
4 time that our army should be immedi-
ately withdrawn; that he should be
free to establish such independent gov
] ernment as he might choose, without
the interference or persuasiveinfuence
OF the United States, and that we
should agree that when established our
navy should be used to protect it from
outside attacks, all Of which was who'll
ly inadmissible. The sequel shows that
:. these impossible terms were protfered
knowing they could not be accepted,
and only for the purpose of securing
the rejection of the treaty, or failing,
to enable him to complete arrange
: ments for an open attack, which was
made on February 4, two days before
the final vote on the treaty. n
The United States thus attacked
; without cause, had no other alternative
but to meet force with force and de-
fend the city of Manila against attack,
| as we were bound to do by the proto-
col and by the treaty when ratified
Notwithstanding this wanton attack by
|, those who had every reason to support
our government, because we had deliv-
cred them from the expressions and
atrocities of Spain, the president con
tinued to hold out earnest assurances
of good will and friendship, and to that
t'tend, AS soon after the ratification as
practicable, he selected five eminent
men of our country, including Admiral
!, Dewey and General Otis, to present te
the insurgents in form the aims ant
purposes of our government toward
? them and toward the people of the is
lands.
This commission pledged the presi
, dent, pending the action of congress
that the Fnlnpplnes Snould nave, undel
our guidance and authority, the larges
measure of freedom of which they were
capable, and that they should have the
5 protecting care of the government anc
! people of the United States in the en-
joyment of their property and of lib
erty, including the freedom of religion
: means of education, and the collection
/ of reasonable revenues, which should
be used only and solely for purpose!
in the islands, and that every dollar O
revenue thus collected should be ex
pended for the promotion of those OBJ
8 jects and for the peaceful develop
ment and progress of the islands.
These assurances, repeated at ever,
step of our progress, were always re
, iected, and the rebellion still continues
In this situation there are but two
D alternatives open to us. One is to pres
3 forward until the rebellion is absolute
0 ly overthrown and our rightful author
r ity is established and acknowledged
I there. The other is that we shall with
S draw our army and navy from the is
: lands and leave all the people tina
i dwell there to the chaos and anarch,
~. FL a