The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-07

writes on June t. that his friends all
hoped the Philippines would be held as
a colony of the United States "
This was only four days after the first
| formation of a provisional government
by the natives. Mr.. Williams says he
was invited to be present when this
government was organized by the Fill
pinos, but that he declined. For this
he afterward received a note Of ap-
prevail from the State Department.
On August 4 he wrote:
1t has been my study to keep on pleas
| ant terms with Aguinaldo for ultimate
objects. Admiral Dewey says l have
planted the seeds of cordial cooperation.
My agreement with Agulnaldo 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 exist under any plan fixed by
himself and Ftlipinos. 1 have traversed
the entire ground of government with him
in counsel and he has called his officials
from fifteen provinces TO meet for their
discussion, stated, friendly but unoffi-
cial on my part.
On September Mr.. Williams cabled
To-day delegations from 1000 Viscayan
soldiers and also representing southern
business interests came to me, pledging
loyalty to annexation. Several insur-
gent leaders likewise fnain cannot
control. If we evacuate anarchy rules"
On July IS Consul Wildman wrote to
the Secretary Of State expressing his
views on the then reported policy of the
United States Government to allow the
Philippine Islands to return to Spain.
Among other things he said, after Civ
ing the particulars of his long residence
and intimate acquaintance among the
people of the Straits Settlement:
consider the forty or fifty Philippine
leaders with whose fortunes I hav hear
closely connected both the superiors of
the Malays and Cubans Aguinaldo,
Agencillo and Sandico are all men who
would be leaders in their separate depart
ments in any country while among the
wealthy Manila men who live in Hong
kong and who are spending their money
literally for the overthrow of the Span
iards and annexation to the United States,
men like the CorteZ family and the Para
family. would hold their. own among
bankers and lawyers anywhere. In spite
of statements TO the contrary, l know
they are fighting for annexation to the
United States first and for independence
secondly. In fact, I have had the most
prominent leaders call on me and say that
they would not raise one finger unless l
could assure them that the United States
Intended to give them United States citf-
Zenship If they wanted ii. There has been
q systematic attempt to blacken the name
of Aguinaldo and his Cabinet on account
of the questionable terms of their surren-
der to Spanish forces a year ago this
month 1t has been said that they sold
their country for gold, but this has been
concluSiVely disprOved, not only by their
own statements, but by the speech of
the late Governor General Rivera in the
Spanish Senate. l was in HOngkong
in September, 1897, when Aguinaldo and
his leaders arrived under contract with
the Spanish Government. They waited
until the LIST of November for the pay
ment of the money promised for the wild
ows and orphans of the insurgents and
the fulfllment of promised reforms. Only
$500 900 Mexican money was placed to
their credit.
Mr.. Wildman says that on the break
ing out of the war he received dele
cation from the insurgent junta and
they bound themselves to obey all laws
of civilized warfare and to place them
selves absolutely under the orders Of
Admiral Dewey if they were permitted
to return to Manila. He says that on
April q, after another conference, he
agreed, on behalf of Dewey. to allow
two of the insurgent delegations to
accompany the fleet to Manila, he going
with them. 1t was only later that he
prevailed on Admiral Dewey to allow
Aguinaldo to go. Referring to Agui-
naldO's organization of a government
he says it was absolutely necessary to
take such a step to maintain control
over the natives. In conclusion Mr.
Wildman says
I wish to put myself on record as stat
/
Philippine Islands cannot be dealt with
as though they were North American In
dians, willing to be removed from one
reservation TO another at the whim of
their masters. If the United States de-
clded not to retain the Philippine Islands
it's 100000 people will demand independ-
ence, and the attempt of any foreign ma
ton to obtain territory or coaling stations
will be resisted with the same spirit with
which they fought the Spaniards.
The correspondence shows that Mr..
Wildman was warned not to make
pledges or discuss policy with Agui-
naldo and that he replied that he made
him no pledges and exacted from him
but two, viz: To obey unquestionably
the commander of the United States
forces in the Philippine Islands and to
conduct his warfare on civilized lines
Wildman further says:
Aguinaldo has written me by every on
portunity, and l believe he has been fra1l,
with me. both regarding his actions and
his motives. l do not doubt that he would
like to be President of the Philippine re-
public, and there may be a small coterfe
of his native advisers who entertain q