Akron daily Democrat. [volume] (Akron, Ohio) 1892-1902, 1899-07-13

| MANILA, July ia copy of The In
dependencia reached Manila containing
the speech which Aguinaldo made dur
ing the recent celebration at Tarlac of
the anniversary of the proclamation of
Filipino independence. In substance it
was us follows:
Filipino, beloved daughter of the ar
dent sun of the tropics, commended by
providence to the care of noble Spain,
be not ungrateful to her salute who
warmed you with the breath OF her own
culture and civilization.
1T Is true she sought to crush thy
aspiration for independence, as loving
mother opposes separation forever from
the daughter of her bosom. This but
proves the excess of affection and love
Spain feels for thee. Filipini, delicate
lower of the east, scarcely eight months
weaned from the breast of thy mother,
thou hast dared to brave great and
powerful nation, such as is the United
States, alter barely organizing and dis
cipiinlng thy little army. Yet we reply,
We will be slaves to none, nor allow
ourselves TO be deceived by soft words.
Let Us continue to defend our father
land until independence is assured, for
this is justice.
1--WE snail see at last that the great
American nation will acknowledge the
right which is on our side. That doc
trlne of the great Monroe, that Amer
lea Is for Americans, is not forgotten.
Just as we affirm that the Philippines
are for the Eilipinos. Some states of
the American Union have arisen in our
favor. Especially is the Democratic
party Convinced that both vlctors and
vanquished will lose precious lives.
Thus many of the people and many
statesmen censrlre President Mckinley
us inhunIan for having ordered his
military representatives at Manila to
seek means to bring about hostilities
with the hilpinos.
''Ihese facts proved that they wished
to try US to see if we are able to live up
to the second color of our banner, red,
which signifies courage, heroism and
martyrilom. Therefore, we should not
resent this struggle with the Americans.
In spite of their expressed desire to
dominate all the Philippines, well con-
vinced are they that we fight with JUS
tice ana right on our side and that au-
tonOmy is all show of deceit, only
serving To save certain accumulated
wealth. We have never concealed our
aspirations, that we aspire but to inde-
pendence, that we will struggle on to
obtain it, perhaps from those who are
now our enemies and tomorrow will be
our allies as they were for the overthrow
of the power of Spain.
''We might Well accept this autonomy
America offers, but what can we do
with 1t If our ambition is independence
and II we arc to accept it only to later
overthrow by force of arms the SOW
ereignty of America? AS believe it is
the intention of the autonomists to
make use OF treachery and deceit, we
cannot accept such a procedure. We |
do not wish to be traitors afterward. |
We wish to show Cur character of |
trankness and sincerity and nothing
more. Let US avoid the example of !
those natives, who having at one time
been colonists, accepted autonomy to
enable them to make their work surer |
once everything was proposed.
History has given US an example of |
this in recent events. Let US persist i'll |
our idea, which is only the legitimate |
and noble aspirations OF Il people which |
is deSirOus sit all cost to preserve its na-
tionai honor spotless and as pure as "a
crystal. Thus, then, there will not be
a single Filipino autonomist. Those
who are so are i'll the eyes of the people
but time servers, fearful of losing their
riches, threatened by the risks of war.
'f1lipinOs, let US be constant, Let
US strengthen the bonds of our urion."
Aguinaldo concluded with calling for
cheers for independence, the union of
the Filipinos and for the iberating
army.