Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-07-19
DIDN'T BURN MANILA.
Fi|ipin0s Deny That They Were
Responsible For It
TALK WITH MAJOR zIALCITA.
ASulraIdO'S Cavalry Leader Speaks
For His People.
THEY HAD CONFIDENCE IN Us.
Consul wiIdman and Others Had As
surcd Them We Would Not Take
Permanent Posscxsion-Thcy Want
Their independence.
THEY HAD CONFIDENCE IN Us.
Consul wildmau and Others Had As.
Their independence.

MINNEAPOLIS. MINI, July iS-The
Times tomorrow will publish an inter-
view which took places May sth at san
Isidro, Luzon. between fits special cor
respondent. Martin H. lew, OF the Thir7
teenth Minnesota. detailed by General
Wheaton as brigade interpreter. and
Major Lorenzo l.. Zlalcita, leader OF
Agulnaldo's cavalry, and one OF tho Fill
Pine commissioners, who went TO General
Otis with propositions for an armistice.
Major Zialclta denied emphatically that
Filipino officials had ordered the burning
Of Manila and the wholesale murder OF
Americans and cited as proof. that many
Filipino officers were in Manila that night
and were taken prisoners.
lie said the proclamation OF General
Otis proclaiming himself Governor-Gen-
erai had greatly incensed the Flliplnos,
but asserted that both the Filipino lead
ers and people believed the Americans
had begun hostilities.
THEY HAD CONFIDENCE IN Us.
Major Zialcita, speaking OF the reputed
promises of independence made prior to
the fan of Manila, when asked by Mr.
Tew il in their easerness for independence
the Fnlplnos had not misunderstood or
msconstrued the language Of the Ameri-
can officials and officers. replied: There is
not the slightest mistake about this. Con-
sul Wildman verbally made this statement
t us. and we had so much confidence In
the good intentions of the United states
that to US it meant as much as II 1t had
been delivered In writing. Beside, when
we were in Cayite, a number OF US had
the honor OF entertaining General Ander-
son. This was before Manila was taken
by your forces. General Anderson on this
occasion made speech, I'm which he said
that the Americans had not come here for
the purpose Of taking one foot Of terri
/ tory with the view OF permanent possess
sion. but for the purpose Of giving the
! Fiiplnos their Independence.
on September 2lst, last year. on tho
occasion Of a fiesta, a number OF Amefl-
can officers celebrated with US at ina
residence Of Pedarno Pacheco, and an
expressed the same sentiments. on many
different occasions we were told by men
high in authority that Filipino independ-
ence would be recognized"
OTIS INCENSED THE PEOPLE
what was the opinion Of the Filipino
leaders in regard TO General Otis's pro-
cIamation of January 4th?"
THAT proclamation" replied the Ma
Tor. was decidedly bad and greatly in
censed the people everywhere. 1t stated
clearly and promised nothing. IL was
non-committal on all points except that
Otis declared himself GOvernor-Goneral
OF the islands and that our country had
been purchased from Spain. The Filipino
people desired independence, not anneNa-
ton"
on being asked II he really thought Tho
Filipino people were educated sufficiently
to conduct affairs OF .0cai and national
self-government, the young Filipino lead
or replied:
HIS PEOPLE MISREPRESENTED.
"Our people have always been misrep-
resented both by the local and foreign
press. The frlars are our worst enemies,
and have been active in this regard. as
they have always tried TO hold Us IN SUBJ
lection. Educational affairs have here
tofore been IN their hands, and It has
served their purpose 20 prevent tho peo-
ole from becoming too wise. But even
with this the vast majority OF the people
can read and write"