Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1899-05-12
Aguinaldo-The Americans Ally.
Mirror and Farmer.

What has been published in the United
States concerning AguinaldO, the insur-
gent chief of the Philippines. and his rela-
tons to our forces before the fall of
Manila, has generally been written by
men who knew nothing about him and
who described him to suit their notion of
what would support their view of the
expansion question. By some he has
been painted as a patriot inspired by a
love for his people and willing to sacri-
flee his all to achieve their independence,
and by others as a mercenary bandit and
professional rebel who had in mind only
his own elevation and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT ;
who led his followers to slaughter only
to make it an object for Spain or the
United States to buy him OIL who could
not be trusted anywhere and whose de-
struction must be accomplished at any
cost.
So. too. we have been told that he re-
turned to Manila from Hong Kong at
our invitation as our ally with assurance
es that VIZ were fighting TO free the Fill
ipinos and that if we were successful we
would grant all that he had been trying
to wrest from Spain aud again thar he
seized the opportunity which DeWey's
victory afforded 70 sneak in behind our
lNiAtEs .Nbl SaIlLE III ANNEt hiIh l. aug
urate a new rebellion, which we are
bound TO suppress.
So we have been at a loss to know
whether he was IA barbarian devil OF a
civilized saint. But little by little we
get concerning him some testimony from
those who know him and are inclin-
ed to describe him as he is and pass a
Just Judgment on his dealings with Us.
One of the witnesses of this class Is John
Barrett, late United States minister TO
Siam, who has spent much time in the
Philippines. Mr.. Barrett is an enthusi-
astic eXpansionist and believes in fight
ing AguinaldO or anybody else who
stands in the way of our conquest and
permanent control of the archipelago,
but he i inclined to do the rebel leader
Justice. In a speech delivered before the
chamber of m in Shanghai, just
before the lighting between the Ameri-
cans and the Filipinos began, copies of
which have just been received in this
country, he said;
''For Aguinaldo, his supporters and fol-
lowers, | am free to say | have much
sympathy and some respect. Having
known him and most of his officers well.
and watched him during the long period
that has elapsed since | saw bin put
aboard the United States dispatch boat
in Hong Kong harbor last May, by per-
mission of Admiral Dewey, and at the
special Instance of Consul-General Wild
man, for the direct purpose of going to
Cayite to organize an army and tenn
pOrary government and make war OF
the Spaniards in 20 operation with the
American forces, it Is difficult to con-
denim him without reserve, as so many
people have done.
81 could and would have no sympathy
for him if he should conspire or take up
arms against the United States, but 1t is
only fair that he should be given credit
for what he has done, and not be Judged
too hastily. He organized an army out
of nothing, which he has now gradually
developed into a force of 10000 men,
armed with modern rifles. He captured
all Spanish garrisons on the island of
Luzon, outside of Manila, so that when
the Americans were ready to proceed
against the city they were not delayed
and troubled with a country campaign.
"Moreover, he has organized a govern
ment which has been practically adj
ministering the affairs of that great
island since the American occupation of
Manila, and which is certainly better
than the former administration. He
has a properly formed cabinet and con-
gress, the members of which. in ap-
pearance and manners, would compare
ia vorahlv with .Jananese statesman