The Black Hills union. [volume] (Rapid City, Pennington County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1889-1904, 1899-05-26

and until the arrival of General Mer-
rift:
Headquarters First Brigade.
United States EXpeditionary Forces,
"CaVite Arsenal.
"Philippine Islands, July 4, 1898.
'SenOr Don Emilio Aguinaldo. Commanding
Philippine Forces Cavite, Acknowledgement: l
have the honor to inform you that the United
States of America, whose land forces l have the
honor to command in this vicinity, being at war
with the Kingdom of Spain, has entire sympathy
and most friendly sentiments for the native
people Of tt e Philippine Islands.
''For these reasons | desire to have thegmost
amlcable relations with you, and to have you
and your people co operate with us in military
operations against the Spanish forces.
I'm our operations it has become necessary
for us to occupy the town Of Cavlte as a base OF
operations. In doing this l do not wish to in
terfcre with your residence here and the exercise
by yourself and other native citizens of all func-
tions and privileges not inconsistent with mill
tary rule.
81 would be pleased to be informed at once
Of any misconduct OF soldiers under my com.
mand, as it is the intention of my Government
to maintain order, and to treat all citizens with
justice, courtesy and kindness.
II have therefore the honor to ask Your Ex.
cellency to instruct your officials not to inter
fere with my officers in the performance OF their
duties and not to assume that they cannot
visit Cavlte without permission.
assuring you again of my most friendly
sentiment and distinguished consideration, l
am with all respect.
"Thomas M. Anderson,
"Brigadier General, United States Volunteers,
Commanding"
On the same day Aguidaldo sent the
following response:
Itpr,1aliar Ea,,ar,1 l,nr,n NJ Arl,,sDr
Commanding the United States Volunteers
General: Interpreting the sentiments of the
Philippine people, ! have the honor to express
to Your EXcelleuCy my most profound CRATE
fulness for the sympathy and amicable senti-
ments which the natives OF these islands inspire
the great North American nation and your EN-,
cellency.
81 also thank most profoundly your desire Of
having friendly relations with us, and of treat
ing US with Justice, courtesy and kindness, which
is also our constant wish to prove the same,
and special satisfaction whenever occasion rep.
reSentS.
Il have already ordered my people not to in
ttr.ere in the least with your officers and men,
orders which | shall reiterate to prevent their
being unfultilled. Hoping that you will inform
me of whatever misconduct that may be done
by those in my command, so as to rcprimand
them and correspond with your wishes, l beg of
Your EXcellency to accept in return the as
surance Of my most respectful consideration.
l remain, respectfully, Emilio Aguinaldo."
Fifteen days later General Anderson
addressed the following letter to
Aguinaldo, and the request therein
contained was promptly complied with:
headquarters First Brigade,
United States EXpeditionary Forces,
Cavite Arsenal,
"Philippine Islands, July sos.
GENERAL: The bearer, Major j. +. Bell, u.
S. A, was sent by Major General Wesley Merritt.
u. S. a.. to collect for INN. by the time OF his
personal arrival, certain Information concern
ing the strength and positions of the enemy and
concerning the topography of the country sur
rounding Manila.
81 would be Obliged if you would permit him
to see your maps and place at his disposal any
information you may have on the above sub
jeCts. and also give him Il letter or pass ad-
dressed to your subordinates which will author
ize them to furnish him any Information they
can on these subjects. and TO facilitate his pas.
sage along the lines upon a reconnaissance
around Manila on which | propose to send him.
81 remain, with great respect, your obedient
servant. Thomas NJ. Anderson,
'l5rigadier General, U. S. Volunteers, Command.
ing.
"Senor Don Emilio Aguinaldo,
Commanding General, Philippine Forces"
1t will be observed that in this cor
r~espondence the General in command
of the United States forces addressed
Aguinaldo as the commanding Cen
eral Of the Philippine forces" The
request he made in the last letter could
only have been made and granted be-
tween the closest allies. The charges
made against Aguinaldo of having &C
copied a bride from the Spaniards was
wholly disproved in the testimony be-
lore the Paris Peace Commission, as
will be seer by a reference to the re.
port of the proceedings of that commits
sion, given in Senate Document No. 81.
The American people have. a right
10 definite information as to when these
cordial relations We're terminated be-
tween the United States army officials
and their allies 1.-THE Philippine forces
under A%guipa!do, their Commanding
General" Hon. Charles F. Cochrane
of Missouri in "a speech in the House of
Representatives on the 25th of Febru-
AIRY, made the following statement:
"Mr. Chairman. ] assert, that, up to the date
OF the arrival OF General Merritt at Manila,
UIltIS d WI w Itittb W IhSulll
aldo iudisposition on the part of the Americans
to treat HIM as an ally, entitled to Just con.
sideration and respect. General Merritt, a sol
der accustomed to implicit obedience from Of
ficers Of inferior rank, and to yielding implicit
obedience to his superiors, went to Manila fresh
from Washington, where he had received definite
instructions as 20 the course thereafter to be
pursued in dealing with Aguinaldo and the III
surrectionary forces.
General Merritt carried out to the letter the
instructions which contemplated breaking of
friendly relations will iDsu, gents"
Is this true? If is is, why were friend
ly relations broken off? Is it suppos.
able that the Filipinos inaugurated the
hostiiities of which we now receive
daily reports? is it for the slaughter
Of the Philippine Islanders that W.
went to wa. with SPAIN: If it canno'
be clearly shown that all this blood
shed was rendered absolutely necessary
by the aggressive course of the Filpi
nos our nation will stand disgraced
and the Administration Under which