The Union times. [volume] (Union, S.C.) 1894-1918, 1899-01-13
MANIFESTO BY AGU|NALDO
INSURGENT LEADER IS PREPARED
TO RESIST GENERAL OTIS.
WILL HOLD OUT FOR INDEPENDENCE
Says No Agreement Was Made to Recog-
ni.e American SovereiEnty-Latest
Advicos From Philippines.

Advices received at Washington Sat-
urd ay from Manila state that within Q
few hours after the proclamation by
Major General Otis in behalf of Presi-
dent Mckinley, the agents of Agui-
naldo billed Manila with manifesto
which attracted considerable atten-
ton.
The revolutionary president protest
ed against General Otis signing him
self military governor of the Philip
pine islands. Aguinaldo, in his mani
festo, declared he had never agreed at
Singapore, Hong Kong or elsewhere to
recognize the sovereignty of the Amer
leans. and insists that he returned to
the Philippines on an American ship
solely to conquer the Spaniards and
win independence. He asserts that
both his proclamations, on May Oath
and June 18th, stated this fact Off
cially, and he claims that Major Gem
eral Merritt confirmed this by proc
lamation several days before the Span
iards capitulated, stating clearly and
definitely that the American forces
came to overthrow the Spanish gov
ernmeot and liberate the Filipinos.
In conclusion, Agninaldo declared
that he had natives and foreigners as
witnesses that the American forces
recognized, not only by acts that the
Filipinos were belligerents, but by
publicly saluting the Filipino flag las
it triumphantly sailed these seas be-
fore the eyes of all nations"
Aguinaldo then solemnly protested,
in the name of the diety who empowered
him to direct his brethren in the diff
cult task of regeneration, against the
intrusion of tho American government,
reiterated that he can produce proofs
that he was brought here on the un-
dersts.nding that the Americans prom
ised him their 90 operation to attain
independence.
The revolutionary leader then called
upon all his followers to work together
with sorce and assured them he is now
convinced that they will obtain abso-
lutte independence and urging them
never to turn "from the glorious road"
or which they have "already so far
advanced"
Major General Otis attaches no i'm
portance to the manifesto. He says
he feels confident that the opinion of
the better classes of the Filipinos is
not expressed rn it, but as to whether
the Filipino masses can be controlled
and the Filipino army kept in check,
he does not know, although. he hopes
for satisfactory outcome of the
trouble.
Message From Otis.
The war department. received anoth-
er dispatch Sunday from Major Gen
eral Otis, commanding tho United
States troops in the Philippines. The
officials observe unusual reticence with
respect to its contents, but it is under
stood that the information contained
is of and mfavorable character or
such as to give undue concern to the
administration.
So far as the officials are willing to
admit, the dispatch shows no material
change in the conditions existing at
the time Of previous udvices. One
officer said it contained nothing of q
character alarming. serious or excit-
ing. There had been no collision with
the insurgents, he added. and not a
shot had been fired.
The presidents proclamation to the
Filipinos had been published in Ma
Mia, but General Otis did not say to
what extent it hal been made known
to the inhabitants in the other parts
of the group of islands, nor whether
it had been published at Iloilo. At
tho latter place General Miller has
been directed to land the troops un-
der his command now on the trans.
ports there, but the dispatch from
General Otis did not indicate whether
this had been done or not.
Insurgents Make Threats
A later dispatch from Manila says:
Colonel Potter, the special emmisary
of General Otis between Manila and
Iloilo, arrived ct Manila Sunday after
noon with dispatches from the latter
point. The streets were baricaded,
and it was reported that the principal
buildings had been "kerosened," the
insurgents having threatened to de-
stroy the whole business section
by fire ut the first shot of lombard
ment The banks were shipping
treasure to the United States trans
port Newport and other vessels. The
family of the American vice consul has
gone on board the Newport.
Colonel Potter reports that Presi-
dent Mckinley's proclamation had to
be typewriter aboardship, as the
printers on shore declined to do the.
work, and when the text of the proc