The record-union., 1899-08-05

SATURI
from President MeKinley's proclama-
ton of January s, 1899, in which mil
itary occupation and government rs ex-
tended over the entire territory coded
| by Spain. This is followed by note
February 18th that conflict had taken
| place between American and Filipino
! troops. and statement by General
Otis that the Filipinos did not wish to
open hostilities "at that time"
The next witness introduced is the
| statement of General C. McReeve in
the st. Paul Globe that the fighting
began accidentally and Aguinaldo de-
sired it stopped, but that General Otis
| refused. Next is given an extract from
the McEnery Senate resolution that the
| United States did not intend to annex
the Philippines.
| The last document in this remarkable
circular, which starts out to prove
pledges made to Aguinaldo justifying
him in expecting recognition for his
so-called republic, and that the United
States is guilty of criminal aggres-
sion' is letter from H. w. Bray dated
Hongkong, March s, 1899, in which he
asserts that Consul General Pratt and
| Admiral Dewey pledged the United
States to Aguinaldo that the independ-
ence of the Filipino republic should be
recognized, if he would come to Manila
| to aid Dewey, which letter charges the
Americans with duplicity and violation
| of honor for not standing true to this
pledge, all which causes the author of
| he 70 n
against the Government for promising
and then refusing.
A careful examination Of all the doc
uments, reports, kilograms and testi-
| mony taken by the Paris Peace Com
mission as published with the Presi-
dents message transmitting the treaty
of peace, and from which Mr.. Valentine
| quotes so freely and omits so much,
fails to disclose a single line war
ranting the belief that any pledge OF
recognition of Filipino independence
| was made by either Pratt at Singa-
| pore, Wildman at Hongkong, Dewey in
Manila Bay, Williams at Manila, or
any of the military commanders, or any
one else.
Within the limits of a single article
the proof of this statement cannot be
fully presented But the documents
are public and easily accessible, and
any one may read for himself We,
however, give some extracts distinctly
and emphatically controverting the
charge of duplicity made by Mr.. Bray
and Mr.. Valentine. Our citations are
all from the official volume referred to
in addition to those already given as
omissions.
! Consul Williams to Secretary Day,
May II, 1898, that members of the in
surgent Cabinet inform him the ma
tives are ready to swear allegiance to
the United States and describing the
enthusiasm OF the Filipinos for the
American flag.
State Department to Consul Williams
August f. 1898, warning him against
participation in any act relating to the
| "so-caIled provisional government" Of
the Filipinos.
Williams to Day, July 2, 1898, say
ing that good government will be soon
est established by an influx of Amer
leans. By the same, August 4th, that
he has argued with Aguinaldo the
greater advantages for his people under
the Government of the United States
and that Dewey says I have planted
the seeds of cordial cooperation"
Same, August 9Th, to Mr.. Day, speak
ing of the Philippines as part of our
national domain Same to Day, Sep
TENDER 9Th, that 1000 Viscayan SOL
diers, had by delegation. pledged to
him loyalty to annexation.
State Department to Wildman, Con-
sui General at Hongkong, dated De-
cember, 1897, warning him that early
to give no encouragement to Agoncillo,
and to reply to his appeal for aid that
we cannot recognize or treat with the
insurgent Government.
Wildman to State Department, July
1S, 1885, setting forth reasons for the
belief that the insurgents are fighting
first for annexation to the United
States, secondly for independence if the
United States decided to abandon the
islands or return them to Spain; also
reciting how the Filipino junta at
Hongkong pledged themselves to obey
implicitly the orders of Dewey. Re-
citing the departure of Aguinaldo from
Hongkong for Manila and the organ
ization of an insurgent government "as
an absolute necessity" over which
Aguinaldo made himself Dictator, thus
to control the natives and keep them
friendly to the Americans. That Aguin-
aldo was approached by the Spanish, by
priests and others to betray us, but
that he was closely watched by Dewey,
Williams and the Hongkong junta-
State Department to Wildman at
Hongkong, disappearing any promises
he made as reported in Hongkons,
mail" Telegram, Wildman to De-
partment, denying that any pledges
had been given, or that the American
policy toward the Filipinos had ever
been discussed by him..
August 9, 1898, long report, Wild
man to State Department, explaining
all dealings with Aguinaldo and deny
ing that any pledges had been given
him. That what was done. and no
more, was to secure the influence of
Aguinaldo over the natives to prevent
them from taking sides against our
forces He could mass the natives
and control them, otherwise the coun-
try would be overrun by bands bent
on loot and revenge, and expressing the
belief that the great mass of Filipinos,
especially those of the better orders,
desire annexation to the United States.
and that he had assured Filipinos in
Hongkong that justice would charac-
terize all dealings of the United States
with the Filipinos, when the Spanish
were finally driven out.
Consul General Pratt of Singapore,
to State Department, setting forth all
that occurred between him and Aguin-
aldo through Bray, the interpreter,
that he reported to Wildman that