The weekly Iberian. (New Iberia, La.) 1894-1946, 1900-07-28


dore Dewey to cooperate with HIM
against the common enemy, the
Spaniards. Under Dewey's eyes
Aguinaldo quickly organized a
large Filipino army, which did ex-
cellent service. Dewey reported
10 Secretary Long, June q, 1885,
II have given him (AguinaldOi to
understand that | consider the IN
surgsnts as friends, being opposed
to common enemy. He has gone
20 attend meeting OF insurgent
leaders for the purpose OF forming
civil government. AgulnaldO
has acted independently OF tie
squadron, but has kept me advised
Of his progress which has been
wonderful. have allowed to pass
by water recruits, arms and ammn
milton. and to take such Spanish
arms and ammunition from the ar
senal as he needed. Have advised
frequently to conduct the war hui
namely, which he has done lnvarl-
ably" When General Anderson
had arrived in Manila Bay with
the first instalment Of land forces
he wrote to AguinaldO, July 4,
1895 "General-I desire to have
the most amicable relations with
you. and to have you and your
people co operate wi II us III mill
tary operations against the Span
lsh forces" The result of Aguin-
aIdo's cooperation was that, while
Our forces held Cavite and the Bay
Of Manila, the FillpinOs hemmed
IN the Spaniards in Manila on the
land side. so that the common en-
envy could neither escape into the
interior of the country nor receive
reinfOrcements. The character and
efficacy of this cooperation was
strikingly acknowledged as con-
elusive reason for the surrender OF
Manila in the correspondence be-
tween our commanders and the
Spanish General. (See report Blu
.reau of Navigation, 1898, PIP. 12l-
~
In the meantime our command.
ers had even gone so far as to turn
over to the FIlipinOs 1900 Spanish
prisoners taken by our forces in
Subig Bay-an act which not only
amounted to a practical recogniti
on Of the FilipinOs as our allies
against the "commOn enemy" bat
came very near to an admission
that the FilipinOs were the princi-
pal belligerent party and we only
an auxiliary force.
After all this there can be moth.
ing surprising in the answer given
by Rear Admiral Bradford to the
following question put to him be
fore our Peace Commissioners in
Paris 10y Senator Frye:-"SuppOst
the United States in the progress
of the war found the leader of the
Philippine rebellion against Spain
an exile from his country in Hong
Kong and brought him to the
islands on an American ship, and
then furnished him 1000 or 500
stands of arms. and allowed him t(
purchase as many more stands OF
arms in Hong Kong, and accepted
his aid in conquering Luzon, what
kind of a nation, in the eyes of the
world, would we appear to be tC
surrender Aguinaldo and his in
surgents to Spain to be dealt with
as they please!" Answer by Rear
Admiral Bradford:-"We became
responsible for everything he las
done. He is our ally, and we are
bound to protect him."
Senator Frye forgot to ask the
further question: -"What kind OF
a nation in the eyes of the world
would we appear if after having
accepted and profited from the aid
of our Filipino allies we turned
round to purchase the sovereignty
over them from the common enemy
and thus to transfer those people
who had believed that in fighting
side by side with this Republic
they were fighting for their freed.
ON and independence and not to
pass like herd of cattle from one
rule to anOther9'
And just that is what We have