Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1900-07-26
ADNIRAL'S VERACITY.
Dewey's Denial Denounced by a
Surrendered Filipino General.
ADMIRAL'S ALLEGED PROMISES,

According to This Statement Our Ma
val Commander Distinctly Pledged
the Faith OF the United. states to
the Independence of the FilipinOs.
Sioux Falls, S. D., July pa letter
has been received by Senator r. F.
Pettigrew from one of the leading
commanders of the Filipino army in
regard to the claims of the Filipino
people as to the understanding that
was arrived at between them and the
Americans before the opening of hos
tilities in the Philippines. The writer
is ]. Alejandripo, who recently sur
rendered to the Americans. The let
ter, addressed to Senators Hoar and
Pettigrew, says in part:
Gentlemen: | have read in some
American papers that Admiral Dewey
compelled by you and other senator's,
lovers of truth and justice, to answer
whether he had made to US formal
promises of independence, stated that
he had never promised Independence
to the Filipinos' l. who in the name
of the Filipino people, and Of Gen.
Aguinaldo, and as representative of
his, have had the honor to confer
several times with the admiral, make
to you the following statements that
you may use them as you should think
more convenient:
''In April, 1898, when the rupture of
hostilities between America and Spain
became imminent and in the absence
of my chief. Gen. Aguinaldo, who was
then at Singapore. | solicited through
the American consul at Hong Kong,
Mr. Wildman, to have some interviews
with Admiral Dewey, with the object
of continuing the interrupted negotia
tions between Gen. AguinaldO and Ad-
miral Dewey through Mr. Wood, the
commander of the American gunbOat
Petrol. My petition was favorably re-
ceived and l went with Mr. Andres
Garchitorepa, another Filipino, on
board the Olympia in the Bay of Hong
Kong.
"Once on board, the following in
terview in French took place through
the flag lieutenant, Mr.. Brumby, act
ing as Interpreter:
"Filipino-'Admiral, having come to
our knowledge that a war between
your country and Spain is imminent,
we, who have fought the latter for our
independence, are willing, in obedience
to the desires manifested by you to
Gen. Aguinaldo, through Mr.. Wood, to
take part in the war as allies of Amer
ica, so long as it be carried on with
the object of freeing from the yoke of
Spain her colonies, giving them their
independence
Admiral Dewey-'The American
people, champions of liberty, will un-
dertake this war with the humani-
tartan object Of freeing from the Span
ish yoke the peoples under it, and will
give you independence and freedom,
as we have proclaimed to the world at
large
"Filipino-'We are very grateful for
this generous manifestation of the
great American people, and being
made through an admiral Of their
navy we value it more than written
contract, and thereupon place our
selves at your entire disposal
Admiral DEWEY place at your
disposal the ships of my feet for the
conveyance of both the Filipino lead
ers and the arms you may get More
over, | think my government is will
ing to supply you with arms and am
munition'
''FilipinQ-'We are very thankful to
you for this new generosity Of the
American people, and you may be sure
that we are ready to fight at your side
for the independence Of the Philip
pines. even without arms, as we have
done during the recent revolution
Admiral Dewey-'America is rich in
every respect; she has territories
sparsely inhabited. Besides, our con-
stitution prevents territory expan-
sion outside of America. Therefore
the Filipinos may be sure of their indie
pendence, and not a bit of their land
shall be taken from them"