Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-11-01

gents. The insurgents u1d not wait Tor
the action Of congress. They assumed the
offensive. they opened fire on our army.
Those who assert u responsibility fors
the beginning of the conflict have for.
gotten that before the treaty was ratified
in the senate and while it was being de-
bated in that body, and while the Bacon
resolution was under discussion, on Feb.
ruary 4. 1899, the insurgents attacked the
American army, after being previously
advised that the American forces were
under orders not to fire upon them ex-
cept in defence.
1.-The papers found in the recently cap
tured archives of the insurgents emon-
strate that this attack had been care
fully planned for weeks before 1t oc-
Cured. Their unprovoked attack upon
our soldiers at a time wnen the senate
was celebrating upon the treaty shows
that no action on our part except SUR
render and abandonment would have
prevented the fighting. and leaves no
doubt in any fair mind where the respon-
sibility rests for the shedding of Ameri-
can blood"
Prior to that time Aguinaldo and his
advisors had held q meeting in Hong
Kong. 1t was on May 4. just after the
battle Of Manila. The minute of that
meeting are in the war department at
Washington, and show that it was called
to enable the Tagals to take advantage
of the entrance of Dewey into Manil
and set up a government over the people
by force. Agoncillo. who was present,
submitted the following proposition:
There will be no better occasion than
the present for the expeditionary forces
to land on those stands and arm them
selves at the expense of the Americans
and assure the attainment of our legiti-
mate aspirations against those very
people.
The Filipino people. unprovided with
arms. will be the victim of the demands
and eXactions of the United States, but
provided with arms will be able to OPP
pose themselves to them and struggle
for their independence, in which con
sists the true happiness of the Filipinos."
So much for the friendship of the
Tagals for the American people and
their desire for peace and cooperation,
so graphically set forth by Mr.. Voorhees,
in this city to an audience of good men
who believed him because they thought
he knew what he was talking about. So
much for the patriotism of The wretch
A~guinaldo, who had just sold out to
Spain for $500, 900, and was then plotting
to. set up a tyranny Of his own in OPP
position to the wishes of nine-tenths Of
the Filipino people.
Not long after the Hong Kong meeting
and after the plot concocted there had
been carried out as far as possible by
pretended friendship for the American
forces, and before the treaty of peace
had been signed between the American
and Spanish governments, Aguinaldo
signed and issued the following order to
assassinate all the white people in
Manila.
A of the chiefs and Filipino broth
ers should be ready and courageous for
the combat and should take advantage
OF the opportunity and study well the
situation Of the American outposts and
headquarters, observing especially secret
places where they can approach and
surprise the enemy.
THE chief of those who go to attack
the barracks should send in first four
men with a good present for the Amer
lean commander. Immediately after will
follow four Others who will make a pre-
tense of looking for the same officer for
some reason, and a larger group shall be
concealed in the corners or houses in or
der to aid the other groups at the first
signal. This. whenever it is possible, at
the moment of attack. Y
They should not prior to the attack
look at the Americans in a threatening
manner. To the contrary. the attack on
the barracks by the Sandatahan should
be a complete surprise and with de.
dision and courage. One should go alone
in advance in order to kill the senti-
mel.
IAN Fdlipinos, real defenders of their
country, should live on the alert to as
sist simultaneously the inside attack at
the very ome that they note the first
movement in whatever barrie or SUI
burb, having assurance that all the
troops that surround Manila will proceed
Without delay to force the enemy's line
and unite themselves with their broth
ens in the CITY.
EMILIO AGUINALDO."
What do the people of Montana think
of that What does Mr.. Voorhees, think
of it? What do the men who listened to
him on Monday night think of it? 1t is
evident to every intelligent man that
the intention of the American govern
ment to s%ubjugate the rebels, restore
law and order and establish a govern
ment for. the people Of the Islands is
wise and humane n hat our duty to
execute that policy is imperative. The
policy urged by Bryan is cowardly dis
honorable and totally impracticable, and
Voorhees,, who defended it, can plead in
extenuation nothing but his ignorance
of the facts. But he has no moral RICH
to come to Montana and seek to make q
political issue out of g. situation which
was unavoidable and which Is beins
handled in the interest Of peace and
honor by the president acting solely