Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-02-10

phstic language:
The President issued n proclamation
in which he declare purpose to en-
force our sovereignty over that people
and TO substitute, for the executive,
legislative and judicial and muuieipsi
tribunals established in order and Out
ct over the island OF Luzon and the ad-
jsoent islands by the people thereof in
peace sDd freedom, such q government
as the United States should give them
having regard TO its own interest as
well as theirs. He declared an inten-
tion. and no man who knows him will
doubt that he was sincere in that dec
lhrstion, TO make that governments be-
nignsnt and gentle. But il WAS our
government and not theirs which he
proposed to compel their submissioni
That proclamation was dated Becem-
| Der "a, 1888. General Otis thought, as
he tells rs in his report, that it would
et once bring on war. So he under
took to suppress it; and instead there
OF he Issued on the fourth day OF jan
uary, 1899, less than eight weeks be-
fore the outbreak OF hostiiities, q proc.
lamation in which, suppressing ali
| these utserances OF the President, he
assured them that It 10 she purpose OF
the people OF the United States Co give
them, Sin every possible way, the full
measure OF individual rights and libs1.
~ which ia the heritage of free peo-
pie And he adds:
l am convinced that it in the inten-
ton Of the United States Government
TO seek the establishment OF a most
liberal government for the islands, 10
| which the people themselves shall have
| "a full representation as the naaints-
| nance OF law and order will permit,
| and which shall be susceptible OF de-
| velopment. on the lines of increased
! representation and the bestowal OF in
creased powers, into Q governments as
free and independent as is enjoyed by
the most favored provinces of the
world
But, happily, General Otis had sent
the President's proclamation Co Gen.
| eral Miller, who was then lying in arms
opposite Hello, the capital Of Aguinsl-
dos government, eager, as his repeat
I'd and urgent requests TO the COM
mander-iR- chief snow, to be allowed
! to attack Iloilo Sc once. rs
published it, ana it excited. as General
Otis informs as, CONSERVATION and in
dign alton throughout those islands.
| Aguinaldo met it by q couHter-procls-
nation, dated January 8, 1899, which
was posted mp in the streets and on the
walls OF the houses OF Manila on the
9Th and eth Of January, before any de-
bate had taken place in the Senate ex-
cspt o Constitutional discussion as TO
the powers of our government TO hold
territories IN subsection. In this proc
lamstion Aguinsldo says, among other
things:
MY government cannot remain in
din erent. in view of q violent and ag-
gressive usurpation of q portion or our
| territory, by q nation which calls it,
self champion of oppressed nations.
so my government lie prepared to com.
mence hostilities IL the American
forces attempt to carry out by force
the occupation Of the Visayas. / pro-
claim these facts before the whole
world, in order that the universal con-
science may point out infiexibly who
are the real oppressors. Of nations and
their heads be all the blood that will
be split.
"ENILIo AaUINALDo.
Malolos, January 8, $780,
In speaking OF the occupation of the
| Visayas above, he refers, / suppose, 60
the expectation of an early attack by
the forces of General Miller on IIoilo.
his capital. where his forces were as
sembled in considerable numbers.
Here was q practical declaration OF
war, what would be accepted as dec
larstion OF war by any free people on
earth, by our demand of submission to
our claim OF sovereignty on one side.
and Aguinaldo's brave challenge on
the other.
So the issue to be submitted to the
people of the United States in the
Western Hemisphere was submitted
TO the srbitrament OF war in the Far
East"
He remarks:
The people of the United States
have not. as yet. fully understood il.
They have thought, some of them,
that we were dealing with q barbarous
and savage race, incapable Of govern
ing themselves. They thought that an
| unprovoked attack had been made up
| on our flag. They have been excited,
as every free and brave people would
be excited, by the fact that their coun-
try was engaged in war. But the
truth OF the fact and the righteousness
| OF the law which has been def ID, are
| alike bsco ming known. The cues.
tions above stated between the repub-
lie and the empire; between liberty
| and slavery; between the Declare zion
Of Independence and Imperialism be :.
tween the doctrines of Washington and
Lincoln and the doctrines OF George
Ill. and Nspolson Bonaparte, will be
| settled. They will be settled, sooner
or later, by the American people, and
they will in the end be settled right.
By Presidents, through Presidents or
over Presidents; by Congress, through
Congress or over Congress; by politi-
cal parties; through political parties or
over political parties, the irresistible
current will find its way"
Gould there be q more sublime ex-
hibition OF truly eloquent inspiration
than may be found in the following
lines
Some of our friends, who Justify this
sub1ugation, are fond of taking on
their lips the name Of Deity, al
though. / think mosti OF them like
better to speak of destiny. This invo.
| cation or the name Of God seems to me
to be impious. Did God decree the
DArtifian Of Poland . ND ia -