Evening star., 1900-10-03
Some Interesting Correspondence
With Dr. g. L. Magruder.
At FIRST he HOPED FOR PEACE
A Change Came After He Had Go,
to Hong Kong.
COM ENT ON DEW Ely

Slxto Lopez, the Filipino who recently ar
rived in this country on some secret mis-
sion which took him to the vicinity of New
York and Boston, is a man who at one time
appeared to hold such conservative views
that hope was entertained in some quarters
that through his instrumentality an under
standing might be arrived at between the
Fflipinos by which an end could be put to
the strife In the islands. Lopez. DR.. Losada
and Agoncillo were the three F'ilipinos who
were in Washington In the interest of Agui-
naldo's government prior to the conclusion
Of peace between the United States and
Spain When Agoncillo left Washington.
under the apprehension of being arrested as
an emissary Of Aguinaldo. DR.. Losada, be-
ing very i'll, was left behind and Sixto Lo-
peg remained with him. DIR. q. L. Magru-
der OF this city, who attended DIR. Losada
during his illness, had many earnest talks
with both DR.. Losada and Sixto Lopez on
the subject Of the Philippine controversy,
and both these F,ilipinos appeared to be in
very conciliatory, If not compliant, frame
OF mind when they left here. Lopez said
to DIR. Magruder on taking his departure
that the sickness Of DR.. Losada, which had
seemed to be such misfortune. might real
ly turn out to be blessing in disguise, in
asmuch as they had learned during their
forced sojourn here much about American
institutions. of which they were before ig-
norant, and had come to realize that JUS
tice and liberty were the fundamental prin-
ciples of our government He also express
ed hope that a peaceful understanding
might be reached between the Fflipinos and
the United States. DR.. Magruder said that
in his conversations Lopez did not make use
Of the word independence but spoke of
what the Fflipinos wanted as freedom and
liberty. The principal apprehension at being
annexed to this government which they ex-
pressed, DR.. Magruder said. was that the
principal offices on the island would be
filled by Americans coming there as carpet
baggers. and also that Chinese cheap labor
would be given free access to the islands
under American rule. On DR.. Magruder's
expressing the opinion that there was no
danger of carpet-bag government and
that the Chinese cheap laborers would be
excluded from the Philippine Islands as
they are from the United States both DR..
Losada and Lopez expressed satisfaction
and desire to promote a peaceful under
standing between the Fflipinos and the
United States government
Lopex's First Letter.
After the departure of the Filipinos from
Washington DR.. Magruder received the
following letter from Sixto Lopez:
al Warburn Place.
London. May 5, 1899.
ITO DR.. Magruder, Washington. D. c.:
My Dear Doctor: / am happy to inform
you that DR.. Losada and l arrived safely
In Europe. The DOCTOR who Is indebted to
form you that after his arrival in France
he improved much in health, being able to
dispense with the sling and obtaining free
movement Of his arm. He Is now on his
way to Hong Kong, and will arrive there
in a few days
II promised to inform you of any further
developments in reference to the Philip
pines. ] have to deplore with you the loss
of valuable lives both sides, and l sim
cerely regret the continuance OF a conflict
between two peoples who are actuated. i
am sure. by righteous motives. 1t is, be-
lieve, true of nations 1t is of individuals
that misunderstanding is the chief cause OF
strife.
However I entertain the hope that q
change may be brought about in the near
future. Efforts are being made by those of
US who realize the awful responsibility at
taching to a continuance of armed strife
to find a way whereby the just claims Of
both nations may be adjusted In peace and
for the benefit of both. 1t is possible that
another representative, perhaps myself, will
shortly be appointed to Washington with
a message of peace and good Will to our
former ally, and. l hope and believe, our
future friend If righteousness prevails
and 1 have always believed and still be-
lieve that yours is righteous nation, seek
ing to do justice, love mercy and walk
humbly before God-there is no reason why
our differences may not be settled honor
ably and fairly and to the satisfaction OF
both parties.
.rIf / am appointed I believe I can rely
on your sympathy and support, which ]
value highly. and upon the sympathy Of the
American people in all claims which We are
justly entitled to.
Another paragraph of the letter Is merely
social, and then the letter concludes:
THAT peace and good may succeed, and
that we shall need to depend on war no
more, is the prayer OF,
yours, very sincerely,
The reference in this letter to the return
o. DR. Losada to Hong Kong was under
l,xrT Tlr IA tn n r.
pose expressed in Washington by Lopez and
Lcsada for one of them to return to the
Philippines and make every possible effort
among their friends to bring about con-
ciliatory attitude with reference TO the
United States.
About the time DR.. Magruder received this
letter from Lopez, there was d further out
break Of hostilties between our forces and
the FIlipinos near Manila, and a failure of
the attempt at peace negotiations between
representatives of Aguinaldo and General
Otis.
DR.. Magruder's Reply.
1t was not until Judy 49, 1880. that DR..
Magruder replied to the letter from Lopez.
In this reply the doctor says:
DO not think for one moment on account
of my long silence that do not appreciate
your very cordial and sincere letter. 1t
touched me deeply and so much was ! inn
pressed with the sentiments expressed there
In that ] have taken the nDerfy Oh feadihS
1t to a number of my friends. some of whom
were persons Of decided influence. You
would have been much graufied could you
have heard the words of commendation and
the earnest expressions Of hope that there
would be a speedy realization Of the wishes
of yourself and your conservative friends.
But alas what seemed to be near OF ac-
complishment at the date of your letter, on
the contrary is now further in the future.
with a prospect of terrible destruction OF
the property of your people and the loss OF
numberless lives on both sides.
Il am afraid that the determination TO
further prolong hostilties by your people
Is due to the fact of the encouragement de-
rived from the statements published from
time to time by the opponents OF the ad-
ministration concerning the steps that have
been taken. While 1t Is true that there iS
much of this constantly heard, 1t Is only
for effect upon the election. The nation.
by an enormous majority, Is In favor OF
first arresting hostilities by force, II neces-
sary, before discussing the future govern
ment Of the Philippines. Hostilities must
cease first. There will be no stop now until
complete subjugation is accomplished. To-
day the regiments recently organized are
more than half full In less than two weeks
they Will be fully recruited. There are
regiments after regiments In the states
that are willing to go as organizations upon
z;.r1,t do, yrit