The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-23

1896 the insurgents surrendered their
arms TO the SpAniards, that he and his
nearest associates expatriated them
selves, choosing HonRkong as their
place Of residence. and that 800, 600
was paid to him in part performance
II the terms Of the treaty.
The balance, it is said, was not 70
be paid until the complete plcif'aticn
OF the Philippine
For what purpose was the money
paid to Aguinaldo? Was it a bribe?
Was it money piid to him to be after
wards divided between himself aud
few cf his officers? There are several
versions Of this transaction brought
ont in consequence Of open charges of
corruption against Aguinaldo by his
countrymen and others. l give them
all. Aguinaldo himself relates his yer.
sion He SAYS
"rhe.whole ofthe money was to be paid
b me personally, leaving the disposal
Of the money 10 my discretion and
knowledge Of tho understanding with
my associates and other insurgents. "
Then there is another version. which
comes through wildmAn, our Consul
General at H)ngkoDg. who wrote that
1T has besn said that they sold their
country for gold but this has been
clnclusively disapproved, not only by
their own statements, but by the
speech Of the late Goyemor.Genertl
Primo de Rivera in the Spanish Ser.
ate. June IL, 1898. who said that Agui-
naldo undertook to submit If the Span.
lsh Government would give certain
sum TO the widows and orphans Of the
insurgents. lie then admits that
only q tenth part Of this sum was ever
given to Aguinaido. and that the other
promises made hs did not find II ex-
pedient to keep
But it is an impressive fact the
money was deposited in Aguinaldo's
own hame ia the Hongkong bank, and
not in trust for the widows aud or.
phans Of the insurgents. and that not
dollar Of it was ever used for that
noble and high sounding charity Here
we have General Rivera giving his
version Of the transaction, stating that
the money was paid for the widows
and orphans Of the insurgents, and
AguiDaldo giving another TO the effect
shat it was paid to him to be used in
his discretion.
Bat there is still another version Il
the affair, which irresistibly appeals
to cur experience and judgment as men
which contains an ad hominem ar.
gument-and which came out In a
legal action in Hongkong, Instituted
by Ysabelo Artacho. one Of Aguinaldo's
"CAbinet. " de brought suit against
Agulnaldo TO recover $500 900 as his
share Of the money
Il appears, according TO Aguinaldo's
own statement, that he did not dare to
meet this question ih court, but that he
fed from Hongkong to avoid that end,
allowing his associates to compromise
with Artacho. by paying him a sum OF
money, and thus procuring the with
drawal Of the suit II the money paid
by the Spanish Government we're paid
for the benefit Of the widows aud or
phans Of the insurgents. it is curious
that Artacho would bring suit to re-
cover personal share Of it; but 1t Is
manifest from the statement of Agui-
naldo that the money was paid to be
distributed between himself and his
associates. because he expressly admits
that the money could be so divided
among these co.patrlots, but that they
subsequently, agreed to hold it in the
bank until they ascertained whether
Spain would comply with the condi-
tions and promises Of the treaty. Agui-
naldo, therefore, stands convicted upon
his own statement, Of having received
money from the Spanish Government
to stop the rebellion. Does such an act
constitute a justification for the asser'
tion that he sold his country for gold
Do the facts surrounding this transac-
tion show bribery or corruption? These
are questions which each individual can
answer according to bis convictions
1t appears that some portion Of the
money may have been afterwards spent
for the purchase Of arms; but the
original motive and purpose Of the
psyment of the money TO ARuinaldo and
his associates was TO end the insured
tlon and get rid Of the leaders. This
was accomplished, and the Spanish
Government did not pay the cash until
Aguinaldo was landed high and dry 10
Honekong And these patroits thought
SO little of their country that the re-
forms promised we're not even put In
the treaty This same Aguinaldo is the
individual into whose hands the merci'
ful and philsuthropic Anti.Impsrialist'
would entrust the government Of the
Philippine Islands
Thus, when the wsr between the
United States aud Spain broke out
we fad Aguinaldo living in Hong
kong. a voluntary exile from his ooun'
try, the pOssessor Of this large sum Of
money, which he says himself, was e
be divided among himself and his as
sooiates. Upon the facts to which
have alluded, think he appears upon
the scene already discredited as a man
and as witness. 1 have tried in yAir
to reconcile his acceptance OF tbi'
money and his voluntary exile from
his native land with any sense or mo-
tive of natYiotiem. honor or Justice