The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-03-31
OUT OF THEIR OWN MOUTHS.
Interesting Docunaents C~0ncernin1
the Philippines Sent to tho
Senate by the President.

Philippine insurgents, consisting OF
papers captured by American troops;
information concerning the Philip
pine committee in Hong Kong; relat-
ing to the treatment of prisoners, etc.
Transcript of the Minutes.
The documents concerning the meet
ing Of the Philippine committee in
Hong Kong is a transcript of the min
utes of the proceedings of the commit
tee, held February "a, and April 5,
1895. The record for April 5 contains
the Filipino version of A~guinaldo's ne
gotiations with Admiral Dewey rela-
tive to the former accompanying the
admiral to Manila. One of the entries
is to the following effect:
1.-The president (Aguinaldo) described
the negotiations which took place dur
ing his absence in Singapore with the
American consul of that English col
ony: both agreed that the president
should confer with the admiral COM
manding the American squadron in
Mrs bay, and if he should accept his
propositions as beneficial to the Fill
pines he should go in one of the cruis-
ers which form the fleet to take part in
the subsequent events.
The Cautions A~guinaldO.
The account says that Aguinaldo
asked for the advice of the committee,
as to whether he should accompany
the admiral. The advice was generally
D. L. ~n~ lint kr,r1ln
insisted that it was dangerous to go to
the Philippines without a previous
written agreement with the admiral,
since it may happen that if he places
himself at his orders he may make him
sign a document containing proposals
highly prejudicial to the interests OF
the fatherland."
Two Horns of a Dilemma.
Continuing, he said hat if he ac-
cepted the proposals the act would Re
"a break between the two is evident
To avoid this dilemma, he proposed that
a committee should be sent to the adj
miral to intervene with the insurgents
if necessary and to ascertain the in
tentions Of the United States"
To this it was replied by members Of
the committee, that it is thoroughly
agreed upon with the admiral that he
is tn give the president all the arms
which he needs, since the former is
convinced that tn. feet can do nothing
in the Philippines if it is not used in
connection with the insurgents in car
rying out their plan of war against the
Spanish government"
Admiral Dewey .Cnlture."
They expressed the opinion that ow-
ing to Admiral Dewey's degree OF cul-
ture," he would not require the sign
ing of any documents, but insisted
that if he should so insist Aguinaldo
could decline. In this connection the
following extract is significant:
A Trick to Procure Arms.
'There will be no better opportuni-
ty than the present for the expedition
airy forces to land on those islands,
and to arm themselves at the expense
Of the Americans and assure the at
tainment of our legitimate aspirations
against those very people. The Filipino
people, u~nprovided with arms, will be
the victims of the demands and exac-
tons of the United States, but pro-
vided with arms will be able to oppose
themselves to them and struggle for
their independence.
"Agoncillo urged that A%guinaldo,
oncs in the Philippines, could arouse
the masses to action against the Amer
leans. He thought, however, that it was
probable that me United States would
grant independence to the Filipinos.
The question as to whether ASuiualdo
should GO was put to a vote, and tine
proposition was carried unanimously.
american Prisoners Ill-Trentcd.
Among the documents is also Il let
letter dated May 1 last, signed by
Cl;artermaster Scnnichsen, then in
captivity among the Filipinos. lie
says:
Up to Lieut.. Gilmore's arrival we
have been treated in a most barbaric
manner, starved, beaten and bound. We
have been living OH five cents n day,
ami most of us are nearly naked. Tine
Sp:niards have beer treated even
worse than we, being tortured in the
stocks AMI starved
Letters from Americana.
The third section of the material for.
warded relates to letters which were
sent to the Philippines, and were re-
garded us encouraging to the insur-
gents. One of these is from j. V. Mar.
tin, of st. Louis. who asks for an arti-
Gle on the Filipino situation which will
strengthen the cause of anti-expansion
in the elections IL the United States.
There is also q letter, dated at C;ncin-
natl. and signed Darsinger. which pur-
ports to give the proceedings of the
OEio Single Tax league in derrogation
of The war upon the insurgents. Mr..
Dansinger also expresses his strcng OPP
position to such 4 var
4 british Missionary Killed.
Shanghai, March 2s.-A private dis
patch received here confirms the re-