The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1900-10-04
EMILIO AeuINALpo.


Who is lighting for a cause loftier than
that for which Washington commended
To the Editor of The Herald:
inere is evidently an attempt TO in
duce Misrepresentation concerning the
character and conduct of Aguinaldo.
the Filipino leader. at least Republic
can orators. following the Tribune, in
their EFFORTS TO obscure the real ques-
tloh underlying the issue of imperial
ISM, defarne the life and character of
Agulnaldo, by repeating stale ISLANDERS
affecting his integrity and motives 1t
Is not perceived that the unWorthiness
or THIS man, if he were in fact I'M
worthy, IN anywise affects the rights
OF nation, struggling for independ-
OF the times appear to think the argu-
ment is weighty and conclusive, the
facts may be stated
In 1897. Spain, unable TO put down
the lnsurrectlon, made concessions and
promised many reforms in the admin
istration of government in Luzon, in
Guiding representation in the Spanish
cortez, freedom of the press, general
amnesty of the insurgents, and the ex-
pulslon or the monastic orders 1t was
also stipulated to pay Aguinaldo and
the other leaders $500, 900 in silver, they
10 leave the country There never Was
any secret about this agreement, which
was publicly made, with the knowledge
ana consent of the whole Filipino ma
ton Spain deposited $500, 900, One-half
OF the amount, in a bank at Hongkong,
but cid not carry out the proposed re-
forms, and one of the subordinate
chiefs, named Artach0, sued for a di-
vision of this fund. The rest of the
story can best be told in the language
Of General F. V. Greene. in report
to Major General Merritt, which was
submitted to the American peace COM
mission at Paris. With reference to
the money and ArtachO's suit, General
Greene wrote:
Which fact is interesting on account
OF the very honorable position taken by
Aguinaido- Aguinaldo claimed that the
money was a trust fund, and was to
remain on deposit until il was seen
whether the Spaniards would carry out
their promised reforms, and II they
failed to do so, it was to be used to
defray the expenses of a new insurrec-
ton The suit was settled out of court
by paying Artacho $1,000. No steps
having been taken to introduce the re-
forms, more than 1000 insurgents, who
had been depOrted to Fernando Pc and
other places, are still in confinement,
and AguinaldO is now using the money
to carry on the operations of the pres
ent instruction
SO much for the statement made that
Aguinaldo sold his country for Span
ish silver. The best evidence of the
sincerity and purity of his motives in
carrying on a defensive war against our
government is found in the confidence
and attachment of his people. 1t is
not strange that no Filipino has ever
suspected his leader of detection to the
national cause2 Others in high posi-
ton have fallen before Spanish (and
possibly American) intrigue, victims to
cupidity or fear but Aguinaido, by his
patriotism and devotion to his coun-
try'S cause, still retains the respect and
confidence of his people. Spain put a
price of $4,000 in gold upon his head,
yet, in all the Filipino nation was found
not one so base and degraded as TO be-
tray the soldier who was fighting for
the liberties of his country. There was
no Benedict Arnold TO earn the execra-
ton of mankind by taking the price
of blood and liberty.
This fact atteSts more strongly than
all other evidence the sincerity and pa
triotism of Aguinaldo, fully believed in
and appreciated by his followers
Gentlemen of the Republican press and
roStrum, is it not time for you to still
the voice of SANDER. and upon facts
and real conditions alone find argu-
mentS. if you have them, in support of
your endeaYOrs to divert the govern
ment from the purposes Of its organ
ization and being2 c. S. VARIAN.