The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-26
STILL THE CHAMPION OF AGUI-

NALDO.
In a letter TO a Tennessee paper Colonel
Bryan puts Cuba and the Philippines on
the same basis. He declares that If the
United States had pledged independence to
the Filipinos as it has to the Cubans there
would be TO war now in I.a=on. In other
words, the administrator is responsible for
the war which Mr.. Bryan Calls a war of
conquest.
There can be no analogy between Cuba
and the Philippines. For years the Cubans.
occupying a compact island Of AZ, 300 square
miles, practically one people, had been
fighting for independence. The United
States interfered in their behalf and prom
ised them an independent government
when it appeared that they have the ability
to maintain a stable government republican
In form. When Admiral Dewey occupied
Manila bay and practically had Manila in
his control there was no insurrection of any
consequence in Luzon. Aguinaldo was alb
sent. having been hired by Spain to go out
or the instruction business. We occupied
Manila as a part of our operations against
Spain. When the war ended we held Ma
Mia and some OF the surrounding country
and had to hold it until the treaty of Paris
was negotiated and ratified. Aguinaldo
was not a factor in the transaction. In
stead OF being a compact island. the Philip
pines comprise hundreds of islands, having
an area Of 49, 800 square miles, scattered on
a portion of the ocean one thousand miles
long and four hundred wide, inhabited by a
hundred different tribes who are different
peoples. These islands were not demanding
independence. nor did we go there to give 1t
to them. The islands came to us by con-
quest and purchase. and there is every rea-
son to believe that a large portion of the
people prefer TO be under the sovereignty of
the United States.
When Mr.. Bryan assumes that the Fill
pinos are all engaged in a revolt against
the United States he is either a very ignor-
an man or assumes that the American
people are a very ignorant people. All the
testimony is to the effect that only one
tribe, the Tagalogs, are in revolt. Among
the intelligent men who have been to the
Philippines. visiting all the larger islands,
comforting with the more intelligent ma
tives, is Col. Charles DENLY, of Evansville,
a Democrat. who was so useful as minister
to China that he held the position twelve
years. What does Colonel DENLY. who has
been on the ground. say regarding the de-
sire of the people of the Philippines for the
so-called independence which Aguinaldo de-
1 prnr1c0 II t. 4. g. -. .
Mr.. Bryan, because he has been in the
Philippines six months, making inquiries.
In an article i'm the Forum for June Colonel
DENLY ~canvasses the claim of Aguinaldo
for Filipino independence. He says there
is practically no opposition to American
supremacy in any of the large Islands ex-
cept Luzon. At no time did the govern
ment of Aguinaldo exercise a vestige of au-
thority in these large islands. He declares
that the Filipinos of the highest standing
in Manila want as to stay in the islands.
"a majority of the Filipinos are friendly to
u.s." says Colonel DENLY. In Luzon, IN
which Aguinaldo has demanded independ-
ence. his supporters are chiefly banditti who
plumber the natives. If the consent of the
governed means the consent of the majority
of the governed, says Colonel DENLY, then
the claims of Aguinaldo can never be recog-
nized, because he represents but a small
minority of the Fflipinos.
And yet, ignoring such facts as these of
Colonel DENLY and every other man of in
t%elligence who has visited the Philippines.
Mr.. Bryan tells the people of the United
States that Aguinaldo speaks for all the in
habitants of the Philippines instead of one
eighth of them, defends his course and pre-
diets that he will cease fighting the United
States with guerrilla bands when indie
pendence shall have been promised to his
government. Such a promise. under such
conditions, would be equivalent TO an alb
solute surrender by the United States. This
plea on behalf of Aguinaldo goes to prove
that Aguinaldo's newspaper was not so
very extravagant in its language when 1t
declared that Mr.. Bryan occupied the sec
ond place i'm the trinity of the defenders of
the cause of the Tagalogs. fighting the
United States.