The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-03-28
Documents Concerning the Philippine
Insurgents Sent to the senate
by President Mckinley.
WORK OF ANTI-IMPERIALISTS
EFFORTS TO ENCOURAGE THE REB-
ELS TO RESIST GEN. OTIS.
New Military Division Of the Pncino
Created Ont Of the Philippines
-Four Departments.

WASHINGTON, March 1.-THE Presi-
dent to-day sent to the Senate additional
documents concerning the Philippine In.
surgents. consisting of>papers captured by
American troops. information concerning
the Philippine committee In Hong-kong.
relating to the treatment OF prisoners, etc.
The documents concerning the meeting OF
the Philippine committee in Eong-Kong Is
a transcript of the minutes of the proceed
ings OF the committee held on Feb. p and
April s, 1895. The record for April con-
tains the Filipino version OF Aguinaldo's
negotiations with Admiral Dewey relative
to the former accompanying the admiral TO
Manila. One OF the entries is TO the fol-
lowing effect:
"The President (Aguinaldo) described the
negotiations which took place during his
absence in Singapore with the American
consul OF that English colony. Both agreed
that the President should confer with the
admiral commanding the American squad
ron i'm Mir bay, and IL he should accept his
propositions as beneficial to the Filipinos
he should go in one of the cruisers which
form the fleet TO take part In the suose-
quent events
The account says that Aguinaldo asked
for the advice of the committee as to
whether he should accompany the admiral.
The advice was generally favorable to his
going. but Aguinaldo insisted that Ii was
dangerous to go to the Philippines with
cut a previous written agreement with the
admiral, since it may happen that IL he
places himself at his orders he may make
him sign document containing proposals
Nr.tA rAaf0 ~
fatherland." Continuing, he said that IL
he accepted such proposals the act woalc
be unpatriotic, while il he should refuse "A
break between the two is evident
To avoid this dilemma he proposed that
a committee should be sent TO the admiral
10 intervene with the insurgents, IL neces-
sary. and TO ascertain the intentions OF the
United States. To this 1t was replied by
members of the committee that 'it is thor
oughly agreed on with the admiral that he
is TO give the President all the arms which
he needs. since the former Is convinced
that the feet can do nothing in the Phil
ippines IL 1t is not used I'm connection. with
the insurgents in carrying out their plan
of war against the Spanish government
They expressed the opinion that owing
TO Admiral Dewey's degree OF culture
he would not require the signing OK any
documents but insisted that IL he should
so insist Aguinaldo could decline. In this
connection the following extract is sienifi-
cant: There will be no better opportunity
than the present for the expeditionary
forces TO land on these islands and TO arm
themselves at the expense of the Ameri-
cans and assure the attainment of our le-
people. The Filipino people. unprovided
with arms, will be the victims OF the de-
mands and exactions OF the United States.
| but provided with arms. will be able TO op-
pose themselves to them and struggle for
their independence" Agoncillo urged that
| Aguinaldo, once in the Philippines could
arouse the masses to action against the
| Americans. He thought, however, that II
was probable the United States would
grant independence to the Filipinos. The
question as TO whether Aguinaldo should
go was put TO vote. and the proposition
was carried unanimously.
Among the documents is also a letter
| dated Nav / last, sigaeG by Qaartermaster
Sonnichsen, then in captivity among the
| Filipinos. He says: Up TO Lieutenant
Gilmore's arrival We have been treated in
most barbaric manner-starved. beaten
and bound. We have been living on 5
cents a day. and most OF nearly
naked The Spaniards have been treated
even worse than we. being tortured I'm the
stocks and starved"
The third section of the material for
warded relates TO letters which were sent
to the Philippines and were regarded as
| encouraging TO the insurgents. One OF
these Is from j. V. Martin. of st. Louis,
who asks for am article on the Filipino sit
uation which viii strengthen the cause of
anti-expansion I'm the elections in the
United States There is also letter dated
at Cincinnati and signed "Dansinger.' =
which purports TO give the proceedings OF
the Ohio Single Tax League in derogation
OF the war upon the insurgents. Mr.. DAN
singer also expresses his strong opposition
10 such a war.