The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-01-11

wltnefsoH 10 call, General Otis md
Admiral Dewey. while may not
adopt all their conclusions ~ 10
policy land y Is not the special
business Of soldiers and spilors to de-
termlnc the policies Of the country
Lave no dcslre to go beyond them
and the men for whom they youch in
the matters Of fact
Senator Hoar's letter mere asserts
that the dispatches of Admiral Dewey
and General Otis (some OF the latter
read by him. b. says. having been
withheld thus far from public know
LEDGE establish beyond reasonable
doubt.
THAT Aguinaldo Il an honest.
patriotic and brave man. Inde d.
that Is the eypnTs testimony OF Mr..
schurnian. president OF the Philippine
commission.
"2-Thai Agulnaldo was the chosen
leader II the people Of the Philippine
islands.
"S.--ThIt the people have from the
beginning desired Independence and
dssirc It now.
H-That this d'sire WIS communi-
Gated to our commander when he
gave them arms. accepted their aid.
aud brought Aeunaldj from his
exile, when he was put in command
II 10000 Filipino soldiers. who were
already in arms and organized.
81 That the people OF the Philip
pine islands. before We fred upon
their troops had dslivered their own
land from Spain. with the single ex-
ccptlon OF the town OF Manila and
that they hemmed in the Spanish
troops IN land by line extending
from water to water.
"s-That we could not have ac-
cepted the Spanish garrison. which
was lone by an arrangement before
hand. upon mere show OF resist
anca but Cor the fact that they were
hemmed in by Aguinaldc's forces and
could not rsorai beyond the range
and Gre Of the guns OF our ileet.
THAT during all this period to
the final conflict the Filipinos were
repeatedly informing our government
that they desired their freedom and
that they were never informed Of any
purpose ON our part to suOdue them.
S.-That they were fit for inde-
pqndence. They had churches. IL
branss, works OF art and education.
They were better educated than many
American communities within the
memory OF some Of us. They were
governing their entire island, except
MarIla, in ordar and quiet, with mu-
nclpM governments, courts OF jus
tIce, schools and complete constitu-
tim. resting upon the consent Of the
people. They were better fitted for
self government that any country on
the continent south of rs from the
Pho Grande to Cape Horn, Santo Do
mngo or Hayu when they received
their independence and are better
fitted for self-government than some
OF them are now. They are as fit
for self-government as was Japan
when she was wele Jmed into the
family Of nations
"g.-That The outbreak of hostili-
ties was not their fault, but ours, A
patrol, not a hostile military force
approached small village between
the lines OF the two armies; a village
ON the American line of demarkation
to which some of our soldiers had
been moved in disregard o. the rule
applicable to all CASES of t.uce. When
this patrol approached this town It
was challenged. How far the Fill
pinos understood our language and
how far our pickets understood the
reply that they made in their own
language does not appear. But We
fired on them first. The fire was re-
turned from their lines, Thereupon,
It was returned Rg<in from us and
several Filipinos were killed, AS soon
as Agulnaldo heard of 1t he sent
message to General Otis saying that
the firing was without his knowledge
and against his will; that he deplored
It and he desired hosilities to cease
and would withdrow his troops to
any distance Gsnaral Otis desired, to
which the American general replied
that as the fighting was begun, it
must go on.
"1O,-That on the 18th Of Decem-
her 1903 the twO Sides hainp nj