Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-10
o-1
sse ~
Filipino Insurgents Praying for Demo-
cratic Success.
WAITING FOR ELECTIONS RESULT
Aguinaldo Painting Fight Before
HostiIises ! Began.
THE WORK OF THE TROOPS

The War Department has made public
report of Major General Otis, giving details
Of the operations Of the United States army
in the Philippines from September 1, 1899.
to May 3, 1900. The report covers the OPP
erations of the armies and commands of
Generals Lawton, Macarthur, Wheaton,
Schwan, Hall, James M. and J. F. Bell,
Hughes, Bates and Young, as well as diff
ferent colonies who had separate OF indie
pendent commands during that time.
Nearly all the facts contained in the re-
ports were published during the campaign.
Besides containing an account of the move
ments of the United States forces. there is
considerable space devoted to the policies OF
the insurgents. shown to great extent In
the publication of the captured correspond
ence and documents found in possession of
persons in sympathy with the insurgents.
Praying for Democratic Success.
The report contains a number of letters
and orders from Aguinaido and his officers,
declaring their trust in the democratic
party In one proclamation Aguinaldo says:
I'VE ask God that He may grant the tri-
umph of the democratic party In the United
States" In the same paper he speaks OF
the war which, he remarks. sis pronounced
by the illustrious North American. MIR. At
kinson, as criminal aggression"
"A
war on October 8 wrote to the officers and
men of the Filipino army. saying, in part:
There is no doubt that the war against
the Filipinos Is waged. not by the people of
the United States but by what Is called
the imperialist party. the party of McKin-
ley, which is in power today. But the date
of the presidential election in that country
is approaching, and the reelection or ran
end Of this mad enterprise undertaken by
him. Interference of the continental Euro
pean powers in this palpitating interna-
tional question IS again feared, and every
thing makes US believe that the Yankee
army with or without large reinforcements.
is about to make final effort before the
imperialist party admits 1T is beaten. 1t Is
the general opinion within our republic ana
abroad that IL we resist this attack, as in
the past we have held back the American
line, we shall have reached the end OF our
and 1t will be most CALAMITY conquered"
General Otis adds;
Encouraging the Rebellion.
"These statements. together with wild re-
ports of defeats and losses suffered by our
army, were circulated In the city and were
believed by the mass Of Its Inhabitants.
They were confident that could the insur-
gent cause be AinedTthrough December
a presidential election IN the United States
would take place whichfEouid effect rad
ical change in It's policHit and that as a re-
ly acknowledged. I! Manly entertained the
belief that this elee.ioutwould be consum-
mated before the end of the year and could
not be convinced to thescontrary. With so
much assurance WAS this report of final
victory accepted that It, made a very dis
quieting fmpressiOmtlpaIl- many of our Fill
pino friends who were honestly working in
the interests of stable government, and
who. although they kneW that the date Of
a presidential election was far In the fu-
ture. became uneasy as to their fate in case
Of the proclaimed success of Aguinaldo and
his unprincipfed advisers" -.'s=
Another reference.to Mr.. Bryan's attitude
Is found In a.eaptured, order dated Novem-
bss 10 lsag and aaasssSsa ths pllp.ns
are already in our favor. They are sure of
Bryan's triumph next election"
Opening Of Ho.tilities.
Gen. Otis particularly refers to the report
that the war with the insurgents was initi-
ated by the American troops and presents
evidence that the uprising Of February.
1899, was planned by. Aguinaldo as early as
January. Regarding the report. he says:
Il desire to correct an erroneous impress
sion which appears to prevail to a moderate
extent that war with the insurgents was
Initiated by the United States government
or that the attitude or conduct of its troops
at Manila was the cause of hostilties I'M
less possibly 1t may be held that their fail
ure to resent insult or punish hostile dem
onstrations constantly recurring in their
midst encouraged the openly aVowed enemy
In the belief that 1t could easily slaughter
them within a city which 1t had invested
and thereby melted them to action.
AguinnIdo's. Plans.
WAR with the insurgents in the Philip
pines was forced upon us and was I'M
ayoidable No nation but the United States
would have permitted an unfriendly force
of large numerical strength to throw up
intrenchments and erect Notifications In
the immediate proximity Of its troops as
did the insurgents during several weeks
preceding its attack on Manila without
considering 1t an act OF war and adopting
measures to arrest 1t. The subject, how
ever. Is no longer matter for argument as
the captured insurgent records have set the
question at rest forever. They show that
Agufnaldo, under the advice of the Hong
Kong junta, proceeded from that city to
Manila harbor with the intention Of secur-
ing as much aid from the United States as
possible, and Them when In his opinion he
might find himself sufficiently strong. driv-
ing out the Americans with the sword His
course throughout was consistent with this
well-settled intention. His declaration of
independence of June. 1898; his capture.
during the succeeding seven months. OF the
slightly garrisoned Spanish posts through
out the islands. by which he obtained large
quantities Of arms and ammunition: the
elimination from his so-called government
of his ablest advisers, who advocated
United States supremacy; his declared die
tatorship: the concentration of his troops
around Manila: the public demonstrations
and rejoicings at his capital of Malolos on
the anticipated victory of his army shortly
before hostilities comrnenced-all following
each other in well-timed succession-are
sufficient in themselves to prove a prede-
termined definite plan of action to place
the country under Tagalo rule.
but Independent of the proof attendant
upon this concerted plan, absolutely con-
vincing evidence of Intention to attack the
United States troops Is found In Agui-
naldos photographic Instructions of January
., 1899 (nearly f9pE Nfeks before active
hostiiities were tIaGgurated). wherein he
displays great simplicity In knowledge Of
military matters, out hot that savage fe-
rocity which characterized his instructions
issued after the signal defeat of his troops
on February s. HIS dpplicity at this time
was marvellous, ter he. was protesting
friendship toward The United States, mani
Testing great desire to restrain his peo-
pie from committing hostile acts and. upon
the day his instruSttcns bear date. he APP
pointed commission to confer with one
to be appointed by myself for the sake of
peace as he EXPRESSED f."
Aid Given by the Filipinos.
In closing his report, General Otis says:
1.-The character Of warfare which prevail
ed during the months ,of February. March