The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-08-17

with the Pacific. 1t cannot be doubted
that commerce will greatly increase, and
the United States will obtain a large
share in this treatment.
Benefit to Islands.
Manila, with the immunity which it has
thus far enjoyed from that terrible pest,
the bubonic plague, should become dis
tributing center for China, Siam, the
Straits Settlements, Tonquin, AMMAN and
Australia
The report concludes:
"Our control means to the inhabitants
of the Philippines internal peace and or
der, guarantee against foreign aggres-
sion and against the dismemberment of
their country, commercial and industrial
prosperity and as large share Of the
affairs of government as they shall prove
fit to take. When peace and prosperity
shall have been established throughout
the archipelago, when education shall
have become general, then, in the Ian
guage of leading Filipino, his people
will, under our guidance, become more
American than the Americans them
Selves"
Dewey Heard From.
On May 20, 1898, Admiral Dewey ca
bled to the Navy Department:
"Aguinaldo, the rebel COMMANDMENTS
chief, was brought down by the McCul-
loch. Organizing forces near Cavite, and
may render assistance which will be val
liable"
On May 20 the Secretary of the Navy
telegraphed to Admiral Dewey as fol-
lows
1T is desirable, as far as possible, and
consistent for your success and safety,
not to have political alliances with the
insurgents or any faction in the islands
that would incur liability to maintain
their cause in the future"
To this telegram Dewey replied:
Receipt of telegram of May 26 is &C
knowledged, and l thank the department
for the expression Of confidence. Have
acted according to the spirit of depart
ments instructions therein from the be-
ginning, and have entered into no alli-
ance with the insurgents or with any fac
ton. This squadron can reduce the de-
fenses of Manila at any moment, but it
| is considered useless until the arrival of
| sufficient United States forces to retain
| possession"
AguinaIdo Conspires.
| AS soon as Aguinaldo discovered he
| was to have no assistance from the Unit
| ed States he commenced to conspire
against our forces there, intending to
| overthrow the authority of this Govern
ment in the islands.
Dewey's Strong Denial.
In a pamphlet afterwards published
| by Aguinaldo, entitled '"The True Version
of the Philippine Revolution" he charged
| that Admiral Dewey had assured him
| that the United States would recognize
the independence of the Filipinos. When
this was published, the admiral wrote the
following letter to Senator Lodge:
Dear Senator Lodge: The statement Of
Emilio Aguinaldo, recently published in
the Springfield Republican, so far as it
relates to me is tissue of falsehood.
never promised him, directly or Indirect
ly, independence for the Filipinos.
never treated him as an ally, except SO
| far as to make use of him and his SOL
! diers to assist me in my operations
against the Spaniards. He never uttered
/ the word independence in any CONVEX
sation with me or my officers. The state
ment that received him with military
honors, or saluted the Filipino flag, is alb
\ ldlSc. SilSSISly youIS,
II GEORGE DEWEY"
AguinaIdo Organizes Revolution.
On May "a Aguinaldo issued three
proclamations, one containing DEGREES as
to the treatment of the Spanish enemy,
another announcing the establishment of
a dictatorial government with himself as
dictator, and the third containing further
DEGREES concerning military operations.
In the following July he organized a
revolutionary government with himself
as President. During that month the
several detachments of the United States
army arrived at Manila, and on July 25
| Gen. Merritt took command, and Ad-
miral Dewey sent the following dispatch:
Merritt arrived yesterday in the New
port. The remainder of the expedition is
expected within the next few days. Sit
uation is most critical at Manila The
Spanish may surrender at any moment.
Merritt's most difficult problem will be
how to deal with insurgents under Agui-
naldo, who has become aggressive and
even threatening toward our army"
Hosti1ities Begun by Aguina1do.
On Aug. 13 Manila was captured, and
of this and subsequent events the Philip
pine commission, composed of Admiral
Dewey. Gen. Otis, President Schurman,
Prof. Worcester and Gen. DENLY, says:
when the city of Manila was taken on
Aug. 13, the Filipinos took no part in the
attack, but came following in with view
Of looting the city and were only prevent
ed from doing so by our forces preventing
them from entering. Aguinaldo claimed
that he had the right to occupy the city /;
he demanded of Gen. Merritt the palace
of Malacanan for himself and the cession
of all the churches of Manila, also that
a part of the money taken from the Span
iards as spoils of war should be given up,
! and above all that he should be given the
arms of the Spanish prisoners. This con-
firms the statement already made that
he intended to get possession of these
arms for the purpose of attacking us. All
these demands were refused. After the
taking of Manila the feeling between the
Americans and the insurgents grew worse
day by day. Aguinaldo removed
his seat of government to Maloles, where
the so-called Filipino congress assembled.
Filipinos Prepared for War.
| On the 21st of September a significant
| decree passed the Filipino congress inn
| posing military service on every male
/ 1 nf fhnco hnldinr