The Lexington dispatch. [volume] (Lexington, South Carolina) 1870-1917, 1900-04-25

G. II. HARMAN, Editor and Publisher.
Americans? God preserve you from
it, Sill! Your transfer to ourside does
no really involve treason to Spain,
since the moment sovereignty passes
to the Americans you are free to
transfer your allegiance. This is in
accordance with principles Of ma
tional honor and it would serve as
the first base of the new alliance
between Spain and the Filipinos and
then from both come honor and ap.
plause for you as having been the one
fortunate enough to effect it."
But the preceding document and
the one Immediately following were
on paper used in the private Office OF
Aguinaldo, but neither of them bore
any signature. The second docu-
ment in this connection, which is not
dated, apparently letter Of instruc-
tions to Filipino commissions who
were to accompany the American
troops to Iloilo. They were told not
to recognize the sovereignty of the
American government and upon dis.
embarkipg the commissioners were to
prepare Filipino force to attack
the Spapiards "some hours before
the Americans can enter the place"
They are told in case either the
Spaniards or Americans want to
treat or make promises to "believe
nothing and to pay attention to
nothing, but to press the attack until
you die or conquer both of them"
If the attack should not take place
until after the entry CT the Ameri-
cans, the Filipinos were instructed
that they must continue to enter
the city, preparing to occupy it, and
take possession Of the ground, but
without firing shot unless the Amer
leans commence" In case the Ameri-
cans should begin, the Filipinos were
''to attack Immediately, and not give
up until killed"
10 this connection the Iloiloans
were assured that the Americans were
valorous only in appearance and
would soon yieldi if met with valor.
If the Filipinos should get possession
of Iloilo before the Decentralization
of the Americans, then the Filipinos
were to conceal themselves well in
order to deceive the Americans and
make them think that We are more
than we are in fact. In this case,"
the instructions continues, ':let them
approach, and when they are in due
range Of our rifles there should be
general discharge, 80 that as many
as possible will be killed at once.
We can calculate one of our soldiers
being worth four of theirs, so that
in tie hour of victory after the COM
bat we should have less losses than
theirs
Another document relates to the
conference sought by General Otis
with Filipino leaders relative to the
expedition to Iloilo, and says that
General Otis tried to secure depu-
tation of natives to accompany the
expedition in order to conciliate the
insurrectionists there. There is q
note with this document sayiug that
General Otis had indicated that it
was the purpose of the United States
to annex the Philippines, but that
the General admitted that there were
two parties in the Senate.
A proclamation signed by Aguin-
aldo on the 9th of May, 1898, says:
II see the Spanish government is
unable to struggle with certain ele-
ments which constantly oppose the
progress Of this country and now
since the powerful and great North
American nation has come, showing
disinterested protection which will
enable US to secure the liberty OF
this country. come to assume COM
mand of all forces, ready to assure
the attainment Of our revived aspi-
rations." He said he would first es-
tablish dictatorship and afterwards
government with cabinet.
The papers are all translations OF
documents captured from the Filipl'
no forces.