The Yale expositor., 1900-09-21

Gen. Whittier, OF Gen. Merritt's staff,
called on Aguinado by appointment at
Malolos (see page 49S, Senate Docu-
ment 81, Treaty of Peace papers, and
had a business talk with him. The sub
stance of this conversation has become
much more important since the Demo
cratic party has committed itself to the
Aguinaldo policy in the Philippines and
since the Democratic candidate for the
presidency has accepted that program,
added to it the Monroe doctrine, and is
pressing the campaign upon the theory
that the paramount" issue is protec-
torate for the Philippines after we sur
render them and to cover them against
the intrusion Of Europe with the Asiatic
annex of the American doctrine of Mon
roe.
There occurred between Gen. Whittier
and the Tagal tyrant thorough CONVEX
sation on the subject of this American
protectorate of the Philippines. Gen.
Whittier told Aguinaldo that in a few
days he would go to Paris to appear be-
fore the peace commission sitting in that
city. and the General added Ito quote his
own official report of the conversational:
az started the talk by announcing TO
Aguinald0 that | was to leave in few
days to appear before the peace commits
sion, and that had very friendly feel
ing for the Filipinos and admiration for
many of their good qualities, their quiet,
cleanliness, temperance and great imita-
tive power, and Il possibility of learning
almost any profession or business; that
would like to be able to present to the
commission his and his peoples views
and demands and what relation they cX-
pected to hold to the United States in
case we decided to keep the islands,
1t will be noted that Gen. Whittier eX-
PRESSED himself fully and clearly. He
said:
"Agunaldo replied rather naively, that
his people were divided into two parties
those in favor of absolute independence
end thuSc of an American protectUrate;
that the parties are about equal; that he
Is waiting to see who will have the ma
jority, in that case TO take his position
This report of what Agunaldo had to
Gay about Il division of opinion between
Independence and an American protcctO-
cate is much more interesting just now
than /; ever has been. This ccnversl-
ton was nearly two years ago. Aguinaldo
had made himself troublesome ut Bac-
coor. and his removal to Malolos, ii is
evident now, was d step that meant pre-
paratluus for war with the Americans.
lie found he was not to he admitted 10
Manila and made choice Of a position
oil the railroad from which he expected
H. turn and capture the city. lie was en-
gagged in this work when Gen. Whittier
called upon him, and eluded the pene-
Iratiug question asked him by saying:
'"rne parties among his countrynIcn N
respect to absolute independence or an
American protectorate were about equal,
ard he was waiting to see who world
have the majority to take his position"
Agninaldo had this habit of avoiding
giving straight answer to a strong qdcs-
ton. Mr.. Whittier told him, and it
would be well for Mr. Bryan TO make II
memorandum of what Whittier said to
AgunaldO, and for the people of the
United States to study it closely and
seriously, for precisely the objections to
Philippine independent government that
existed then exist and are more obvious
now Gen. Whittier said:
81 pointed out to him that it would
probably be useless to try to bring those
in favor Of absolute independence to any
change of opinion, but they must con-
slider that they are without any navy and
without capital, which is greatly needed
for the development of the country; that
the Philippine government alone did not
possess the element of strength TO in
sure the retention Of the islands without
the assistance Of other governments
They would be at the mercy of any of
half dozen powers striving to take eth
or n part or the whole of the islands, and
al. hi. -
prosperity would come by the gradual
accession Of power under American aus
pieces"
This was to the point and Agunaldo
was disturbed. There isn't a particle OF
doubt that he had already fully made NJ
his mind to make war for complete in
dependence without any expectation OF
desire to please the United States, but il
was too early for him TO avOw his pur
pose. He knew perfectly that his views
Of carrying on a personal government
could not be acceptable to the people Of
the United States. The reply of Agui
naldo to Whittier and remarks upon q
further question are of sensational pith
and moment now. Gen. Whtticr's re
port is quoted as follows:
"But the civilized nations Of the world
would see that our possessions were moi
taken from us"
1 replied: "How has it been in China
where England Russia. France, Ger
many, etc, all strive to control terri
tory2'
To this he could make no reply.
further asked what that side would
expect America, acting the role Of pro
tector. to do.
He said: ITO furnish the navy, while
the Filpinos held all the country an,
administered civil Offices with its owl
people"
"And what, then, would America &c
from this7" said /.
",That would be a detail" he said
(which would be settled hereafter"
Gen. Whittier adds: I'VE pursued Thu