Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1900-08-08

Il me this sO-called general claims to
have said to Admiral Dewey that it was
evident war was imminent between
Spain and the United States, and that
they, who were the adherents of Agui-
naldo, were willing to take part as
"allies of America" 80 long as the war
was carried on with the object of free
ing her colonies from the yoke of Spain
and giving them their independence.
To this statement of an alleged CONVEX
sation had, as it will be observed, some
time before the battle of Manila took
place, General Ilejandrino claims that
Admiral Dewey said:
"The American people, champions Of
liberty, will undertake this war, with
the humanitarian object of freeing from
the Spanish yoke the peoples under it.,
and will give you independence and
freedom as we have proclaimed to the
world at large. America is rich
in every respect, she has territories
sparsely inhabited, besides our consti-
tuition prevents territorial expansion
outside of America; therefore the Fill
pinos may be sure of their independence
and not a bit of their land shall be
taken from them"
Dewey Denies 1t.
Putting aside the fact that at that
time no one had discussed the
question of expansion and no one
had brought up the objection put by
this Filipino general in the mouth of
Dewey, "our constitution prevents terri
torial expansion outside of America, ;"
Admiral Dewey. himself, gives the
direct lie to this letter. He charges
that it is tissue of falsehoods.' He
said at no time did he ever promise in
dependence to the Filipinos, and he
adds: II had no power to do So"
In this connection. it is well to quote
letter written by Admiral Dewey to
Senator Lodge early this year. at a
time when the claims of Aguinaldo
were given publication in the Anti. I'm
perialist press of this country.
Dewey to Senator Lodge.
WASHINGTON, D. O., January 30,
1900.-Dear Senator Lodge: The state
ment of Emilio Aguinaldo. as recently
published in the Springfield Republi-
can, SO far as it relates to me, is tissue
of falsehoods. never promised, d.
rectly or indirectly, independence for
the Flipinos. never treated him as
an ally, except to make use of him and
the soldiers to assist me in my opera
tions against the Spaniards. He never
alluded to the word independence" in
any conversation with me or my Off
GERS.
The statement that received him
with military honors, or saluted the So
called Filipino flag, is absolutely false.
Sincerely yours, GEORGE DEWEY.
Only short time before an insur-
gent bullet killed General Lawton, he
wrote letter to the Hon. John Bar
rett, former United States minister to
Siam, which may in the light of subse-
Quent events almost be taken as pro-
phetic. This letter, which reached its
destination after the sorrowful news OF
General Lawton's death had traversed
the ocean, was as follows:
Lawton's Prop hetic Words.
81 would to God that the whole truth
of this whole Philippine sit uation
could be known by everyone in America
as I know it. If the real history, inspira-
ton and conditions of this instruction
and the influences, local and external,
as we'll as the actual possibilities of
these islands and people and their rela-
tons to this great East could be under
stood at home, we would hear of NO
more talk of unjust shooting of gov.
eminent into the Filipinos, or hauling
down the flag in the Philippines. II
the so-called anti-imperialists could
honestly ascertain the truth on the
ground, and not in distant America,
they, whom / believe to be honest
men misinformed, would be con.
WINGED of the error of their statement
and conclusion, and of the unfortu-
nate effect of their publications here.
II 1 am shot by a Filipino bullet. 1t may
as well come from ono of my own men,
because / know from observation, con.
frmsd by captured prisoners. that the
continuance OF fighting is chiefly due to
reports that are sent out from America
Brave General Lawton was shot, and
the responsibility for his death rests
somewhere. 1t is also true, as he
stated in the letter above, that the con
tinued instruction against the attempts
of the United States to provide stable
government for the Philippines is fos
tered by the arguments, platform and
speeches of Democratic politicians,
Democratic press and Democratic can.
didates.
Epigams From Roosevelt's Speech.
mo matter how honest and brave Q
man may be, if he is natural born
fool you can't do anything with him
He must have the saving grace of com