The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-12-27
Filipino Editor Says He Was a
Slave in Manila.
WAR HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN
Natives WIN Fight TIN Independent or Slain
AsuluaIdO Is Not Dead would'Be
Leaders Of Federal Party
Have No Following.

NEW YORK. Dec. 2e,--Rafaei De
Pan Fontela, a refugee from the Philip
pine islands and first president Of thu
Madrid junta, has just arrived in New
York from Canada.
Il came her to be free" he explained
1T was impossible for me to be other
than slave to America when I lived
with my wife and tive children in Ma
nila, so l have come where l won't
have to be subservient. Americans are
not subservient to Americans and while
I don't approve Of the American meth
DDS employed in the Philippines. I'D
rather be free American than an en-
shaved Filipino"
Senor Fontela was a lawyer and ed-
itor IN Manila. When the war began
he was Aguinaldo's chief adviser.
Driven out Of the Philippines by the
American soldiers. he fed with his wife
and five small children to Madrid.
There he established the first Filipino
junta and was made its president. With
an idea that such a junta would -four
ish in Canada. he left Madrid and went
to Montreal. He has been there for
the past several weeks.
'eYou hear so much Of American
independence in Canada" he continued.
~shat I determined to come here and
get some Of IT,
Senor Fontela explained that Il was
safe for him to return to the Philip
pines and resume his law practice and
the publication OF his newspaper were
he willing to swear allegiance to. the
Stars and Stripes.
"Im no hypocrite." he explained,
"and can't take such an oath when my
people are in a struggle which must
end IN death or freedom. will not re-
turn to the Philippines until indepen-
dence has been gained.
'sThe impression has got abroad that
Aguinaldo is dead. This Is nonsense.
He has a large following and every
man under him is there to do or die.
The war has just begun unless America
accedes to the demands Of the Fill
pinos."
Regarding the formation Of a new
party which the United States officials
say VIII rally the FilIpinos to the CO.
ionial policy. Senior Fontela said:
This scheme is doomed to failure.
The leaders. Buencamino and Palermo
are leaders without party. They are
time servers. During the Spanish DOM
lnation they were more Spanish than
the Spaniards. During the effective life
OF the Filipino republic they were ar
dent patriots.
when the United States troops caps
tured the Filipino capital, Tarlac, these
men allowed thmseives to be taken
prisoners and have since pFofessed ar
dent enthusiasm for United States su-
premacy. Any proposal made by them
Is sure to be rejected by the Filiplnos.
who win apply to them the ptoveft,
which. being translated, is. The same
dogs with different collars,
Last June. Bueneamin5 made an
attempt 10 organize a party for au-
tonomy. No one responded. In octo-
Der. Paterno tried to organize festivals
in Manila and asked Filipino revolu-
tionlsts to cooperate with him in ask
ing for a broad plan Of self-govern-
ment. The United States people can
hardly have forgotten the complete fall
ure Of the Manila festivals and the in
difference with which the people treated
Senior Paterno's efforts.
Now Paterno and Buencamino join
their forces. proposing to organize a
new party, Federal party As the
force OF each amounts to zero their
united efforts win amount to double
zero"