The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-16

which all OF us FiliDinos felt on reading
In the Times, a newspaper OF the great
est circulation and reputation in the whole
world, in its issue of the 5th of last month,
the astounding statement, that you, sir,
VIII retain these islands until the end of
the war, and. IL Spain fails to pay the in
oemnlty, will sell them TO a European
power, preferably Great Britain; but we
found a palliative TO our sorrow in the i'm
probability and s~uddenness of that state
ment as common sense refuses TO believe
that so sensible a public man as you would
venture TO max an assertion so contrary
TO common sense, before events are entire
ly contaminated, as you well know that II
God faVors the triumph or your arms to-
day. tomorrow He may defeat them and
give the victory to Spain, and because such
an assertion is not consistent with the
protection of which you make boast toward
this unfortunate people. which has been
groaning for more than three centuries
in the clutches of a nation which has for its
shield (emblem) the lion, one of the fe-
rocious animals, although she displays II
as a symbol of nobility, which she certainly
does not possess. besides the fact that it
is opposed 10 your noble and generous
sentiments to wish to sell these stands
thereby making us pass under the domina-
ton of that nation, which, although 1t has
a truly liberal government, partakes none
the less of the nature of a tyranny, as IL
is monarchical." (Sen. Doc. 62, Z. 3d.
And in this letter he speaks of the Prov
ince of Cavite in whose port l have my
government by the consent of the admiral
of your triumphant fleet
AGUINALDO'S FEELINGS.
1t is evident from the above that Aguin-
aldo then considered himself entitled TO
the protection and to some degree at least
subject to the control of the United States.
On June Is Consul Williams reports:
Last Sunday, the 18th, they held a council
to form provisional government. A form OF
government was adopted, but General
Aguinaldo told me to-day that his friends
all hoped that the Philippines would be
held as a colony of the United States OF
America" (Sen. Doc. 62, L. S29.)
On June % Gust after Aguinaldo estaD-
lished his revolutionary government, Con-
sui Wildman writes TO him: Whatever the
final disposition of the conquered territory
may be you can trust the united otdtes
that Justice and honor will control their
dealings with YOU Was not this itself
enough to inform him that in our view
the final disposition of the conquered terri
tory was an open question:?
On August 4 Consul Williams reported:
my argument with General Aguinaldo has
been that the conditions OF government by
the United States of America in the Philip
pine islands would be vastly better for him
and his people in honor, advancement and
profits than could exist under any plan
fixed by himself and Filipinos. l have trav-
ersed the entire ground of government with
It'll Ill COuiltit dHO lC q LII III, VI
icials from fifteen provinces to meet me
for their discussion, all stated as friendly
but unofficial on my part" (Sen. DOC. oz, L.
1922
The Filipinos on the islands were also
many of them asking annexation. Consul
Williams reported from Manila, Sept. D:
To-day declaration from 4,WO Vlscayan
soldiers, also representing southern busl-
ness interests, came to me and pledged
loyalty to annexation. Several insurgent
leaders kewise Spain cannot control. II
we evacuate anarchy rules" CSen. Doc. b2.
P. 1881
After Manila was surrendered to the
American forces mot TO the Filipinos nor
to both jointly the Fflipinos took posses,
sion of a number of the suburbs. General
Merritt requested them to retire TO a line
farther back. Aguinaldo then recognized
the possibility that the islands would be
returned to Spain. He knew hat We had
destiny of the country and that the ques-
ton of its disposition had not been deter
mined, for he wrote to General Merritt
Aug. q, 1898:
EQUALLY they 1.-THE Filipinosl desire that
if In consequence of a treaty of peace which
may be signed between the United states
of America and Spain the philippines
should continue in possession of the last
named that the American forces should
turn over to the Filipinos all of the
suburbs in consideration of the cooperation
s Nseila by th fsan. IN p tse e. saki p. 4 81 the plaza oil
During all the time preceding the capture
of Manila and, indeed, long afterwards
there was NJ claim of any promise or un-
derstanding that we were to acknowledge
his government or recognize Filipino inde-
pendence, a claim which Aguinaldo would
certainly have made had he received any
assurances of independence, but he puts
in the claim that in consideration of his
assistance we should restore the suburbs
to him If we left the islands in possession
of Spain.
ANOTHER ADMISSION.
And here is another admission: IF (says
Aguinaldo) in consequence of the treaty the
Philippines should continue in possession OF
Spain" That is a clear statement that
Aguinaldo himself regarded Spain as being
then still in possession. Yet this was more
than a month after the protocol, after the
fall of Manila, and while the treaty was in
contemplation. A time when, according to
Anti-imperialists, Spain had lost all pos
session, all title, all sovereignty. and haS
nothing whatever to convey by the Paris
treaty; Aguinaldo himself did not seem to
think SO.
ment before the United States peace COM
mission at Paris, describes an interview
with Aguinaldo as late as Oct. Is, 1898: IL
started the talk by announcing to Agui-
naldo that l was to leave In a few days tC
appear before the peace commission. and
that 1 had a very friendly feeling for the
Filipinos. > . = That / would like to be
able to present TO the commission his and
his peoples views and demands and what
relation they expected to hold to the United
States In case we decided TO keep the
islands. Aguinaldo replied, rather naively
that his people were divided into two par
~tles-those in favor of absolute independ.
ence and those of an American protecto-
rate; that the parties are about equal; thai
he is waiting to see who will have the ma.
Jority; in that case to take his posi-.
"Thereupon / stated: I am ordered, a.
an officer of the United States army, to
proceed TO Paris and give evidence or
points which may be Of vital interest tC
you After that his tone was different
Buen Camio returned, and Aguinaldo re-
ported to him everything he had said to US
After a little ak between the two Buer
Camio said he was sure the President wa:
In favor of an American protectorate, anc
seemed TO approve the suggestion that w,
should have the nucleus of an army. tina
his people should be Joined to it, filling tn,
places of minor officers, and the possibilit,
and the hope within a few years that The,
should fill the most important civil anc
military functions.
"Buen Camio said l could be certain tina
IL a protectorate were granted that the,
would do their best TO have IL accented h,
their people on the lines that have stated
agreeing with me fully that to hold on,
Island and giving the others to other DOW,
ers would be most unfortunate and not Il
he considered" Senate Document 81, Page:
504 anu 505.)
This evidence was given 10 the neac,
commission. and was at least one of RI,
matters which they took into consideratior
In determining whether the United State.
should keep the islands. But after thi.
Buen Camio was forced 10 leave the Cab
met and the extreme party prevailed. Blu
4 1G mir Qnyarnmnnt 70 h. A---- -. =,