The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-10-06

tulbG ptuIL1SASo W. bGlllOSla Ibs lilIHs
To the Editor Of the Intelllgencer.
SIR:--In the prosecution OF hostllitles
against the armed forces of Aguinaldo,
consisting principally of the Warlike
and savage tribe OF Tagals who had
long been the enemy Of Spain. as well
as the relentless enemy OF some OF the
native tribes inhablting the island of
l.uzon, the opposition to the sadminis-
tration claims the American govern
ment Is practiclng criminal agrees
sion" against n people who were, Its
friends and allies in the late Spanish
war. Let US examine this charge brief
ly und sec II the facts Of history sustain
or dlsprove It. My opportunities for
ginning knowledge, of the incidents at
tending the inception of the Filipino
war are derived from frequent corres-
pondence with officers of the regular
army. some Of whom participated In the
first engagement with the Spanish
army which resulted in the capture OF
Manila on August. 13. 1898. Captain o.
/. b. Warwick, OF the, Eighteenth United
States Infantry. n gallant soldier, from
the state OF Alabama, whose life was
sacrificed afterwards in defending the
flag Of his country, wrote me on August
goth, 1S9S-sixteen days after the occu-
patton Of the city of Manila, as follows:
1--WE have the insurgents outside the
city. (They were called insurgents
then because they were at war with
Spain.) They are still under arms.
Not Allowed in the City.
I'VE do not allow either the Span
iards or the Insurgents inside the city
limits. This city has population OF
about 100000 Inhabitants. with large
foreign element engaged in trade. The
foreigners have a large amount OF capt.
tnl invested here, and would like to see
the United States take permanent pos
session. as they know under our gov
ernment they would have protection for
life and property, and an honest admin
istration Of public affairs. General
Merrett leaves tomorrow via Singapore
to be present at the meeting of the
commissioners in Paris. The situation
now is complicated and can not tell
what will be DONE"
Now, It will be remembered that after
Admiral Dewey destroyed the Spanish
/, fleet in Manila. Bay he had 1t In his
power to reduce the city and compel the
5 surrender OF the 1900 Spanish soldiers
, composing Its garrison, but the admiral
had no land forces to cooperate and
I hold the place after n surrender.
Awaited Arrival Of Troops.
He therefore simply. covered the city
with the guns OF his fleet and awaited
the arrival of troops. When early in
August sufficient force had assem-
bled and were landed ut Cavite. prepar-
atoms were made for the storming Of
the Notifications and the capture OF the
city OF Manila, which was successfully
accomplished on August 18th. and re-
suited In the surrender OF all the Span
ish troops In and about Manila The
insurgent forces were not permitted to
enter the city for the reason that after
( having disarncd the SpanIards with
whom we were at war. the pent up
hatred Of the ARMED Tagals would have
found vent in the slaughter of these
helpless soldiers OF Spain, and an indis-
crlminnte massacre Of all natives who
adhered to the Spanish cause, to be fol-
lowed by the looting Of the city and
possibly Its destruction by the enraged
savages. consider that in thus dis
arming the Spaniards and forbiddlns
the Filpinos TO enter the city our mill
tary commanders acted wisely and un-
questionably prevented scene OF
bloodshcd and anarchy that would have
startled the civilized world. and for the
deplorablc consequences OF which our
government would have been Justly re-
snonslble.
Auy NuTSlIlS 1tS WRATH.
Disappointed in their desire to wreak
Vengeance on their defeated Spanish
foes. and to enrich themselves with the
spoIls OF Manila the Filipino army, then
commanded by Aguinaldo In person. lay
In Its camps outside the city nursing its
wrath against the Americans and
threatening daily to penetrate our lines
despite all resistance Pending this
condition OF affairs and while the COM
mission. OF Paris was arranging the
terms of treaty OF peace with Spain.
and before that treaty was ratified by
the United States senate. the Filipino
army either with or without the knowl-
edge and consent OF AguInaldo attacked
our troops, and thus the war began.
This overt net of hostility Technically
produced state OF war without the me-
cessity OF Il formal declaration. From
that day to this 1t has been wagrd
against them with the result that all
organized resistance has been overcome,
and the lnsurrectos have been defeat
cd,and dispersed 81. that there now re-
mains only scattered bands Of yupr-
rillas and ladroat3 who as opportunity
offers. ambush small dctachmeuts OF
our troops. Not only In Luzun but.in
nil other important Islands OF the arch
I ipalago We now maintain regular garri-
sons and are practically. In control OF
the territory coded to US by Spain.
+ Not Criminal Aggressors."
believe this represents truly the his