Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1900-02-09

;. That that people have from the begin
ming desired independence, and desire it now
!. That this desire was communicated tc
our commanders when they gave them arms
accepted their aid, and brought Aguinaldc
fir m his exile, when he was put in command
Of 10000 Filipino soldiers. who were already
in arm and organized.
5. That the people of the Philippine
islands, before we fired upon their troops, haC
delivered their own land from Spain, with the
single exception Of the town Of Manila, anc
that they hemmed in the Spanish troops or
land by line extending from water to water
8. That we could not have captured the
Spanish garrison, which was done by an ar
rangement beforehand, upon a mere show o.
resistance, but for the fact that they were SC
hemmed in by Aguinaldo's forces and could
not retreat beyond the range and fire OF the
guns of our feet.
7. That during all this period, from the be-
ginning to the final conflict the Filipinos were
repeatedly informing our government, no,
only by communications addressed to the
commanders on land and sea, but by those
that they desired their freedom, and that they
were never informed of any purpose on our
part to subdue them.
s. That they were fit for independence
They had churches, libraries, works Of art and
education. They were better educated than
many American communities within the memory
Of some of us. They were eager and ambitious
to learn. They were governing their entire is
land, except Manila, in order and quiet, with
municipal governments, courts of justice,
schools and a complete constitution resting
upon the consent of the people. They were
better fitted for self-government than any
country on the American continent south of us,
from the Rio Grande to Cape Horn; or than
San Domingo or IIayti when these countries,
respectively, achieved their independence;
and are filter for self-government than some
of them are now. They are now as fit for
self-government as was Japan when she was
welcomed into the family of nations.
Q. That the outbreak of hostiltles was not
their fault, but ours. a patrol, not hostile
military force, approached a small village be-
tween the lines of the two armies; village on
the American side of the line of demarkation,
to which some of our soldiers had been moved
in disregard of the rule applicable to all cases
of truce. When this patrol approached this
town it was challenged. How far the Eli
pinos understood our language, or how far
our pickets understood the reply that they
made in their own language, does not appear
But we fired upon them first. The fire was re-
turned from their lines. Thereupon it was re-
turned again from us, and several l'ilipnos were
killed. As soon as Aguinaldo heard oft he sent
a message to General Otis saying that the firing
was without his knowledge and against his
will; that he deplCred it, and that he desired
hostilities to cease, and would Withdraw his
troops to any distance General Otis should
desire To which the American general re-
piled that, as the firing had begun, it must g
on. Now, how absurd for the persons who
could have stopped it at any time from the
beginning, with single word of assurance
that they meant to respect the liberties of the
people Of the Philippine islands, to change the
men who have been constantly begging them
to say that word with being responsible for the
continuance of the war
the two sides being at peace, although grea
uneasiness and irritation had already mani
tested itself on the part Of the Filipnos, who
were afraid we meant to subjugate them, Pres
ident Mckinley sent to General Otis procla
nation. Remember that a dozen times dur
ing the spring and summer and autumn Agui
naldo had proclaimed that his people wer,
seeking their independence, and had imploreC
the "great American people, by all their grea
history and traditions" with which he appear
to have been quite familiar, not to interfer,
with it.
Now, on the 18th of December, 1898, tn,
president of the United States sent Genera
Otis a proclamation which he commanded
him to issue. General Otis, on reading it, t.
use the language Of his report, said:
"After fully considering the president