The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1900-07-27
DEWEY SAYS It IS FALSE.
The Admiral Replies to Letter from
a Filipino Leader.
Gen AIefandrIno says Dewey Promised
AEuinsIdo's Followers Independence
But the Naval Hero Declares the
Whole statemsut q Fake.

grew from one OF the leading com
manders Of the Filipino army giving
additional light on the claims of the
Filipino people as to the understand
ing that was arrived at between them
and the Americans before the open
ing Of hostilities IN the Philippines
The letter says IN part:
I have read in some American papers
that Admiral Dewey, compelled BY you
and other senators, lovers Of truth and
justice, to answer whether ne had made
TO US formal promises Of Independence,
stated that he had never promised in
dependence to the FilipinOs-" I, who, in
the name OF the Filipino people and Of
Gen Aguinaldo, and as a representative
OF both have had the honor to confer
several times with the admiral, make
to you the following statements, that
you may use them as you should think
more convenient
In April, 1885, when the rupture Of hos
tt1ttes between America and Spain be-
came imminent and in the absence Of
my chief, Gen Aguinaldo. who was then
at Singapore, 7 solicited through the
American consul at Hong Kong, Mr..
Wildman, to have some interviews with
Admiral Dewey, with the object Of con-
unuing the interrupted negotiations be
tween Gen Aguinaldo and Admiral Dew
eyr through Mr.. Wood, the commander
OF the American gunboat Petrol ny
went with Mr. Andres s GarchitOrena,
another Filipino, on board the Olympia
in the bay OF Hong Kong.
Once on board, the following interview
In French took place through the flag
lieutenant, bIr. BrUmley, acting as inter
prefer:
FilipinO-Aomiral, having come to our
knowledge that a war between your coun-
try and Spain is imminent we. who have
Fought the latter for our independence,
are willing, in obedience to the desires
manifested BY you to Gen Aguinaldo
through Mr. Wood. to take part in the
war as allies OF America. so long as It IS
carried on with the object Of freeing from
the yoke OF Spain her colonies, giving
them their independence.
Admiral Dewey-The American people,
champions Of liberty, viii undertake this
war with the humanitarian object OF
freeing from the Spanish yoke the peo-
pies under IT, and will give you indie
pendence and freedom, as We have pro-
claimed to the world at large
FilipinO-We are very grateful for this
generous manifestation Of the great
American people and being made through
an admiral OF their navy, We value IL
more than a written contract, and there
upon place ourselves at your entire dis
posal.
Admiral Dewey-I place at your dis
pOsal the ships OF my fleet for the con-
Yeyance Of both the Filipino leaders and
the arms You may get Moreover. I
think my government is willing to supply
you with arms and ammunition
EilipinO-We are very thankful to you
for this new generosity OF the American
people, and you may be sure that we are
ready to fight at your side for the indie
pendence Of the Philippines, even with
out arms, as We have done during the
recent revolution
Admiral Dewey-America is rich in
every respect she has territories sparsely
inhabited. Besides our constitution for
bids territory expansion" outside Of
America, therefore the FilipinOs may be
sure Of their independence and not bit
OF their land shall be taken from them.
After these conclusive and formal state
ments the conversation turned to other
details concerning the state OF the coun-
try.
The letter IS signed -. AIejandrino."
He is Filipino general who recently sur
rendered to the American forces.
Positive Denial from Dewey.
Washington, July 24.-The letter
received by Senator Pettigrew from
one Of Aguinaldo's generals, J. Ale
jandrino, containing an alleged &C
count of an interview between him
self and Admiral Dewey on board the
Olympia in the bay of Hong Kong in
April, 1898, in which it is stated Ad-
miraI Dewey promised independence
to the FiliPinOs, was shown to the ad-
miral Monday by an Associated press
reporter. The admiral characterized
it a tissue Of falsehoods." He de-
cIared it absurd on its face. "I not
only had no power to promise indie
pendence to the FiIipinos,'' said he
but the whole tenor of the words
put in my mouth stamps them as
false. am made to say things which
1 never thought Of and which I could
that am addressed in the alleged in
terview as admiral when at the time
was \ commodore
The admiral said he never heard Of
AIejandrinO. Several Filipinos, after
much impOrtuning, did come aboard
the Olympia at Hong Kong. They
were anxious to be taken TO Manila
81 considered their representations
of little Importance" said the admi-
raj, "and did not take them to Ma
Mia Later I gave permission to
Aguinaldo and about a dozen others
to come to Manila. All that they were
anxious about at that time was an
end Of the tyranny Of Spain against
which they had been fighting. After
the destruction of MontejO's feet the
CITY virtually surrendered, and I am
satisfied that if we had had 5000
troops there at that time we could
have gone ashore and been received by
the Filipinos as deliverers- They had
absolutely no thought then of indie
pendence. That was an after.
thought Of their leaders during the
interim between the smashing Of the
Spanish feet and the arrival Of the
United States troops"