The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-01-24
SIGNS OF
WEAKNESS.
FiIipinos Evince a Desire to
Talk 1t Over.
Mabini, One of AguinaldO's
C0unsellOrs,
WRITES LONG LETTER.
Addressed to Newspaper COrre-
pOndents in Philippines.
Says His People and Americans
Don't Unders tand Each Other.

New York, Jan. PA special to the
Herald from Manila says: This letter
addressed to the Herald correspondents
in the Philippines has been received
from Senor Mabini, the strongest coun-
sellor of Aguinaldo and his congress in
Philippine affairs
Gentlemen: Convinced that you
treat Philippine questions with impair
tiality and with the object that public
opinion of the great free and civilized
nation be not misled I take the liberty
to ask you to make yourselves an echo
of the following opinions throughout
the American press:
The Philippine people do not sus-
tain any systematic hatred against
foreigners. On the contrary, they re-
ceive with pleasure and gratitude those
who really wish to cooperate for their
liberties and prosperity.
FfiipinoS continue to fight against
Americans not because of hatred but
to demonstrate that far from looking
with indifference on the political Situa-
ton they know how to sacrifice them
selves for a government which assures
| individual liberties and is administered
in conformity with the necessities and
desires of the people.
The present state of war does not
permit the people to give frank eX-
preston to a manifestation of their
| aspirations. For this reason F1liDtnoS
| wish ardently that the congress of the
United States shall hear them before
| deciding upon their future.
To this end the Filipinos ask con-
| gresS either to nominate a civil COM
! mission which may put itself in contact
with FilipinOS who have influence in
| pacific villages as we'll as among the
| people under arms, or permit a; COM
| mission of such Filipinos to go to Amer
lea in order to express the desires of the
people.
a r.1-
other better, not only will the present
| conflict cease. but other future ones
| will be forestalled.
The conscientious opinion of the
| masses in America appears to follow on
i their traditions and these constitute for
the present the only guarantee for
hopes of all honorable F'ilipinos.''
FAVORABLY RECEIVED.
New York, Jan. PA special to the
/ Herald from Washington says:
The proposition of Aguinaldo's agent
! for making the desires of Filipinos
known to civil representatives of this
| government is perfectly feasible. 1t is
| all in Aguinaldo'S own hands He
| knows perfectly well the terms of peace
which mean surrender, acknowledge
ment of American sovereignty and the
fullest measure of self government,
| which will be framed after fully aScer-
tanning the desires and capabilities of
| the Filipinos.
This was the statement made by
! Postmaster General Smith, after read
| ing Senor Mabini's message to the. Her
aid. Col. DENLY of the Philippines
| commission said that Senior Mabini was
| one of the most able FilipiEos and he
regarded the fact that he had written
/ the communication as a favorable indi-
cation. Col. DENLY indicated that he
believed there was plenty of work that
a civil committee could do to advantage
| in the Philippines.
| 'It is my opinion he said, ''that civ.
! il government ought to be established
| in the islands as soon as possible and
! that as soon as any community shows
| itself ready or fit for government,
! whether municipal or provincial, such
| government ought to be established
| without waiting for the complete paci-
fication of the islands.
These governments ought to be built
up from the bottom, starting with the
1 municipal governments and then ad-
vancing to the provincial governments.
/ If a mOduS Vivendi could be established
between a. civil commission and the
military authorities, it might be desir-
. able to have new commission sent out
to continue the work of the old COM
mission
Other administration officials read in
| a friendly spirit the message from Sc
nor Mabini. In effect they say that Sc
nor Mabini is requiring just what the
| administration has contemp plated doing
for the Filipinos. The only conditions
I required are surrender and complete
| Acknowledgement of the sovereignty of
! the United States Then will come civil
! government and full and free confer
ence with the natives. with the view to
giving them the largest measure of
self government.
AS to the suggestion for a civil COM
mission. q cabinet officer told me the
| president contemplated sending such a
| commission to the Philippines at an
| early date. In his message to congress
he mentioned that it would soon be de-
sirable to send the present commission
| or a part of it back to Manila, and this
idea is now under consideration.
Concerning the visit of a Filipino
| commission to this country the same
cabinet officer said it would be the
| policy of the administration and con-
! gress to give a full and free hearing to
| leading Filipinos, and that congress at
| the proper time would doubtless well
| come a representative body of men
| from the islands.