The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-08-25
PROOF OF
The CLAIM
Demanded.
Filipino Rsbukss Gov. Rooss-
veIt by Addressing an
Open Letter.

New York. Aug. 25.-The following open
letter to Gov. Roosevelt. written by sixto
Lopez who was formerly secretary to
the Filipino commission In Washington.
and who is now in London. has been re-
ceived by the newspapers here;
Dear sir-I have read your remarkable
speech delivered recently at st. Paul.
Mimi. in which you charge the Filipinos
with being the precise analogies OF the
Boxers and Apaches. and our government
with being bloody Aguinalxoan oiigar-
chy t
Nothing appeals to the best human
emotions so much as the spectacle OF q
brave man. Permit me to say that I
cordially join with the American people
In admiration of the chief OF the Rough
Riders.
But while admiring your achievements
as soldier and fearless reformer. my
admiration ceases when you strike at
what / believe to be the truth.
Therefore. in the name OF my country
men. for whom you and your colleagues
have made such lavish professions OF
friendship, 1 challenge you TO furnish
proof OF the truth of your charges or else
to withdraw them.
Let me draw your attention to the cir
cumstances as we Filipinos view them:
You come to our country. You call for
Dear Gen. Aguinaldo." You ask. accept
and profit by our aid in the defeat OF
ers over to our charge. You place large
number of your own sick and wounded
practically I'm our care.
When your enemy have been defeated,
you turn upon us, shoot us down by
thousands and when our resistance is
greater than you anticipated. you declare
that we are the precise analogies" OF
Boxers and Apaches, and him whom you
once styled Dear General" when you
required his aid. you now refer to az
"Bloody Agunaldo."
Honor bright, do you consider all this
as consistent with the conduct OF gem
tleman and a soldier7 There IL only one
escape-prove your charges.
Look at II in another light. You are pow
erful and wealthy. You can bring to your
task of determination the most deadly
weapons of so-called civilized warfare.
Your soldieres are well armed, well fed.
well quartered. We, on the contrary, are
without wealth. and without a single
field piece.
We have very few fire arms and infe-
rior ammunition. We have only such food
as our soldiers can find in forest and
mountain. and We have to live in swamps
and jungles. exposed to every sort OF
weather.
The contest is thus fearfully unequal.
but of this we have not complained. Our
Philippine mothers and sisters have ISL
fenced the pangs'' when an imperialist
shell or bullet has robbed them of hus-
band, father or brother.
We have fought fairly. even your own
officers have admitted that we have con-
Quoted the war fairly and In accordance
with the customs of modern war. Yet.
not content with having all advantages
on your side, you would now try to take
from us our good name. How pitiable!
How infinitesimal!
There have been as many evil reports
against the American soldiers as against
the Filipinos. Your own commissioners
admit isolated occurrences, regrettable,
indeed, but incident to every war, btu
they do not feel called upon to answer
idle tales, without foundation. In fact"
Why do you and they not apply this no.
BILE reasoning to the F'ilipinos? Similar
charges have been made against Boer
and Briton. against Union and Confeder-
ate. against every army In active war
since time immemorial. We also admit
isolated occurrences" which we regret.
But you, sir. have charged US coll
lectively with being the vilest OF the vile.
Every consideration of honor and fair
play demands that you shall furnish
not idle tales without foundation in fact.
but absolute proof. With the belief that
you will either prove your charges or
withdraw them. and OFFER the amend
honorable. / have the honor TO be. etc.