Willmar tribune., 1900-05-09
THAT ALLEGED "SELL-0uT.'

lie eeXpduSlOQlSLS nave uSeQ every
means to cast discredit upon the Fill
pinos and their leaders, in order to
against them. Especially have they
directed their mudbatteries against
Aguinaldo. One of their main argu-
ments against him has been that he
sold out to the Spaniards in 1897.
This charge has been repeated so
often that it has come to be regarded
as the gospel truth. It will be inter-
esting therefore, to submit the follow.
ing extract from the Minneapolis
Journal Year Book of 1899. This
Was of course written in 1898, before
the Philippine war opened, otherwise it
would probably not have been pub
lished. After giving a short histor-
ical account of the Philippines up to
1897 it says:
The revolutionary forces were too
strong and too we'll otfcered and armed
for the Spanish army to subdue, and
in December, 1897, Gen. Primo de Ri
vera proposed to Gen. Emilio Agui-
naldo y Femi, the supreme head of the
revolutionary movement, a cessation
of hostilities between the insurgents
and the Spanish forces. A council OF
the revolutionary government was
held Dec. IA, 1897, in which twenty
four insurgent chiefs agreed to lay
down their arms on condition that GER
tain reforms were introduced by Spain
in the administration of affairs. The
insurgents demanded Il that the Fill
pinos should have representation in
the Spanish national parliament, (2)
reforms in the land and tax systems
Of the islands, (3) curtailment of the
civil powers of the friars and (4) the
| recall of many OF the Spanish officials
in the islands with a view to a more
honest, economical and efficient gov.
ernment Gen. Primo de Rivera
agreed to these reforms in substance
aud made it's condition that the prin.
cipal rebel leaders must leave the
country during his majesty's pleasure.
AS these leaders had lost all of theil
property or had it confscated and
plundered, the government agreed to
provide them with funds to live in a
| becoming manner on foreign soil.
The rebels laid down their arms and
peace was apparently secured. Blu,
no sooner had they done 50 and re.
turned to their houses or retired from
the country than the intransigeant re-
ligiOus orders commenced at once to
again prosecute them and trump uI
Imaginary charges to procure their re-
arrest. The Spanish government, or
its side, imagining itself secure, de.
sisted from carrying out the promised
reforms. thinking another trick like
that played on the Cubans, after the
peace arrangement by Martinez Cam.
pos, might succeed. The Filipihos
however, refused to be made dupes
and took up arms again, not alone in
the immediate districts around Manila
but throughout the archipelago, and
early in March: 1898, the revolt was
as formidable in the province of Ma
Mia as ever, the rebels having capt
ared several important towns con.
nected by rail with the capital, while
the inhabitants refused to pay their
taxes or acknowledge Spanish author.
ity. Such was the condition of affairs
in the Philippines at the date of the
opening of the war between the United
States and Spain.
Now, where was the "sell-out?'
The revolutionary leaders got assur.
ances of relief for the islands from the
injustices they had been fighting.
They voluntarily exiled themselves
from their beloved country, in or.
der to secure the necessary reforms
for 1t. The money given was in re.
turn for destroyed or con6scated pro.
perty. When the promised reforms
were not forthcoming, Aguinaldo and
his assistants returned to take up the
fight again. Remember that they did
not return because they did not get
what was promised them personally.
They could have lived at ease in any
part of the world they might choose.
But they we're patriots. They used the
money for equiping revolutionary
army for driving out the treacherous
Spaniards. This ought to be proof
enough to any honest unprejudiced
man that Aguinaldo and his band OF
exiles were true patriots, who put the
welfare of their country above all per-
sonal considerations.