The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1900-10-25

Philippines, who were under our pro-
tcction Just to Spain, with whom we
were engaged in war, aud from whom
no terms had yet been vouohsafed or
offered.
Now where is tine evidence that the
Fulpinos believed, while fighting, that
we would recognize their independence
General Anderson. on July 2lst. wrote
90 Washington
"Aguineldo has put in operation an
elaborate system Of military govern
meut. under bic assumed authority as
dictator. and has prohibited any sup
plies being given us except by his order
His assumption Of civil au
thouty l have ignored and let him
know verbally that l could and wouid
not recognize IL. while did not recog.
nizs him as military leader II
seems strange that ] have made no
formal protest against MS proclamation
a. dictator his declaration Of martial
law, and publication and execution OF
desp)tic form Of government l
wrote such a protest but did not publish
it &c Admiral Dewey's request, aud
also for fear Of wouuding the sulcapti-
bilities Of Mojor.0eneral Merritt But
have lee it b9 known in every other
way that wc do not recognize she die
tatorship Againeldo understood
this, for on August lst, 1898,
he wrote TO Williams, Consul
At Manila. stating / pray you earn
estly. As also the distinguilhed generals
who represent your country on these
Islands, that you entreat the Govern.
ment ~ Washington 20 recognize the
revolutionary goqernment Of the Filipi.
nos.
he was also informed By General
Anderson as follows. IN relation to the
treatment which he had complained
about
THE Government Of the United
| States. you may be assured, which, as
lts agent, l can make 40 promises. will
deal fairly with tho Filipinos. bat We
must now insist, for the good of all,
there shall be no joint occupation Of
Manila
On August 2llh. 1898. Major General
Wesley Merritt addressed Aguinaldo as
follows:
SO far as any promises as to what
should be done IN the event Of con-
clualon Of a treaty between the United
States and Spain are concerned, it is
utterly impossible for me, as military
representative only Of the United States
20 make any promises such as yourequest.
As you have already been Informed,
you may depend upon the good will Of
the Americans out here and the govern
ment Of which you already know the
benefcence, TO determine these matters
in the futrre
Aud, on the 9th Of Augus', Agui'
naldo addressed q letter to Gen. Wesley
Merritt, in which be begged him 10
reclaim from Admiral Dewey the
protection Of our ships from free navi-
CATION, and permit me to insist if you
wish upon the restitution Of the posi-
tiou. that we are now going to leave if
in tho treaty Of peace 60 be celebrated
bstween Spain and the United STA es
they acknowledge the dominion Of
Spain in the Philippines -
Is there any claim Of a prom ise
Of recognition here? Aguinaldo wac
laboring for recognition Of revolution.
ary, independent government. Gen.
erals Anderson, Merritt aud OTIS we're
positive in declining to recognize
either the civil or military authority.
Invite anyone who is not satisfied on
this point to read the whole oorre-
spondence between our officers and
Aguinaldo with care Aguinaldo can.
not put his finRer upon solitary ex-
preston, or point to an isolated act ,
which could cause him to believe that
he would be recognized. The oorre-
spondence shows that he was an i'm
pediment-not an ally.
Mr. schurz is nervously anxious in
his demand that someone would discus
the facts with him That anxiety
am now gratifying And with oil Of
the evidence before me / proclaim
that in his statement # all Of the ma
terisl facts and Of the principles Of
law he is mistaken, misled far away
fram the paths Of truth. He says:
"Whle 80 profting fcom the co oD
GRAFTON Of the Filipinos as our military
allies against the common enemy, we
know that the Fllipinos believed that
lighting side By side with the repub-
lie of Washington and Lincoln. they
were fighting for their own indepen-
denoe. We had every reason for know
ing that had they not so believed they
would have acted differently.
The facts condemn every material
word Of the statement Oan aoyone
claim that the Filipinoi believed that
they we're fighting for independence
when every official with. whom they
came 10 contact distinctly aud peremp
torily refused to make any promise Il
them or to fecognizs in any manner
their claims of sovereignty-there mus
be q meeting Of minds. as lawyers say
Did Aguinsldo render the services up
on the assumption that he would +
reoognizedG Impossible because on
officers positively and expressly refused
to recognize either bis civil or militarI
power
Next:-Were the FilIpinos our allies
| say no. They aided Us; but the
..,oxo aovtliariaa of which We avafle