The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1901-03-29
QUESTION NOW ARISES WHAT SHALL
Be DONE WITH GENERAL ACUINALDO


General Aglrnaldo's capture by Gen
eraI Funston was received everywhere
IN official circles with intense gratif-
cation, bu., perhaps, nowhere did It
create more satisfaction than at the
White House. The first official news
10 reach the executive mansion was
General MacArthur's dispatch an
nouncing the capture. which came
about midnight last night. This morn
ing the president also saw Admiral
Dewey's cablegram and the press dis
The president naturally is very much
gratified that the chief mover liz the
Instruction has at last been taken. 1t
has been the opinion OF the mintary
authorities Tor long time that Aguln-
aldo was doing more than all the Otner
agencies combined to keep the rebel
lion in the Philippines alive and every
energy was directed to compass his
capture.
1t Is rather a remarkable tribute 10
the daring and resourcefulness of Gen
eral Funston that long before he made
the attempt he WAS selected by the
authorities here as the officer who
might accepe 1t. 1t was the intention
OF General Funston some time ago TO
return % the United States. bJ by di
Tection OF the war department he was
detained in the Philippines in the hope
that just such a contingency as did
arise should give the opportunity 10
Test his prOwess- Both the president
and war department were fully in
formed of the trap laid to capture the
insurgent leader and the result of the
expedition has been anxiously awaited
for several days.
Several interesting and indeed vital
questions are raised by AguinaldO'S
capture If the insurrection now col
lapses. as it is hoped it will. It may not
be necessary to enlist the full strength
he f1s.I
reorganization bill There also is the
question of the disposition to be made
of the insurgent chief. But it is too
early yet for the authorities to decide
these questions. There also is much
speculation as TO the reward which
General Funston may receive for his
worn. It is considered not improbable
that his reward viii be a commission
in the regular establishment.
General Funston is Lauded.
In cabinet circles General Funston's
exploit was referred to in laudatOry
terms and the probable effect it will
have on the termination OF hostilities
ia the Philippines is iSeing generally
discussed. Secretary Long expressed
the prevailing sentiment. He naturally
was much gratifed at the official con-
firmation Of AguinaldOs capture and
of the assistance that the navy had
been able TO render General Funston in
facilitating his exploits.
The capture itself was Of much i'm
pOrtance he said. but he suggested that
the moral effect probably would count
quite as much as the briIliancy of the
exploit. He considered il one of the
most significant features of the affair
that the natives themselves had been
Instrumental in bringing about the cap
ture. They had made up a consider
able part of FunstOn's force and their
Willingness to go into the heart Of
Aguinaldo's stronghold indicated that
-. - IL.
was no longer any real danger 20
be spprehended from Aguinaldo's
strength.
That such a sentiment had obtained
hold among the FiliDinos was. in the
Judgment OF Secretary Long. a signifi-'
cant evidence that the insurrection had
lost its vitality among the people
themselves. To this sentiment was now
added the loss Of the OstensibIe head OF
the insurrect iOnary movement, which
would doubtless exert fal-resching in
fiuence upon the native mind. The sec
rotary said he presumed that Aguin-
aldo would be held as d prisoner Of
war
What viii be done with him?'' Mr..
Long was asked.
Long Would Spank Aguinaldo.
1T is a little early to say" responded
the secretary, and then after a pause
he added smilingly- I should say that
ne should be spanked with shingle."
1t was suggested to the secretary
that. as a prisoner of war, who has
Tebelled against the authority Of the
United States. it might be incumbent.
under military procedure 20 deal with
AguinaldO by those rigorous steps usual
to warfare. But Mr.. Long shook his
head and remarked that that was hard
~ the way we were In the habit Of do
ing things He was more inclined TO
his first view that the noted prisoner
should be well spanked"
This idea as TO the treatment TO be
accorded AguinaldO seems TO be one
most generally accepted among officials
and while the suggestion of spanking is
used in q figurative sense there IS no
suggestion in any quarter that he Will
meet with that righteous punishment
az times administered to the arch head
of an insurrection.
Particularly in the war department
did the capture Of Aguinaldo cause
discussion among the officials. As to
the disposition to be made of the IA
nous prisoner some of the army Of
-hccrs expressed the opinion that it
would prove troublesome. Secretary
Root said he remembered the capture
OF Jefferson Davis, also the arrest of
William NJ Tweed, both of which en-
barrassed the authorities. The secre-
tary desired further advices from Cen
eral Macarthur before discussing the
matter in great detail. He viii say
little or nothing about the disposition
would probably be treated the same
as 5Cher high officers of the insurgents
VINO have been taken by the Americans
in the prosecution of the war
How Re viii be Tried.
Ther are certain general principles
which are said to be clearly established,
and the first question asked is as 10
whether Aguinaldo is to be tried as a
military or as a civil offender. If he
is To be regarded as having committed
tire -onable acts, or fomented an in
surrection against the United States
government. then the trial would be
of a civil character, for these are Do
ut5caf ohenses against the authority
Of the U1ixed States government, and
are not Offenses under the articles of
war tC be tried by a military court
martial or commission. It is hardly
expected that the rigorous procedure
for treason would be adopted. IF it
should be. section 1892 of 9he revised
statutes provides that every person
guilty Of treason snail suffer death.
or at the discretion Of the court sl.sli
be imprisoned at hard labor for not
less than five years. and fined not less
than SIC. GOO
Another section urovides for melting