The Greenville times. [volume] (Greenville, Miss.) 1868-1917, 1901-04-27
AGUINALDO.

The following is part of the recent Associated Pre-
interview with Agulnaldo claimed by that to
" absolutely authentic: :"
He rather reluctant to talk for publication an
considered every question carefully before answering
He said be doing all he could to assist in the pac
fcsOn of the islands and expressed himself surprise
ct what the Americans had accomplished. When he wa
first captured, he went say he greatly astOnisE
ed to find that majority of the Fiipinos entertained til
opinion that American sovereignty preferable il
dependence, but he inclined to believe that wa
himself He explained that since the dissolution of til
nsurgent congress and the declaration of guerilla war
fare the chiefs had operated to all intents and pun
poses independently They recognized him.as command
erin-chief sending reports occasionally and he issues
some orderf but for tho last months communication
bad been difficult and he hal been almost disconnected
" am now urging in the strongest possible manner.
said AgunaIdo sthat all insurgents should surrende
and swear allegiance TO the United States"
He expresses tie opinion that Unto, Lukban, Mava
and other representative insurgents Will surrender
soon as they come to understand the nature of tht
amnesty offered them he said he hoped that when the
work of pacifcation complete and conditions were
settled the prisoners in Guam would be released
After referring in grateful terms to the courteous
treatment accorded him by the military authorities he
declared his conviction that the civil government which
would follow pacfcaton would realize the highest hopes
of the Filipino people.
When questioned regarding the report that he would
visit the United States he replied that he would like
do so, but had made no plans yet placing himself
entirely at the disposition of the United States govern
menL In concluding the interview he observed:
Every word in my address to my countrymen the
Filipnos, came from my heart l hope the Americans
believe me thoroughly sincere my efforts secure
peace, and, under American auspices to promote the
welfare and prosperity of the Philippines.
Making all due allowance for exaggeration natu rally
incident to such reports of interviews there remains the
undenabe fact that the late Filipino hero has said and
done enough to grievousIy wound the hearts of that
atruistic band of sentimentasts who have supported
his fortunes in America
There are two classes Of socalled antmperiasts in
this country, between whom the lin of demarcaton is
easily drawn There those whose sole contention is
that this government gong counter to its own interests
in retaining the Philippine islands, For the most part
this class knows and admits that the inhabitants of these
islands will be deuced sight better off under American
than under Spanish mongre rule With them that is
not the question.
There Is another class whose hearts are daily and
nightly wrung by the contemplation of the thought that
this government has determined upon the unhoy pur-
pose of forcing its pernclous institutions upon helpless
and of twentieth century Spartans whose amabty and
refinement and delicacy of feeling and senslveness
md high OF honor equaed only by their heroic
vaor, profound patriotism and dsnterested devotion to
he abstract principle of human liberty, expounded
through Byanesque decamations and Garrlsonan broad
SIDES This class too good to hold land which has
,ome to us through the medium OF treaty which they
atihed They regard any American who favors whip
oing the Fipinos TO fragile, until they surrender
ind then infictng upon them government better and
more considerable than their widest Imagination ever con-
eved, hearess brute who is dead to every humane
instinct 10 this for two weary years Aguinado has
zen pillar of cloud by day and pillar of fire by night
them he has embodied the patriotism and devotion to
rncple of Washington; has been the incarnation of
pt of liberty too submey consecrated to surrender to
lere physical captivity, too profound ever die To
lese people have been Great Britain depressing the
olones; Mckinley has starred in their magnations as
eorge ILL., the foxy and shifty little Filipino has been
mother Father OF his Country.
Aguinado has been caught has taken the oath of ale
ance has issued his manifesto to that nobIe armv of
ruggling patriots who still held aoft the unquenchable
rich of human liberty; has advised his people to come
and quit bushwhacking has told them that he has
uck good thing has cptuated for keeps tickIed to
ath with 'the horrible situation brought abou bv this
overnment in the Philippines" and pronounces it better
ian Independence" and today figuring what sort
"a job he can wheedle the Taft commission out of d
If this crowd had any of humor they would feel
thirty cents; being saturated with mixture of SEN
mental gush and Questionable conce it is hard to tell
It how they do take the turn of affairs They are play
in hard luck, but their time will when their late
makes his American tour; then Boston can forgive
D and still claim him as her own.