Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1901-01-27
WAR FOR MANY YEARS, OR
LIBERTY, SAYS AGU|NALDO.
AN AUTHENTICATED INTERVIEW
WITH HE LEADER OF THE
FILIPINO INSURGENTS.
DOES NOT TRUST M'KINLEY.
NOR WILL HE ACCEPT HIS PROM
ISES OF AMNESTY AND LINZ
| TIED FREEDOM.

NEW YORK, January 26.-The
World tomorrow will publish what it
claims to be-a well authenticated inter-
view with Aguinaldo obtained by an
American, a trusted agent of Carlin
Rubino, a prominent merchant in Ma
Mia. 1t was forwarded here through
the mails.
Aguinaldo was found in the Filipino
capital by Senior Rubinos' agent, the
identity of whom is kept an inviolate
secret, but it is known that he is an
American. In years gone by he was
high salaried employee of Russell &
Company, of Hong Kong. Manila, Yo-
kohama, Canton, Shanghai, San Fran
cisco and New York. The firm was the
oldest American house in the Orient
and the richest. 1t went down in the
crash Of 1888
My letters to AguinaldO," says Sc
nor Rubinos agent, were carefully
scrutinized by him and his aides de
camp before I was taken fully into his
confidence. But as they were from
those whom he knew to be his trusted
friends, he received me without re-
stTaint or hesitation. | remained there
for days and was the recipient OF his
full confidence and had from him the
most unre:eryed expression of his sem
timents and purposes as well as his
Or of
country and the great struggle now go
ing on there.
Il was astonished at his knowledge
of the history of the United States
and its great statesmen since the war
of the revolution. The subject of am
nesty was gone over very thoroughly.
| asked him if he would accept amnes-
ty offered by the commissioners sent
cut by the United States government.
He replied: No, | will not accept
amnesty. | would not trust them. l
have not forgotten the professions of
friendship and OF support given me by
Dewey and Otis and all of them. es-
pecially Wildman. My army fought
with and for them to beat the Spanish
under promises most solemnly given
that we were to have independence
All these solemn promises have been
repudiated by them all. No, AMNESTY
means slavery and obedience to the
will of Mckinley
How about the people?' l asked
DO not you believe the condition of
your people would be improved if they
accepted amnesty now offered?"
No" he replied; ito accept amnesty
means shame, infamy, slavery, degra-
dation. Personally it means imprisOn-
ment for me. What else am l to expect?
And what for my poor people but serf-
dom? w hat could their forefathers
have said of George Washington had he
accepted amnesty from George Ill? He
fought from 1776 to 1872 and all offers of
amnesty were very properly treated With
scorn. They were right. You ask me
what we want. I reply. liberty. The
right of Filipinos to govern themselves
a government of our own"
But" said l. here are assurances"
Assurances and promises?" he inter-
posed with great warmth given only to
be disregarded and repudiated. | tell you
l will never trust them. Nor will my peo-
pie. Say to them that their amnesty will
not be considered. My people would no
longer respect me were 1 to do So"
Then it may be war for many years, "
l said.
You must ETow that the American
government is strong. powerful and rich. '
Cnquestionably," he replied. and it
may be long and terrible struggle for
liberty. But, until the Filipino nation
shall have a government of its own this
war VIII go on, l believe that if there
were change of administration we
would gain our freedom. We will have a
republic patterned mainly after that of
the United States. Their original system
is admirable, but not as administered
now