The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1901-07-12
THE REAL AGUINALDO.

The REGISTER is in receipt OF the
Philippines Argonant, published at
Manila, April I, 1901, which has been
read with much interest. A consider
able part of the space in the paper is
given to a report of the capture Ct
Aguin aldo, giving details substan-
TALLY as they have been already print
ed in the REGISTER, and awarding
unstinted praise to General Funston.
But the most interesting article in
the paper is an editorial entitled "The
Case of Aguinaldo." AS there is no
doubt of the accurate reflection of the
local feeling toward Aguinaldo, among
natives as well as Americans, and as
a statement of his character and his
methods from one who obviously
knows exactly what he is talking
about the article is not only interest
ing but highly important, and the
REGISTER therefore presents it in full.
as follows:
Emilio Aguinaldo has taken the
oath of allegiance to the United States
and we believe that he will keep it.
We believe further that he will settle
down in the Islands and become mex
emplary and useful citizen. The only
danger to be apprehended is that
Aguinaloo's love OF power, of display
and of adulation, which will be no
longer catered to, may make life too
stale for him in a short time. His
future career will not just be a bed of
roses. At best "a fallen chieftain is
apt to become very chea man, SUBJ
ject to criticisms, slurs and taunts
that scarify, hurt and discourage.
After all, this is very human world,
and therefore cruel one to those on
the down grade.
Aguinaldo is not without enemies.
and bitter ones, too, amongst his own
people. He has ruled with rigor and
the air and swing Of dictator. He
and his generals were absolute auto
Gratis, appropriating unto themselves
everywhere the products of the labor
and energy of the people. They levied
tribute right and left, and never failed
to collect it promptly. Their tax
gatherers carried with them the bolo
and the rifle and some times the torch
of the incendiary; aud they were al
ways experts in the use Of these weap-
ons and not averse to calling into
action the fortunes of the inquisition.
to which the missionary friars had un.
wisely introduced them. Thousands
of homes on these islands have been
made desolate by the orders of Emilio
AgHinaldo and his recognized chiefs.
~TbOus,. nds of beloved men and bows
we're furceu into the army, whilewomen
and children suffered want. Homes
have been destroyed, families divided.
men and women abducted and brutally
butchered, ofttimes buried alive: towns
wiped of the face of the earth, women
and girls outraged, indignities offered
the aged and the country generally
impoverished. Rapine. murder and
robbery marked the progress of the
nnholy and useless war which Aguin-
aldo forced upon his own people, and
those who paid the price have long
memories and bitter hearts. They do
not feel kindly toward Aguinaldo
who, they say, lived in ease and lux
ury, surrounded by his court in fine
buildings elegantly furnished; while
they we're bearing the burden of the
outrages he and his generals inflicted
upon them for years. They do not re-
gard Aguinaldo as savior or u
deliverer, but as a cold-blooded ad.
vcnturer, perhaps puppetin the hands
of the Filipino politicians, but at
heart n Napoleon instead of Wash
ington, Weyler instead of Grant,
an enslaver instead of n deliverer.
Then, too. the friends OF Gener-
al Luna are numerous and influential,
and they nave not forgiven his cruel
and foul assas sination, which they
lay as directly to the hands of Aguin-
aldo as though he had himself fired
the fatal shot. They claim that Aguin-
aldo caused the murder of Luna be-
cause he was jealousof him and feared
him. Had Aguinaldo been moved
by patriotism and not 10y overwhelming
ambition and for the glory and money
there was in it for him., they say,
she would not have caused so true a
patriot, so honorable II man and so
splendid and brave soldier as Gen
eral Luna to have been assassinated.
Some day Aguinaldo will almost GER
tainly have to reckon with some one
of General Luna's friends.
In the rank and file of the American
army and among the American civil
liuns in Manila, especially those who
comment is heard Of the treatment ac-
corded Aguinaldo since his capture,
though it is we'll understood that all
this is strictly in consonance with
orders from Washington.
at is enough to make those who fell
in the Philippines rise from the graves
which they I'LL because of the treachery
of Aguinaldo in accusation Of the gov
ernment which now houses and feeds
in tla Governors palace the man who
is moral responsible for their
deaths.n such is the expression OF
one eN.voluuteer, who helped TO take
Mania, fought his way into Malolos
and liked over the mountains in pur-
suit of the rebels for several years,
Generally. the present attitude of the
government is construed by eX-volun-
teers. and regulars as we'll, as an I'M
suit To the living and dead defenders
OF tho nag. Il lis sentiment is almost
universal in Manila.
Aguinaldo is not regarded as a
soldier, but as an irresponsible and
adventurous conspirator, who planned
L. 4