The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1901-04-03
AguinaIdo's Conversion to Peace and
Loyalty Largely Due to Chief
Justice AreIanO's Advice.
EFFECT MAY BE IMPORTANT
INSURGENTS ARE EXPECTED TO LAY
DOWN THEIR ARMS.
AguinaIdo to Remain Under Guard for
the Present-SixtO LOpex's State
ment-Last Proclamation.

WASHINGTON. April 2-Emilio Aguin-
aldo, former president of the so-called
Filipino republic and leader of the Tagaio
faction of insurrectionists, has taken the
oath of allegiance to the United States
Secretary of War Root this afternoon
made public the following cablegram re-
ceived from General Macarthur at s
o'clock this morning:
Since arrival i'm Manila Aguinaldo has
been at Malacanan investigating conditions
in the archipelago He has relied almost
entirely on the instructive advice of Chlef
Justice Arelano. AS a result to-day he
subscribed and swore to the declaration
on Page IL of my annual report
Four asterisks in the cablegram mark
passage withheld from publication about
which the officials will say nothing now.
The oath referred to by General Mac
Arthur follows:
Il hereby renounce all ALLEGIANCE to any
and all so-called revolutionary govern
ments in the Philippine islands, and recog-
nize and accept the supreme authority
of the United States of America therein
| do solemnly swear that | will bear true
faith and allegiance to that government;
that 1 will at all time conduct myself
as a faithful and law-abiding citizen OF
said islands, and will not, either directly
or indirectly, hold correspondence with or
give Intelligence TO an enemy of the
United States. now will I abet, harbor or
self these voluntary obligations without
| any mental reservation or purpose OF
evasions. So help me God"
notwithstanding the taking of the oath
| by Aguinaldo he still will be held as a
| prisoner by General Macarthur. 1t is
| possible he may be granted more liberty
| Of action, but he will not be afforded COM
| plete freedom for the present. The ac-
| ton of Aguinaldo in taking the oath, it
| is believed at the War Department, will
| have a far-reaching effect in the pacifca-
| ton of the island.
"Aguinaldo's taking the oath OF al
| legiance" said one member of the Cabinet
| to-day, emphasizes the character of his
| capture 1t makes it more clear that the
| insurrection has about reached its end and
| foreshadows the early complete general
acceptance of United States sovereignty
and authority. Only a comparatively small
| number of Filipinos are still in arms, and
| the effect of Aguinaldo's action on them
| is obvious. From now on we will press Tor
| ward organizing the best government
| suited to the needs of the Filipinos. Agm-
na,do's submission will have consider
! able bearing in his favor in the determina-
| ton of the matter what to do with him.
| That will not be decided for some time.
|
commission meantime will deliberate care
| fully over the question before reaching any
| conclusions"
No official statement could be obtained
as TO what finally would be done with the
prisoner, but it was emphatcally stated
that he would be held for the present but
| would be granted all possible immunity
consistent with existing conditions. Gen.
| hot a loal
NAV be accomplished through Aguinaldo.
During the time he has been a prisoner
he has made quite a favorable impression
upon General Macarthur.
| It has been suggested that under the
terms of the notice of amnesty the prisoner
should be set at liberty at once. but there
| is provision in the amnesty proclamation
declaring that those who have violated
| the laws of war are excepted from ls
terms. Whether or not General Macarthur
has satisfied himself that Aguinaldo mas
not violated the law cannot be stated, as
| the prisoner would be permitted to take
the oath pending an investigation OF his
| past conduct. Aguinaldo having been the
| head of the insurrection undoubtedly can
| be held until such investigation is made or
| until the circumstances which surround the
| situation in the Philippines make II ad-
| visable to release him outright or other
wise dispose of him. These conditions and
| the general situation and Aguinaldo's rela-
/ ton to them were the subject OF General
| MacArthurs dispatch and are being con-
sidered by the authorities here who will
| have the final disposition of the matter
The news of Kguinaldo's action was re-
| ceived with evident satisfaction by the War
! Department and the opinion was expressed
| that good results would follow among those
who have been still holding out against the
United States. The taking of the oath in
itself is regarded as giving Aguinaldo
status of loyalty to the United States quite
! different from those I'm arms. The rules for
| the government of armies ia the field recite
as follows:
| 1.-THE commander will throw the burden
| of war as much as lies within his power on
| the disloyal citizens or the reVOlted portion
| or province. and. II he deems it appropriate.
| or if his government demands that every
| citizen shall, by an oath or allegiance, de-
| clare his adelity TO the legitimate govern
| ment ne may eXpel. transfer, imprison or
| fine the revolving citizens who refuse TO
| take the oath. etc. Whether IL is expedient
| 70 do So and whether reliance can be
| placed upon such oath, the commander or
his government has the right TO decide
In the present case General Macarthur
has considered Il expe6ient 10 permit
| Aguinaldo TO take this oath. and apparently
has held that reliance can be placed on the
| oath The army regulations make no dis
tinctive provision that the taking OF the
oath shall give complete liberty TO a per-
| son. although the above quoted provision
shows that those manifcsting loyalty by
| subscribing TO an oath of allegiance are TO
! he shared from the hdrdships of war and