Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-01-24

Mr.. Teller OF Colorado-Mr. Presi-
dent, there has been handed to me q
petition signed by 1900 inhabitants of
the Philippine Islands. l have ex-
amined the petition, and l think | can
say 1t bears the evidence OF being a
bona fide, properly signed petition. II
Is couched la respectful language to the
Congress OF the United States. Ii in
wolves a question OF immense Interest
not only to the people who signed it,
but to the people Of the United States.
IL is a representative document, I
think. OF the people OF Manila and that
immediate region. ~
These people are not in hostility to
the United States. They cannot be
called insurgents or bandits or rebels.
They have submitted to the jurisdic-
ton of the government of the United
States. They enter their dissent from
the condition existing in those islands,
and, as l said, In respectful way and
In q way that believe will give the
people Of the United States better
opinion OF the character OF the people
OF these islands than they have hitherto
had. .t aa
4 ASK thu unanimous consent of the
Senate that the body of the petition
may be read. or course do not expect
that the names will be read, although 1
have had them copied, and 1 have them
here so that any one can see the names
rot In script. Before tine clerk com-
menees | wish to state, as Is suggested
to me by the Senator from Massachu-
sets mn. Hoar), that the petition is
signed by the leading people OF that
section of the oountry-'lawyers and
bankers and professional men generally
and IL Is not ricked-up thing where
somebody has secured lot Of unintcr-
ested signers. Ii, l believe, represents
the sentiment OF the best element of
that community. Now let the clerk
read IL. tf
10 the Congress- of the United
States;
The UNDERSIGNED, Filipinos and
peaceful inhabitants OF this city, Ia
their own name and In the name Of the
misnamed "irreconcilables," respect
fully present themselves and submit to
the worthy consideration Of the Con-
gross Of the United States OF America
the following;
Sa.F7 ett APPEAL.se.l ~ Ftlts srll
The people OF the Philippine Islands, j
in view OF their .calamitous condition,
demand, 10 the name of her sons, in
the name OF all raoes, in the name of
humanity, that an end be put to the
misfortunes which afilict them, which,
while they distress and agonIze her,
compel her to struggle for the rights
that are hers, and for maintenance
whereof she must, II necessary. con-
tinue to pour out her blood as she has
SO constantly and generously done, on
battle-fields, In the woods, on the
mountains, 10 the city, everywhere!
The blood which has been shed and
that is still being shed, and which
will continue to be shed until she has
secured her rights, Is not shed because
Of the intrigues OF few who, accord
ing to mislnformed persons, desrs to
selves at the cost Of their brothers'
blood. 1t has, gentlemen, sprung from
the hearts of the people, who alone
are the real strength of nations, the
sovereign king of races, the pro ulcers
OF the arts, of science, OF commerce. OF
wealth, OF agriculture, of CIVILIZATION,
OF progress, and of all the productions
OF human labor and intelligence, in all
OF which the people of the Philippine
Islands have made great progress.
ORIGIN OF THE REVOLUTION.
The Filipinos were not sunk in
lbludfkJ h5 dUlub HSSeTL. II
They suffered, but the hour to break
their chains came to them in August,
1896, and they proclaimed to the world
their emancipation.
The revolution which broke out in
August, 1896, was the work OF the
whole people, prepared with solemn
oaths signed in the blood OF the con-
Jurors. drawn from each mans left
arm, to be free or die. And amid cries
of 'Fatherland !" they hailed the
''Supreme and Sacred Association Of
the Sons of the Country" tKataas-
taasavag't Kagalangalang ma Katpunan
ng m9a Anak De Bayan). That work
was eminently great; 1t was
present example for all time, and
fitting apopee for poet and historian,
though it, has as yet failed to achieve
the result due to Ii; its grandeur and
abnegation, though insulated from the
rest of the civilized world, have instill.
edan unconquerable will into the once
respondent people, and an energetic
nation. The sons of the Philippines,
some Of the people barefooted, almost
Naked without money, without NOR
sal OF rice to appease their hunger,
without other arms than their fists or
at most rusty knife, resolute as
martyrs, launched themselves on the
batteries OF their enemies, and, with
banners flying, rushed literally into
the mouth Of cannon vomiting red
destruction upon their ranks. They
cried: 'Assassinate us, drink our
blood, and eat our flesh, but we will be-
free 70
Hunger, cold, the SUMS heat, mud,
rain and all the privations and suffer-
ings of merciless war, an almost GER
tain death 10 campaigns undertaken
without weapons. served but to stimu-
late their heroic hearts. The tears of
mothers. wives, and children served
only 60 spread throughout the people
OF /, the archipelago the unanimous ory,
Independence or death!'
INDEPENDENCE SOUGHT FROM TIE FIRST.
1t has been untruly said, but perhaps
only ignorantly on the part OF some,
that when the revolution of 1896 broke
out, the country was not asking for
Independence. Those who say this, IL
they are honest 10 so saying, are simply
without knowledge of the great asso-
citation Of the Katipunan, and are
ignorant Of its noble principles and
high aims.
The Katipunau is the worthy and
legitimate creation of the unfortunate
Andres Bonifacio. IL was founded ia
his house, Sagunto Street, Tcndo, be-
tween and O'Clock 10 the evening of
the 7th day OF July, 1892. Andres
Bonifacio assembled his best friends,