The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1901-12-01
- OOkS ano
u D AUTHORS
"Aguinaldo': Narrative of Filipino


"Aguinaldo": a Narrative of Filipino
Ambitions. BY Edwin Wildman, Bos-
TN: Lothrop Publishing Co. SIPS.
No matter how strong may be our
prejudices arising from our political con-
victions, the story of the little Tagaiog
who for SO many years mainta ned his
ascendancy over his people and defied
the power of both Spain and the great
republic, will possess an absorbing in
terest.
Edwin Wildman, brother of the late
consul general of the United States at
Hongkong, who went down with the
Inflated Rio Janerio has given to the
world that story as he knows it. Mr..
Wildman is vice consul at Hongkong,
and as a newspaper correspondent in
the Philippines is able to bring to light
many facts not known to ths general
public. He has unraveled, with q SEEM
ing impartial hand, the tangled skein OF
events which filed tie last i've Years
of Philippine history. So iac his work
will meet the appreciation of all. Eut,
like all those who attempt TO write OF
events while yet hot with political in
terest or of men who are still potent fac
tors in the world-problem, he has uncon-
sciously colored his narrative.
Eliminating the conclusions OF the au-
thor, the book is a mine of information.
1t goes back a dozen years and unearths
the causes of the Filipino rebeiliol
against the Spanish regime. 1t traces
the rise of the power of Aguinado
through the secret Katipunan, ,.'dgdlog
Freemason organization opposed to the
friars, to open revolt against the power
of Spain. From this point Agulnaldo
becomes the central figure on the stage
and holds it to the last aot--lli:; capture
by Gen. Funston.
Mr.. Wildman clears up many hazy tales
about this leader of Instructions anG the
storm center of the contest for suprem-
acy in the Philippine islands. Aguinaldo
is not the mercenary politician that nc
has been painted. He sold out to Spain
for a consideration, but the 100000 re-
ceived was but a small part of that con-
sideration. Spain was to grant numerous
concessions and institute reforms for the
benefit of the people, This was not done,
and the leader at once began to use the
money, which was placed in Hong
kong bank subject to his check, for the
purpose of arming the natives and To-
menting second reyolt-the revolt that
ended in the capture of Manila. Mr..
Wildman further naively admits that the
Filipinos honestly expected that the
United States would treat them with the
same consideration that had been prom
Used the Cubans, whose chances for indie
pendence were no greater than theirs.
Again the much mooted question of who
opened hostilities between the Filipinos
and the United States troops is set at
rest. The responsible is placed at the
door of the Americans.
The authors estimate of Aguinaldo Is
most interesting. He says that the name
Aguinaldo suggests no metaphor. That he
is a shrewd egotst who takes himself
very seriously-as do all Malays-anc
Aguinaldo is to all intents Malay. The
Aguinaldo which the world knows is not
the real Aguinaldo, but a composite
formed by DR.. Pedro de Tavera, Capen-
tano S. Arellano, Apoiinaro Mabini and
Pedro A Palermo. These men, educated
in law, diplomacy and war. found in Ag-
uinaldo a person through whom they
sought to control the natives. Aguinaldo
was supposed to bear a charmed life, and
possessed the confidence Of the nativS
population. 1t was his name that was
potent, not his ability.
The tendency of the book IS to belittle
the Filipino chief. To that extent 1t is
partisan and unreliable, but under this
veneer of pardonable prejudice there is a
firm substratum of facts on which the
public may depend for information. The
well preserved.
IA Lighthouse Village" BY Louise Lyn-
don Sibley. Boston: Houghton, Miff1ln
& Co. $1.20.
Louise Lindon Sibley may write great
er book, but she will find 1T difficult to
write one containing more of that art
lessness which is the highest art. The
very spirit of a New England light
house village has here been caught, and
it's shrewd, kindly people faithfully poS-
trayed by a loving hand. The sketches
are slight and with little attempt at con-
tinuity although a slender thread of-per>
sonality unites them all. But they are
full of ihumor and individuality, and the
racy dialect with it's quaint elisions s
consistently maintained.
This life of a lonely shore village with
it's nearby lighthouses is depicted through
dialogues and monologues, which also
give glimpses of those deep heart springs
the sources of character. This is Gone
as much by suggestion as by definition,
the author showing in that respect a
clever insight into the ways of reticent
folk not given to revealing the inner life.
Biographical and Other Articles" BY
William c. Todd, A. b, Boston: Lee
& Shepard. sk5e..
Biographical and Other Articles" is the
title of volume of personal recoliections
and secondhand opinions of celebrated
characters who lived a generation OF
more ago. The book is unique in way.
The author, William c. Todd, seems to
have met in his life Tie persons men
toned in the book, but he gives US only
a sketch of the outside Of them. Daniel
Webster, Caleb Gushing, Thomas IL. Ben
ton. Timothy Dexter and Gen. Nathan1eI
Peabody are the principal personages
dealt with The author is evidently ne:>
Their an observer nor philosopher, but
he has a good memory for expressions
and incidents. So far as matter is con-
cerned it is an admirable patchwork OF
biograph. But the style in which it is
presented is yillainous. Some of the SEM
fences are most fearfully and woncer-
fully made. One regrets that the book
was not thoroughly edited before being
turned over to the publishers
"Of Politics" BY Richard Rogers Bow
kerr Boston: H0ughton. Iiff1in 6
To atfampt tn exhaust the subject of