Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1901-03-06
ME. WILDMAN'S TESTIMONY.

When the news of the sinking of the
Flo de Janerio came. there was of course,
profound regret over the terrible ca!am-
ity. ana this was especially keen with
regard to the sad fate of Consul General
Wldman who represented this govern
ment so splendidly in China and who had
a most intimate knowledge of affairs in
the Philippines. He was possessed OF
certain information connected With the
plans of the insurgent chiefs just prior
to the out break said to be possessed by
no other fore gner. Since he Went down
with the i'll fated ship, a few demo-
cratic journals have put forward the as
founding theory that had he lived 10 re-
veal those facts it would be shown that
Mr. Wildman justified Agunaldo or at
least the facts that the consul general
could give would justify him. But it APP
pears hat on her way across the P1-
cifc the ship stopped at Honolulu, and
there MIR. Widman made a statement
with regard to the situation in the Phil
ip pines and clearly defined his views as
to the status of Aguinaldo ahd his band
II was his last statement and the only
one that can come from him on the sub
jet and is therefor of importarcs.
The Honolulu Republican of February
II. watch followed the Rio de Jenerio to
San Francisco, contains the statement,
Which is as follows:
he
gers who are passing through Honolulu
Oh the City OF Rio de Janeiro is Rounse-
Vile Wildman, the present United States
consul general at Hong Kong. Mr..
Wildman is returning to the United
States. just to see how things are look.
ing after a four years absence, as he
expressed it, When asked connect ling
the situation in the Philippines, Mr..
Wi.dman said: Before answering your
question, let me say these words in
predatory way: Our present admins
tration has acted most wisely in handing
this matter. The Philippine question is
practically at an end. Ii our forces can
keep the insurgents under control dur
ing the rainy season, and I believe they
can the matter will solve itself. The
insurgents are being cut off from all ex-
ternal communication. They find it
harder and harder to secure food stuffs.
They long ago We're prevented from re-
ceYing anything in the way of firearms.
They have scarcely any powder. and. in
order to carry out their warfare, fill their
shells With the heads of matches. The
force generated by the defamation of
this material is of sufficient force to
drive a bail through an inch plank
Asuinaldo. 7 believe. is dead. There Is
considerable dispute as to this. but from
indications l am inclined to believe that
he is no more. General Sandco, the chief
Of Aguinaldo'S staff, is trading Agui-
TaltOs name, and is in a very unhappy
plight. 1t was he who issued the proc
1anlation to the insurgents to kill all for
eisn women and children. We have the
proclamation in his own hand writing
He is making threats over Aguinaldo's
name, and seeking for peace at the same
time, declaring that it terms advanta
aaous to the rebel foreign procectorar,
We've not made the war would be re-
newed with more severity
1t will be seen that Mr.. Wildman tool
the view that Aguinaldo was dead. Tha
of course, Was purely matter of opln
len. If he is. then the proclama tor
ordering the murder of foreign womer
ana children simply shows that his work
follow him, While if he is alive it onl,
Shows that he has not changed his meth
eds
On top of this, each day brings en-
couraging news from the Philippines an,
the extension of civil government there
together With the evidences of satisfac
tion with which it is received, is a suffi
Gent argument in favor of the plan t
authorize President Mckinley to com
plete the work now making such "a, I
progress