Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-06-02
A FILIPINO 1ES||F|[S
Aeuinaldo's Former Secretary
Tells Senate Committee OF
Filipino Desires.
Says That This Government
Should Make Them Ameri-
can Citizens.
Fears Being Swallowed Up by
Other acknowledgements
Disappointed.

class Of Filipinos, about 90 years o.
age, of dignified bearing, his dark hail
just beginning to turn gray. He was
accompanied by two other native Eli
ipinos and by an interpreter, Frank
L. Joannin of the insular branch OF
the war department.
/ Chairman Cooper introduced the dis
/ tinguished Filipino to the members OF
the committee, stating that he was q
member of Aguinaldo's cabinet and mao
come direct from the Philippine is
Hands. Mr.. Cooper asked Senior Buen-
canine why he had come to the United
States. In response the witness arose
and in measured terms made a state
ment, speaking in the native tongue.
He said he was here representing
the federal party and the influential
elements of the insurgents and the
katipunan society.
He said his country, the Philippines
was like sick man convalescing from
dangerous illness. 1t was still bleeding
from the wounds of war. Its aspira-
tons were those of Washington, hber-
ty with justice, under American SOW
ereignty which they loved. Ihey
looked to congress to give them a just
and liberal government. He detailed
the facts connected with the early up
rising of the Philippines.
Under the Taft system he said the
FiIipinos have greater liberty than
they would have enjoyed under the
| Aguinaldo government had it been es-
tablished He said the people of the
|
have their political status fixed.
| I'VE would like to know what we
are" he said. with emphasis. Are we
Americans or are we Filipinos! ms
is the question impressed upon me
| by the federal party and by the Ell
ipino people," He approved the plan
| of legislative assembly OF the FIJI
pino people.
But" said he. "do not call it a
Filipino assembly: let the members
meet as Americans and let the assem-
bly, be American.
IF we are to become American cit
liens" he proceeded, st will be great
| achievement. Our desire Is to secure
| a Just and liberal government. II
| congress does not grant citizenship
lit has that right, but it would be re-
sponsible for the future, for we have
submitted Internationally to the Will
of congress-.
Representative Jones, of Virginia,
called attention to the fact that SiXto
Lopez differed with Buencamino, ano
said the minority wanted to have Lo-
neg summoned. Several republicans
protested, because Lopez had not been
in the Philippines in recent years.
There was some discussion between
the members of the committee OF a
warm character.
II did not think it would so offend
the minority to have this witness ex-
onerate American troops said Chair
man Cooper.
II resent that insinuation," said MI.
Williams [Miss.]
and his remark is not in accordance
with the facts" said Mr. Patterson
[Tenn.]
The motion to summon Lopez was
lost by a party vote. The committee
then took a recess until p. m.
Senior Buencamino continued his
statement after the recess, and related
the extent Of the work done
by the Philippine commission. He
spoke of the many schools and the i'm
proved educational methods, the Fill
Pine families no longer finding it nee
essary to send their children to Manila,
as the local schools We're ample. In
stead of 1900 American teachers, he
said, there should be 5000, and the sal
aries should be doubted in order to Sc
cure the best material.
Are the, people capable at this time
of Independent self government?
TT would not be advisable he said,
turning to the map of the archipelago.
Russia was near at hand, at Port
Arthur, Japan also was near. Australia
and other British possessions were near
by. Besides Great Britain and Ger
many had on file at the American
state department large claims for dam
ages growing out of the lombard.
ment of Iloilo, etc.
Suppose the United States aban
dops u.s." ne said, then all those claima
Will be presented against the Philip
pines, backed UP by squadrons."
Mr. Jones Wal questioned the wit
ness at length as to the responsibility
for the original outbreak. Prepara-
tons for war were begun by Aguinaldo
as early as October, 1895, the witnes3
said.
Mr. Jones brought out that the wit
ness was appointed to civil position
as civil service commissioner at
SIS, 500-and that the appointment was
made by the military governor. General
Macarthur. Tho witness sail Re was
not in tn, confidence of General Taft
owing to his the witness) racial
ideas.
"Have you the confidence of the
Filipino people?" asked Mr.. Jones.
The witness said he could not state
positively but twenty governors, the
president of the federal party, and
many others gave him letters showing
their confidence in him.
Mr. Patterson [Tenn.] brought out
that the witness had come for the
federal party, which paid his expenses
The federal party favored annexation.
and if the pending bill did not con-
template annexation, but instead es-
tablished a colonial form of govern
ment, then the witness said he did
not approve this feature.
He said that as secretary of state
and private secretary to Aguinaldo he
had the secrets of the Philippine gov
eminent, and in answer to questions
denied that he had betrayed these Sc
crets to American officers.
WAS 1t not FOR the betrayal of Sc
crets that you received an appoint
'Bmphatically, no.