The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-06-28
AGUINALD0 WAS
NOT A PATRIOT
Dewey Says the Leader Cared
Only For Personal Gain.
ADMIRAL AIDED A ROBBER
HERO OF MANILA has HIGH RE-
GARD FOR HIS JUDGMENT.


mony before the senate
committee on the Philippines to-
dav. Replying to questions put
by Senator Patterson he said that
he had begun negotiations with the
governor general Of the Philippines.
General Jaudens, for the surrender of
the city, and the negotiations were
conducted through the Belgian consul,
who, after the death of the British
consul had been very courteous in
acting as a go between. 1t was a dip
Iomatic negotiations, no letters being
written.
The admiral said he had informed
General Merritt Of the prOffer Of Gen
eral Jaudens. but he did not believe
that Merritt had taken much stock in
IL. I assured him that such was the
case" said the admiral but told him
Of the arrangement that before the
surrender should take place I was to
engage an outlying fort and make the
signal according to the international
code. do you surrender after which
the Spanards were to hoist the white
flag on the southern bastion. I may
say that L was the first to discover the
flag Notwithstanding I had stationed
fifty men to look out for it. It was
thick day, and CHANGED to be the first
70 discover it."
He also said he had read the testi-
mOuy Of General Macarthur, saying
that he knew OF no agreement of the
kind mentioned but that it had been
his CDewey's) business to communicate
with anyone except the commanding
official.
Merritt Mistrusted Spaniards.
Asked by Mr.. Patterson to explain
his statement that General Merritt had
not accepted the report that the Span
iards had agreed to capitulate, Admiral
Dewey said that was only his belief.
Il don't believe" he said that the
general entirely trusted the Spanish
authorities. Still ne did not say so in
so many words. / mfly add that I
have since learned that some OF the
Spanish officers were tempted to fire
at US. Even my own flag lieutenant
lid not accept their prefer as in the
best faith I knew, however. that
they would surrender, for I understood
the straits they were in"
Replying to a question as to whether
the agreement to surrender had been
made public at the time Of the attack
upon Manila, Admiral Dewey said he
thought not.
There are" he said, lots Of things
which are not communicated to the
public"
Mr.. Patterson sought to secure from
Admiral Dewey an admission that
AguinaldO had issued q proclamation
Of independence to the FilipinOs about
the time Of the sinking Of the Spanish
squadron, but the admiral said he did
not remember il, although it was pos
sible that he might have done so.
Gave AguinaIdo a Press.
Mr.. Patterson then read the paper
forwarded by Consul General Pratt.
May 20, 1898. in which Aguinaldo said
that Providence had opened the way
for independence to FilipinOs and spoke
Of the Americans as their liberatOrs.
The admiral said, however, that he
did not remember TO have seen the
paper. He had, he said, given Aguin-
aldo a printing press and probably he
used this press for getting out his
prOCiamations.
In reply to a question the admiral
saLs that Consul Williams, who had
been stationed at Manila, was an hon
est man, although. perhaps, quite en-
thusiastic- The admiral did not, how
ever. remember TO have promised to
AguinaidO his cordial cooperation"
as the consul had reported For the
purpose Of making inquiry concerning
some Of the representations Of Consul
General Wildman, located at Hong
kong, Mr.. Patterson asked concerning
that gentleman's character The ad-
miral apparently hesitated to reply, but
then said:
He's dead-Fd rather not say. He
was the United States consul general"
He added that he would prefer not to
reply to further questions. but when
Mr.. Patterson persisted, he added: HE
was very able man-an able consul"
Mr. Patterson then read Mr.. Wild
mans letter of July Is, 1895 saying that
AguinaldO had conducted himself in a
dignifed manner, etc, and the admiral
assented to the truth of this state
ment.
Dewey Was Suspicious.
Speaking Of -Aguinaldo's loyalty. the
admiral said he had become suspicious
Of that leader before the receipt Of his
proclamation on July 10. He said: Il
began TO suspect that he was not loyal
70 us when he demurred to moving out
Of Cavite when our troops arrived"
You mean that they were thinking
more of their own independence than
Of us?"
Yes"
Admiral Dewey also testified con-
cerRing the arms sent to Manila by
Aguinaldo, and Senator Dietrich asked
the admiral If 'he did not believe that
the arms We're purchased with money
previously paid by Spain to secure
peace, and that il was his intention to
use the money to fOment another in
surrection for the purpose of gain?"
The admlrafs reply was, Exactly
So"
Did Not Read Dispatches.
Mr.. Patterson next called attention
TO number Of proCIamations forward
cd by him TO Washington in MAY. but
Admiral Dewey said ne did not remem-
Der having read them, and in expfana-
ton Of his failure in this respect. he
said.
"fhe days and nights were not long
enough for me to get through with my
work at that time. Evidently did not
consider the proCiamatiOus as OF i'm
portance, as If ] did read them I made
no comment on them"
The reading Of these dispatches was
followed by a number Of questions
knowing OF Aguinaldo's expectation
and purpose to secure Independence"
said Mr.. Patterson. in beginning
question.
But before he had concluded he was
interrupted by the witness. who said:
No, / did not know that"
Then you believed such TO be his
81 did not believe #, and since Won
have asked my opinion I will saw that
/ believe he was there for rain-for
loot-for money, and further believe
that independence never entered his
head"
Replying to another question bv SEN
ator Patterson, the admiral said that
while Aguinaldo was located at Cavite
and was under his observation, he was
always humane, but that he did not
see much Of him after the army came.