The Irish standard., 1902-07-05
DEWEY ON AGUINALDQ.

In his examination by the senate
committee Of the Philippines, Admiral
Dewey spoke contenptuously of Emilio
Aguinnldo aud declared that he came
from Hongkong to Manila "for loot
for money" and that Independence
never entered ths read. Notwithstand-
ing this, Dewey furnished him with
arms to fight the Spaniards and used
him as an ally. He never addressed
him as president Aguinaldo" but as
"Senor Emilio" and considered him
merely as a tigurchead. He paid no
attention to the proclamation of Fill
pino independence, but still thinks that
the Filipnos are better able to govern
themselves than the Cubans. When
cross-eXamined by Senators patterso,
and Carmack Dewey got veXed and
Senator Bcverdge came to his rescue
Dewey made Il po + witness, and
said nothing of'any special interest in
his testimony His estimate of .Aguin
aldo's character may be correct, but
others disagree with him. The Amer
lean consuls did not look upon the
leader of the Filipinos as a mercen.,ry
adventurcr. and Generals Merritt and
Anderson always addressed him as
General Emilio Ag,linaldo" and
'Scnnr Don AgUinllllO." commanding
general of the Philippine forces" and
General Anderson styled him your
cNcellency" in his correspondence. He
was treated With great consideration
by all the American officers until they
ascertaincd that the Mckinley admin
istration wanted the Philippine islands
as colonial possessions.
! Dewey would not have armed the
l'ilipinGs had lie known that this gov
crnmrrt cnvetrd the archipelago. In
his evidence he says: when l per-
mittru Aguinaldo to go ashore | did
not know that amy United States
troops would he sent to the Philip
pines" or course. he didn't, and the
American pc pie ut home didn't know
it,. The s.ldicrs who had volunteered
to free the Cubans didn't know that
| they would be sent to the Philippines
to sEbjugate the natives who were
fighting against Spain for irdepen-
| drntt.
Though Dewey could give no in
stance OF dishonesty or pertdy on the
part of Aguilmdo vet he thinks his
object in organizing an army was for
sclfgan. He said it was common re-
port in the East that in 1897 Agllina-
do had betrayed the people to the
Spaniards tur gold. and that he was
not aware that the report was denied
by any American officers in the PHIL
ippines.
The report was denied by Major
General Il. V. Green on Aug. 80. 1898,
and Dewey can read it in Senate Doc
unent G2, relating to the treaty of
peace between the United States and
Spain. on page AL. General Green
soy tlittl III lJCtCulIItl. IS'JI, L EllllO
Rivera, the Spanish governor general,
entered into written agreement with
AguiMldo TO the effect that the gov.
crnment would pay Aguinaldo and
other insurgcnt leaders $SOO.OOO in sill
YER il they should leave the country,
and it was further promised that the
Filipinos would have representation in
the Spanish CCrtes freedom of the
press, general amnesty for all insur,
gents. and the expulsion or seculariza-
ton OF the malEstic orders.
On these terms Aguinnldo and his
associates went to Hongkong and Sin.
gapore. Half the m aney was deposit,
ed as trust fund in banks at Hong,
kong, and there it remained until the
Spaniards failed to carry out their
promised reforms, and then it was used
to defray the expenses Of new in
surrection.
We think Dewey has formed too law
sln opinion of Aguinaldo. He admits
that the Filipino leader was not guilty
of cruelty. Since the downfall of
Aguinaldo it is fashionable to cast