The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1902-06-12
BUENCAMINO TALKS MAY BORROW MONEY
APPEARS BEFORE THE HOUSE
COMMITTEE.
The Filipino Leader who Passed
Through Honolulu Not Long Ago-He
Represents the Federal Party.

WASHINGTON, May 81 Felipe
Buencamino, formerly of Aguinaldo's
cabinet, was before the House Commit
tee on Insuar Affairs today. He said
his country, the Philippines, was like a
sick man convalescing from a danger
Gus illness. 1t was still bleeding from
the wounds of the war. It's aspirations
were those of Washington, liberty with
justice under American sovereignty
which they loved. They looked to Con-
gress to give them just and liberal gov
eminent.
He detailed the facts connected with
the early uprising of the Filipinos.
Aguinaldo was an idol. and the people
believed him when he told them that
Dewey had promised them indepen-
dence. He reviewed all that had been
done since the outbreak, and spoke of.
the gradual extension of American au-
thority and the pract al pacification of
the greater part of the islands. There
are now 500 municipalities established
and they have proved satisfactory.
Under the Taft system he said the Fill
pinOs have greater liberty than they
would have enjoyed under the Agui-
naldO government had it been estab-
lshed Governor Taft was now the
idol of the people. He said the people
of the Philippines would have their po
ltcal status fixed whether they are
Americans or Filiipinos. He preferred
that they should be Americans The
happiness Of the people depended on
American sovereignty.
I'VE would like to know what we
are" he said with emphasis. Are
| we Americans or are We FilipinOs?
This is the question impressed upon
me by the Federal party and by the
Filipino people"
He approved the plan of a legisla-
tive assembly of the Filipino people.
But" said he, do not call it a Fill
pino assembly; let the members meet
as Americans and let the assembly be
Americans"
Senior Buencamino spoke of the
many schools and the improved edu-
cational methods the Filipino fami-
| lies no longer finding it necessary to
send their children to Manila, as the
| local schools We're emple. Instead of
1900 American teachers, he said there
| should be 5000 and the salaries should
| be doubled in order to secure the best
material.
| Speaking of education he said the
! friars were hostile to the American
| Government. On Palm Sunday, he as
serted the friars had told the people in
| the confessional that the cholera eX-
| listed only in the minds of the Ameri-
| cans, for the reason, he said, the friars
! desired cholera to spread in order that
| their fees for various attendance and
! ceremonies might be increased. Among
! the statements he made We're the fol-
| lowing: Iighty-fiv per cent of the peO-
| pie ire illiterate and cannot read OF
write.
Are the people capable at this time
of Independent self government"
1T would not be advisable" he said,
| turning to the map Of the archipelago
Russia was near at hand, and Japan
was also near; Australia and other
| British possessions We're near by. Be
| sides. he said Great Britain and Ger
many had on file at the American State
Department large claims for damages
| growing out of the bOmbardment OF
Iloilo, etc.
Suppose the United States aban.
dons us?" he said, then all those
claims will be presented against the
Philippines, backed up by squadrons.
Jones of Virginia questioned the wit,
ness at length as to the responsible
ity for the recent outbreak. Prepare.
tons for war were begun by Aguin'
aldo as early as October, 1898, the
witness said. Asked who were TIT
slayers of General Luna the witness
asked to be eXuced saying an answer
| would require reference to Aguinaldo
| who was now prOisOner and an enemy
of the witness He said however thai
Aguinaldo was seVenty-five miles
! away.
Asked if the Filipinos after three OF
four years of American tutelage coulC
| stand alone, Senior BuencaminO sale
they would be able by that time to de,
termine whether they wanted annexa.
ton to the United States or independ
ence.
The Federal party, to which he be.
longed. opposed the holding of the Phil
ippines as an American colony. About
10 per cent of the people, he said, IA
vored colonial government He saiC
| American troops could be withdraw
ultimately, except from the Moro coun-
| try, where they would have to remain
for long time.
Patterson of Tennessee brought out
that the witness had come for the Fed.
eral party, which paid his expenses
| The Federal party favored annexation
and If the pending bill did not contem-
plate annexation, but instead estab-
| lished a colonial form of government
then, the witness said, he did not APP
| prove this feature.
Representative Jones of Virginia
called attention to the fact that SixtC
Lopez differed with Buencamino, and
said the minority wanted to have Lo-
i~-- 'N-'''''''''NNA' t'N''leA AeN PAblAN tilis
protested because Lopez had not beer
i'm the Philippines in recent years
There was some discussion between
the Members of the committee of 8
warm character
II did not think il would so offend
the minority to have this witness ex-
onerate American troops" said Chair.
| man Cooper.
Il resent the insinuation," said VIII
| liams of Mississippi
And his remark is not in accordance
with facts said Patterson of Ten
| nessee.
| BORROWED A DEAN.
| Prof j Il Reale OF the HARVARD La ,u