The Wisconsin tobacco reporter. (Edgerton, Wis.) 1877-1950, 1902-07-04
AMNESTY FOR THE FILIPINos
Proclamation To Be Issued on the Fourth
Admiral Dewey's Testimony
As to AguinaIdO.

Washington. June 2S-At the meet
ing Of the cabinet yesterday the terms
of an amnesty proclamation to the
FilipinoS, which it is contemplated to
issue ON the Fourth of July, were
agreed upon. The amnesty includes
even Aguinaldo. The proclamation is
based on the general objects of the
Philippine government bill-namely,
to restore peace in the archipelago
and substitute a civil for a military
administration. That bill is now in
conference, and the proclamation will
not be issued until the Philippine gov
eminent measure has been agreed up
on by both houses and the president
has affixed his signature to it. 1t will
restore to full liberty all now in dur
ance for political offenses, on the
ground that the archipelago has been
pacifed.
Admiral Dewey was yesterday again
before the senate committee ON the
Philippines. He declared he believed
AguinaldO was on the islands for
loot and nothing else; that he took
everything he could get in Manila, and
that he never had thought of indie
pendence. Patterson read the paper
forwarded by Consul General Pratt,
May 20, 1898 in which the Philippine
leader said that Providence had opened
the way for independence to the Fill
pinOs and spoke Of the Americans as
their liberators. The admiral said,
however, that he did not remember
having seen the paper.
He thought he knew Aguinaldo bet
ter than any soldier who had been on
the island, as he saw more of him.
Speaking of Aguinaldo's loyalty, the
admiral said he had become suspicious
of him before the receipt of his proc
lamation Of July 10. He said: II be-
gan to suspect that he was not loyal
to 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"
Patterson called attention to num-
Der of proclamation of Aguinaldo,
all telling of the desire for indepen-
dence, but Dewey said he did not re-
member having read them. Carmack
summed up the characterization of
Aguinaldo by the admiral in these
words, "a common rObber and
plunderer,' and asked the admi-
raj why he had aided such a
man. The admiral did not reply i'm
mediately. His face redeemed and he
laughed. He then said the senator had
not quoted him accurately. He added:
''You know the old saying, that All
is fair in war; but he didn't then
call him a robber and plunderer; [
called him the 'insurgent leader" He
declared that the views of Otis and
other officers as to Aguinaldo's char
acter would not influence him lin the
slightest degree" Then he was asked:
you don't know of single dishonest
act on the part of the man, and yet
you regard him as a thief?"
Just before this question was asked
Senator Lodge had announced that II
o'clock. the hour for adjournment, had
arrived. The admiral took advantage
of this announcement to cut short
line of inquiry that was plainly annoy
ing to him. He rose as the last Ques-
ton was being propounded, and when
it was concluded said: II think |
sha'n't answer that question" He then
took his hat and left the room with
polite word of adieu, but without
hoiOO formally dismissed