The St. Louis Republic., 1903-10-04
Filipino Historian Blames the
Leader for Downfall of
the Republic.
ACCUSED OF ASSASSINATION.
EenOr Mabini of the Chiefs Cab
met Holds Him Responsible
for Murder of General
Luna,
REPUBLIC SPECIAL.

REPUBLIC SPECIAL
Washington, Oct. 3.-Military intrigue
and assassination within the administra-
tive circle and Aguinsldo's Jealous pas
sion for power are the things which the
native historian and former member OF
Aguinaldo's Cabinet, Senor Mahini, de-
clares are responsible for the downfall Of
the Filipino Republic
The Bureau of Ins1lar Affairs War De-
partment, has made public a chapter Of
MabinFs THE Philippine Revolution"
hitherto unpublished in the United States,
in which Aguinaldo is practically accused
OF causing the assassination OF the bril-
liant Filipino, General Luna Mabini is
one Of the most respected men in the Phil
ippines In his history he says that at the
outbreak Of the Philippine insurrection
Senior Aguinsldo desired to retain COM
Snsnd OF the troops. despite his other du-
ties as head Of the Philippine Government,
and withheld full support from General
Luns's effort to preserve discipline in the
Filipino Army.
Luna would have succeeded in impos-
ing and maintaining discipline. despite all
these difficulties" says BIabini. IF Senor
Aguinaldo had supported him with all the
Eower Of his prestige and authority. but
The latter also was beginning to feel
jealousy on noting that the former was.
little by little, coming TO the fore By rea-
son Of hts vslor, dash and military knowl-
edge. All those disgTlmued at the con-
duct Of Luna made him believe that he
was conspiring 10 wrest from him the
supreme authority.
TIME FOR GUERILLA SYSTEM.
AFTER the taking Of the Calumplt bridge
by the American forces, due principally
70 the scarcity Of ammunition. Luna came
-. 81 - to haur hae I
would aid him IN convincing Aguinsldo
that the time had arrived to adopt the
guerilla system promised to do what
II could not keep my promise, for did
not see Senior AguinRldo again after the
conference for some time. and the very
occasion that he came TO consult me on the
advfsability or unadvisability OF change
in the Cabinet. Unable TO overcome the
dictates OF oelicacy even under those cir
cumstances, answered afirmatively, and
after having turned over my office to my
successor, the very eminent Senior Pedro
q. Paterno, At the beginning Of May, 1899,
] retired to the pueblo Of Rosalas. near
ssome weeks later Senior Aguinaldo tele-
graphed 10 Luna requesting him to meet
him at Cabanatuan for a Conference, but
when the latter reached this pueblo he did
net md the former at his residence and
was treacherOusly assassinated, by the
soldiers on guard there Colonel Francisco
Roman, who accompanied him. died with
him While Luna was being murdered
Senor Agutnaldo was at Tariac assuming
command OF the forces the deceased had
Prior to his death Luna had his head
quarters in Bayambeng and had been in
Benguet to investigate whether the place
would furnish good defensive conditions IN
the event OF a retreat. More, still. he had
already begun to send there the heavier
pieces OF necessary ordnance. Neverthe-
less Senor Aguinaldo established himself
and his Government In Tsriac and amused
Il 4r-HG
a neglect which General Otis took advan-
Dage OF by landing troops at San Fabian,
while the cavalry, making detour by
San Jose and Umigan, took San Quintin
and Tayug, thus cutting OF Aguinaldo's
lines of retreat and administering NOR
tai blow 20 the revolution
GENERAL LUNAS AMBITION.
81 cannot believe, even now, that Luna
worked to wrest from senor Aguinaldo
the high position he occupied. but # is
certain that he did aspire to become the
head OF the Cabinet in place Of Senior
Paterno, with whom he die not agree. as
the autonomous programme Of the latter
was an infraction o. the fundamental law
OF the State and, as such. constituted a
punishable ofiense. This is shown by an
announcement which the newspaper, La
1ndependencias inspired by Luna, pub
lished q few days before his death in
which It was said that the Paterno-Buen-
camino Cabinet was to be replaced by an
other, Of which Luna was the head and
Secretary OF War at the same time.
when, a few days later, he received
the telegram from Senior Aguinaldo sum
nontng him 20 Cabanatuan Luna may
have thought perhaps that the purpose OF
the conference was the new Cabinet. He
had not thought that they were seeking to
murder him at the very critical moment
when the revolution most needed his
strong and intelligent arm. He could not
believe that lawful and proper ambition
would inspire fear in Senior Agu,r aldo,
who had made him General in Chief of
the Filipino Army.
The personal enemies Of Luna, through
sIillfu intugues, exploited tbs veal ness
TO the latters ruin. To say that the revo-
fston would have triumphed had Senor
Agmnaldo. instead OF allowing Luna to be
killed, supported him with all bis might
would be too presumptuous; but 1 enter
tain not the slightest doubt that the
Americans would have had a higher opIn-
ton Of the velor and military capacity Of
the F1lipinos.
Luna living, am sure that the mortal
blow struck by General Otis would have
been stayed, or at least. averted in time
and the incompetency Of Senior Asuinaldo
Ior military command would not have
Besides. Senior Aguinaldo. in order TO
nc himself OF Luna, utilized the very SOL
diers the latter had punished for breaches
OF dlscipline; Senor Aguinaldo, therefore.
killed discipline by destroying his own
army. Luna fallen. his strongest support.
--the revoludon-fell, and the ignominy Of
the fan, resting entirely upon senior
Aguinaldo. IN turn cost the moral death
OF the latter, thousand times more hitter
than physical death.
AGuTNALDO RUINED HIMSELF.
''Senor Ag1inaldo. then. ruined himself.
condemned by his own acts. Thus does
Providence punish the great.
''To epitomize: The revolution failed be-