The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1904-01-23
CHAT WITH AGUINALDO.
Former Revolutionist Leading a Quiet
Life

With the Rev. James B. Rogers. the
Presbyterian missionary who speaks ex-
cellent Spanish. I went one morning to
have an interview with Emilio Aguin-
aldo, the recognized leader of the in
surgents, or revolutionists, as they pre-
fer to call themselves. IN their fight
against Spanish rule in 1867, and
against American rule in 1S9S-IgO1. l
used the word ''recognized'' advisedIy
after many interviews with Americans,
and SpaniardS and Filipinos The opin-
ion is almost general here that the
real leader of the F'ilipinos during their
years of revolution was Mabini, the
brains of the revolution" who died
last May of the cholera Mabinf was
not a general nor even soldier in the
army, but was Daralytic. and is af-
fectionately termed by the FfliDinos
the sublime paralytic' 1t is admitted
also that two or three other men who
were active on the field, Gen. Luna
among the number, were Aguinaldos
superlors intellectually, and that it was
the recognition of this fact which led
to the assassination of Luna.
Aguinaldo was a school master at
Silan when the revolution of 1896 broke
out. Aguinaldo had recently passed his
August 81, 1896. he issued his first pro-
nunciamento. and became the recog-
nized leader of the rebels. From this
time on he continued the issuance of
manifestoes.
Whether or not 1.-The pope is a pris-
oner in Rome, " it is certain that Aguin-
aldo is not prisoner in Manila. He
lives in Gale Real, Ernita; he sees
friends without restriction, attends re-
eeptions, and goes about the city Mt
pleasure, though it is said that he US
ually rides in a closed carriage.
When Mr.. Rodgers and I called at
his home we were shown into the re-
ception room, and in a few moments
a f.1f oT- n rod
us hearty greeting. Mr.. Rodgers had
been Interpreter for another visitor
some months before, and then the in
terview was SO formal that he was not
anxious to repeat the visit. The change
in Aguinaldos attitude at the time of
our interview was marked. Perhaps
this was due somewhat to the fact
that the two men have boys about
seven years of age, who were school
mates last year in the boys school of
Malate. Mr.. Rodgers explained that
was a "periodiSta" (journalist), and
that put us in our true relation at the
outset. I had expected to find a Fill
ipino; but the man before me was more
Of a Chinaman in his look and in his
bearing than he was representative
of the people for whose recognition by
/ the powers of the world he had vainly
pleaded. His high cheek bones, his
manner of asking questions, his air
of reserve, as well as his color marked
him at once as a rnestizo Zone contain
ing mixed bloods, in this case Chinese
and Fflipino). It is quite significant
that the majority of the leaders of
the revolution were mestizoS. A mem
Der of the Philippine commission said
a few days ago that nearly all of the
ranking families in Manila were more
or less Chinese in their origin. 1t is
true that the Chinese ancestor may
have entered the Philippine family line
a half a dozen generations back; in
every case he left his impress.
After being told that we had visited
the leading provinces OF the archipelago.