Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1942-03-07
AguinaIdo's
Past Reveals
Oppor+unis+
Backs Report That Rebel
Seeks QuisIjoq Role "
BY DAMON RUNYON

bieS occupying Manila. 1t is said
he desires sort Of QuiSling role.
The story may be an injustice TO
the now elderly eX-reFolHtioniSt
who once led our soldiers
merry chase. yet his history In
dicatcS that there used 10 be
something of the opportunist IN
HIM.
Aguinaldo as a young fellow
was a night neat looking little
figure in his cotton uniform and
polished boots. He generally car
ried a riding crop in his hands.
His mount was small native
pony.
He was a Mcztizo, like Jose
Rial. half Chinese and half
TaCaloG He did not have Rlzal's
spiritual fire nor Rizal's place IN
the hearts of the pople. but he
did have considerable appeal TO
their Imagination as a political
and military leader.
He probably had a certain
amount Of military acumen
though he might have been bet
ter off had he trusted his-gcrr--
erals more. One of them was
Antonio Luna. a brilliant chap
and well trained militarily. but
Aguinaldo was jealous of Luna
and did not like him, and he
did not like Aguinaldo.
Another bore the euphonious
name of Pinar del Pillar which
figured in a marching song of
the F'ilipinos. Luna was mysteri-
ouSly murdered while command
ing Aguinaldos troops in the
field against the Americans.
4 GUINALDO was born near
"A Cavlte on Luzon and was
educated AT the University of St.
Thomas in Manila, now said 10
be one of the internment camps
for Americans under the Japa-
neSe occupation. He was mayor
at p of Cavite Viejo in 1896
when an instruction against the
Spaniards broke out and he
joined in and began his rise to
fame. displaying qualities of ini-
tiative and leadership in the
early stages of the fight.
That revolution was sup
pressed by the SpaniardS but
broke out again on the eXecu-
ton Of Jose Rial after a farci-
cal trial and was spreading
throughout Luzon when the
Spaniards entered into a peace
deal with Aguinaldo. He went
10 Hongkong and it is said he
was to rem a n there per-
manently in exile while the
Spanlards paid him nice chunk
of dough.
He popped up on Luzon again
Immediately after the battle of
Manila and the Americans per-
mitted him to form a provisional
native government.
Naturally he became the boss
OF that government. He rounded
up an army and for a time had
his headquarters in Manila and
his men mingled freely with the
American soldiers but il was not
long before Emilio got sore at
the American government and
withdrew his troops from the
city.
TN1E Filipinos had declared
l. their Independence of Spain
on June -, 1898, and they now
set up Malolos. north Of Manila.
as their capital and proclaimed
provisional republic, with
Aguinaldo as president.
On September Is. A rev
dictionary assembly met and
presently ratified Filipino indie
pendence and soon the same
thing was being done in other
provinces.
Aguinaldo's chief adviser at
that time was Apolinario Mabini,
who had been associated with
Rial, Marcelo Del Pillar. Lopez
Jaena and other fighters for
freedom.
The Filipino soldiers and the
American regulars and volun-
teers of the Sth Army Corps
were facing each other for
weeks around Manila and on
the night of Feb. 4. 1899 the
inevitable explosion took place.
BY corning the Filipinos
were being routed all along the
line, though they fought back
bravely. Aguinaldo issued a
proclamation of war against the
United States.
On March | the Americans
captured MaloloS and the Fill
plno government fled northward.
CEN. r F. RICK FUN
~ STON. who had gone 10 the
Philippines in command Of the
Twentieth Kansas. finally cap
tured AGuinaldo at Palawan on
Luzon in March. 1901. Even
that capture is said 10 have pos
seSSed the elements Of a deal
on Aguinaldo's part. He took
the oath of allegiance 10 the
United States a month later.
His capture practically ended
the instruction, though Miguel
Malavr another Filipino gen.
eral. held out in Samar until the
spring OF 1902
ACuinaldo seems 10 have lived