or to exclude the trusting Porto Ricans from even the semblance of American citizenship. We are told that this government is under no pledge or promise to set up the republican form in these islands, or to admit the West Indians to American citizenship. The assertion is false. Even if there were no such express promise-but there is the traditions of this government, the spirit of its institutions, is a standing pledge to all humanity that in every struggle of the oppressed, every revolt against tyranny we, as Americans, shall be on the side of the people, not of the tyrant. On this subject, who so eloquent as John Hay in the days before he became inoculated with the poison of imperialism, while he was not yet a diplomat, but still a poet and a friend of the people? Here are his words: "For all in vain will timorous ones assay To set the metes and bounds of Liberty. It makes its own conditions and in storm For always in thine eyes, O Liberty! Shines that high light whereby the world is saved; CHAPTER V. A RECORD OF INFAMY It is interesting to place side by side the words now employed by President McKinley and his apologists in justification of his Philippine policy, with the famous words of King George III, of England, in his proclamation of 1776. "That Congress will provide for them (the Filipinos) a government which will bring them blessings, which will promote their material interests, as well as advance their people in the paths of civilization and intelligence, I confidently believe," said Mr. McKinley in a speech at Minneapolis, Oct. 12, 1899. "I am desirous," wrote the English monarch, "of restoring to them (American colonists) the blessings of law, which they have fatally and desperately exchanged for the calamities of war, and the arbitrary tyranny of their chiefs." Contrast also the President's pious (or impious) assumption of divine guidance in his imperialistic policy, with the records of the War Department at the beginning of the war. "The Philippines," said Major McKinley in a speech at Boston, Feb. 16, 1899, "like Cuba and Porto Rico, were entrusted to our hands by the Providence of God." And again at Redfield, S. D., Oct. 14, 1899, "In the providence of God, who works in mysterious ways, this great archipelago was put into our lap." But here are the instructions sent to Admiral (then Rear Admiral) Dewey by Theodore Roosevelt, assistant Secretary of the Navy, Feb. 25, 1898: "Secret and confidential. * Keep full of coal. In the event of declaration of war with Spain, your duty will be to see that the Spanish squadron does not leave the Asiatic coast, and then offensive operations in Philippine Islands." "There is every reason to believe," cabled Dewey from Hong Kong on March 31 following, "that, with Manila taken or even blockaded, the rest of the islands would fall to the insurgents or ourselves." Equally interesting and even more important is the much debated question of our relations to Aguinaldo and his associates at the beginning of the war and the obligations assumed on behalf of this government by our representatives. Here again the official records are conclusive. They show the existence of a clear and friendly understanding which has since been grossly violated under pretext of honorable warfare. following extracts from Sea. Doc. 62 are in point: The "Aguinaldo, insurgent leader, here, will come Hong Kong arrange with Commodore for general co-operation insurgents Manila if desired.” U. S. Consul-General Pratt, Singapore, to Commodore Dewey, Hong Kong, April 24, 1898. Senate Doc. 62, p. 342. "Tell Aguinaldo to come soon as possible." Commodore Dewey to Consul-General Pratt, April 24, 1898. Id. p. 342. "General Aguinaldo gone my instance Hong Kong arrange with Dewey co-operation insurgents Manila." Consul-General Pratt, to Secy. Day, April 27, 1898. Id. p. 341. "Large supply of rifles should be taken for insurgent allies." Consul Wildman, Hong Kong, May 19, 1898, to Secretary Day. Senate Doc. 62, p. 336. "I have given him (Aguinaldo) to understand that I consider the insurgents as friends, being opposed to a common enemy. He has gone to attend a meeting of insurgent leaders for the purpose of forming a civil government. Aguinaldo has acted independently of the squadron, but has kept me advised of his progress, which has been wonderful. I have allowed to pass by water, recruits, arms and ammunition, and to take such Spanish arms and ammunition from the arsenal as he needed. Have advised frequently to conduct the war humanely, which he has done invariably." Rear-Admiral Dewey to Secretary Long, June 27, 1898. Appendix Bureau Navigation Report, p. 103. "General: * 營 I desire to have the most amicable rela tions with you, and to have you and your people co-operate with us in military operations against the Spanish forces." Genl. Thomas M. Anderson to Aguinaldo, July 4, 1898. Senate Doc. 62, p. 390. "General: The bearer, Maj. J. F. Bell, U. S. A., was sent by Maj. Gen. Wesley Merritt, U. S. A., to collect for him, by the time of his arrival, certain information concerning the topography of the country surrounding Manila. I would be obliged if you would permit him to see your maps and place at his disposal any information you may have on the above subjects, and also give him a letter or pass addressed to your subordinates which will authorize them to furnish him any information they can on these subjects, and to facilitate his passage along the lines upon a reconnaissance around Manila." Genl. Thomas M. Anderson to Aguinaldo, July 19, 1898. Senate Doc. 62, p. 393. "I came from Hong Kong to prevent my countrymen from making common cause with the Spanish against the North Americans." Aguinaldo to Gen. Thomas M. Anderson, July 24, 1898. Senate Doc. 62, p. 394. "General: When I came here three weeks ago I requested your excellency to give what assistance you could to procure means of transportation for the American Army, as it was to fight in the cause of your people. So far we have received no response. As you represent your people, I now have the honor to make requisition on you for 500 horses and 50 oxen and ox carts." Gen. Anderson to Aguinaldo, July 23, 1898. Senate Doc. 62, p. 394. "General: Replying to your letter of yesterday, I have the honor to manifest to your excellency that I am surprised beyond measure at that which you say to me in it, lamenting the non-receipt of any response relative to the needs (or aids) that you asked of me in the way of horses, buffaloes, and carts, because I replied in a precise manner, through the bearer, that I was disposed to give convenient orders whenever you advised me the number of these with due anticipation (notice). "I have circulated orders in the provinces in the proximity that in the shortest time possible horses be brought for sale. I have also * * * ordered to be placed at my disposal 50 carts that I shall place at your disposition." Aguinaldo to Gen. Thomas M. Anderson, July 24, 1898. Senate Doc. 62, p. 395. "You ought to understand that without the long siege sustained by my forces you might have obtained possession of the ruins of the city, but never the surrender of the Spanish forces, who could have retired to the interior towns. I do not complain of the disowning of our help in the mentioned capitulation, although justice resents it greatly, and I have to bear the well-founded blame of my people. * * * I hope that this time you will manifest the spirit of justice that pertains to such a free and admirably constituted government as that of the United States of America." Emilio Aguinaldo to Genl. Merritt, August 27, 1898. Report of Genl. In reply to above by Genl. Otis, successor in command to Genl. Merritt, addressed to "The Commanding General of the Philippine Forces," dated September 8, 1898, occur these words: "It only remains for me to respectfully notify you that I am compelled by my instructions to direct that your armed forces evacuate the entire city of Manila, including its suburbs and defenses, and that I shall be obliged to take action within a very short space of time should you decline to comply with my Government's demands (that Aguinaldo surrender positions within suburbs and city of Manila captured by his forces during siege); and I hereby serve notice on you that unless your troops are withdrawn beyond the line of the city's defenses before Thursday, the 15th instant, I shall be obliged to resort to forcible action, and that my government will hold you responsible for any unfortunate consequences which may ensue. I have conferred freely with Admiral Dewey upon the contents of this communication, and am delegated by him to state that he fully approves of the same in all respects; that the commands of our government compel us to act as here indicated, and that between our respective forces there will be unanimity and complete concert of action." Genl. Otis' Report, p. 9. * "Had it not been arranged for General Aguinaldo thus to co-operate with us, it is more than probable that he would have returned to the islands of his own accord and undertaken independent operations, which might, I fear, have caused us serious embarrassment." Consul-General Pratt, Singapore, June 21, 1898, to Assistant Secretary Moore. Senate Doc. 62, p. 356. |