May 14, 1898.1
certain reforms being introduced. The prin- cipal of these were :--
1.-The expulsion, or at least secularisation, of the religious orders, and the inhibition of these orders from all official vetos in civil administration.
2.-A general amnesty for all rebels, and guarantees for their personal security and from the vengeance of the Friars and Parish priests after returning to their homes.
3.-Radical reforms to curtail the glaring abuses in public administration.
4.-Freedom of the press to denounce official corruption and blackmailing.
5.-Representation in the Spanish Parlia-
ment.
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
as much as possible about the real coudi. tion of the Philippines. It was a few days after this that Aguinaldo arrived in Singapore, when he at once met his friends, including Mr. Bray.
Affairs now becoming more warlike, Mr. Bray, after coversation with Mr. Spencer Pratt, eventually arranged an interview between that gentleman and General Aguinaldo, which took place late on the evening of Sunday, the 24th April, at "The Mansion," River Valley Road. There were present on that occasion General Emilio Aguinaldo y Fami, Mr. E. Spencer Pratt, Consul-General United States of America, Mr. Howard W. Bray. Aguinaldo's private secretary, Mr. J. Leyba, Colonel M. H. del Pilar, and Dr. Marcelino Santos.
385
have laid such strong hands on every branch of civil administration. Full provision would be given for the exploitation of the natural re- sources and wealth of the country by roads and railways, and by the removal of hindrances to enterprise and investment of capital. Spanish officials would be removed to a place of safety until opportunity offered to return them to Spain. The preservation of public safety and order and the checking of reprisals against Spaniards would naturally have to be a first care of the Government in the new state of things.-Free Press
FOREIGN JOURNALS ON THE SITUATION.
6.-Abolition of the iniquitous system of se.
A FRENCH OPINION. cret.deportation of political suspects, &c., &c. During this conference, at which Mr. Bray
Primo de Rivera agreed to these reforms in acted as interpreter, General Aguinaldo ex- pendance Tonkinoise says:-Roading to-day's Under the heading of Corsairs" the Inde- sum and substance but made it a condition that plained to the American Consul-General, Mr. Havas telegrams it is impossible to believe that the principal rebel leaders must leave the coun- Pratt, the incidents and objects of the late this is the end of the nineteenth century, a try during His Majesty's pleasure. As these rebellion, and described the present disturbed century of light and civilisation. The ancient had lost all their property or had had it confis-state of the country. General Aguinaldo then cated and plundered, the Government agreed to proceeded to detail the nature of the cooperation raise their voice and prevent the commission of nations of Europe must have been weak not to provide them with funds to live in a becoming he could give, in which he, in the event of this act of brigandage by the Yankees. Cover- manner on foreign soil.
the American forces from the squadron landing themselves with a hypocritical mask the iug and taking possession of Manila, would United States undertake a war ostensibly in guarantee to maintain order and discipline | defence of amongst the native troops and inhabitants, in and civilisation. In face of the British, the principles of humanity the same humane way in which he had hitherto Russian, German, and French fleets they conducted the war, and prevent them from committing outrages ou defenceless Spaniards tries to bring Messieurs les Americains to rea- go and seize the Philippines, and no nation beyond the inevitable in fair and honourable
son. It is well to be diplomats, but this may warfare. He further declared his ability to cost us dear if carried too far. The partition establish a proper and responsible government of China is coveted by four nations. The dis- on liberal principles, and would be willing to memberment is all traced out on paper, and accept the same terms for the country as the this is the motive of our statu quo at this United States intend giving to Cuba.
moment. We are in the wrong. When the Americans have taken Manila' they will want their share of the Celestial Empire cake, and as appetite comes by eating we may find we have messmates a little two greedy. The Am- seize within a short time all the colonies of the ericans are too practical a people not to try to Antilles; and they would be right, since no nation tries to stop their acts of piracy.
The rebels laid down their arms, and peace was apparently secured, but no sooner had they done so, and returned to their houses, than the intransigeant religious orders commenced at once to again prosecute them and trump up imaginary charges to procure their re-arrest. The Spanish Government on its side, imagin. ing itself secure, desisted from carrying out the promised reforms, thinking another trick like that played on the Cubans after the peace of Zanjon, arranged by Martinez Campos, might succeed. The Philipinos, however, with this business before them, refused to be made dupes of, and have taken up arms again, not alone in the immediate districts round Manila but throughout the Archipelago, which merely awaits the signal from General Aguinaldo to rise en masse, no doubt carrying with them the native troops hitberto loyal, and for which loyal service they have received no thanks but only ingratitude.
1.
General Emilio Aguinaldo, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Colonel Marcelo H. del Pilar, and his private secretary, Mr. J. Leybu, arrived incognito in Singapore from Saigon on the 21st April, 1898. In Saigon, where Aguinaldo had remained for one week, he had interviews with one or two old Philippino friends now resident there. The special pur. pose of Aguinaldo's visit to Singapore was to consult other friends here, particularly Mr. Howard W. Bray, an old and intimate English friend for fifteen years resident in the Philippines, about the state of affairs in the Islands generally. Par- ticularly as to the possibility of war between the United States and Spain, and whether in such an event the United States would eventually recognise the independence of the Philippines, provided he lent his co-opera. tion to the Americans in the conquest of the country. The sitnation of the moment was this, that the conditions of the honourable peace concluded on the 14th December, 1897, between President Aguinaldo, on behalf of the Philip. pine rebels, and H.E. Governor-General Primo de Rivera, on behalf of Spain, had not been carried out, although their immediate execu- tion had been vonched for in that agreement. These reforms would have provided protec- tion to the people against the organised oppression and rapacity of the religious fraternities, would have secured improved civil and criminal procedure in courts, and have guaranteed in many ways improvements in the iscal and social conditions of the people. The repudiation by the Spanish Government of these conditions, made by General Primo di Rivera, now left the rebel leaders, who had for the most part gone to Hongkong, free to act. And it was in pursuance of that freedom of action that Aguinaldo again sought counsel of his friends in Saigon and Singapore, with a view to the immediate resumption of operations in the Philippines.
Meantime Mr. Bray, whose assistance to this journal on matters connected with the Philip pines has been very considerable, as our readers will have seen, was introduced by the Editor of the Singapore Free Press to Mr. Spencer Pratt, Consul-General of the United States, who was anxious, in view of contingences, to learn
The Consul-General of the United States, coinciding with the general views expressed during the discussion, placed himself at once in telegraphic communication with Admiral Dewey at Hongkong, between whom and Mr. Pratt a frequent interchange of telegrams consequently took place.
As a result another private interview was arranged at the American Consular residence at the Raffles Hotel between General Aguinaldo, Mr. Spencer Pratt, Mr. Howard Bray, and Mr. Leyba, private secretary to General Aguinaldo. As a sequel to this interview, and in response to the urgent request of Admiral Dewey, General Aguinaldo left Singapore for Hong. kong by the first available steamer, the P. & Ö. Malacca, on Tuesday, the 26th April, at noon, accompanied by his aide-de-camp, Capt. del Pilar, and Mr. Leyba, his private secretary.
The only interview or conversation with any strangers that General Aguinaldo had during his stay in Singapore other than the above in terviews, was during a visit paid by General Aguinaldo to Mr. W. G. St. Clair, Editor of the Singapore Free Press, at the office of this journal. On that occasion General Aguinaldo was accompanied by Mr. Bray and Mr. Leyba.
Throughout the whole stay of General Auginaldo in Singapore the Editor was kept fully informed daily of the progress of affairs. Naturally, however, all statement of what oc- curred has been withheld by us until what has been deemed the fitting moment has arrived.
The substance of the whole incident in its relations to the recent course of affairs in the Philippines has been very fully telegraphed by the Editor both to New York and London.
The influence of the incident on the future of the Philippines may prove to be of a far- reaching historical character.
AGUINALDO'S PULICY, General Aguinaldo's policy embraces the independence of the Philippines, whose in- ternal affairs would be controlled under European and American advisers. Ameri- can protection would be desirable tempora- rily, on the same lines as that which might be instituted hereafter in Cuba. The ports of the Philippines would be free to the trade of the world, safeguards being enacted against an influx of Chinese aliens who would compete with the industrious population of the country. There would be a complete reform of the pre- sent corrupt judicature of the country under experienced European law officers. Entire freedom of the press would be established as well as the right of public meeting. There would be general religious tolerations, and steps would be taken for the abolition and expulsion of the tyrannical religions fraternities who
costs to hare colonies directed by an army of Poor Spain! She is learning now what it functionaries and by a retrograde administra- tion. For not having allowed the colonies to administer themselves she is going to lose Cuba and Manila, which ought to serve us for a lesson. Let France note well that a similar fate is in store for her overses possessions if she follows the system hitherto in force.
Let us make an appeal to Europe that, at last aroused to indignation, she will not allow America to continue a war waged in violation of the principles of the most simple equity. Was not the principle of our alliance with Russia the maintenance of peace? Why notintervene ? This famous alliance, is its only result to be the absorption of milliards of Russian titles by French capitalists? We hope not, and-we
wait.
A PORTUGUESE OPINION. account of the plague, of the approaching In an article discussing the modification, on
dependente advances as an additional reason for Vasco da Gama festivities, the Macao In-
as.
modification the war America, in the following terms:-Nor can between Spain and
two we forget that at this moment, scarcely
steps from
us, 4 sister nation, whose shores are washed by the same 588 ours, whose land is traversed by the same rivers, and whose history is intimately associated with ours-Spain-is in the throes of a desperate struggle with a powerful nation that has long been perfidiously planning her ruin and has not hesitated to commit the greatest outrage on justice and right that the present age has seen. This war, which excites the attention of the whole world, would cause to pass absolutely unnoticed whatever festivities we might conduct as a sign of the vitality of the Portuguese nation before the people that sur- round us. This reason cannot be regarded with indifference by the Executive Committee.
A Northern contemporary reports that the price of beancakes has increased so at New- chwang that junks are leaving for the south empty, a state of affairs which has not been witnessed for years, The reason is that large quantities of the beancake have been purchased for Japan, which has consequently made the supply scarce and prices high.