March 11, 1899.]
oover what it is which (as it were) stops the way. The best government for them is the one which tends most to give them that for want of which they cannot advance, or advance only in a lame and lop-sided way."
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CHINA OVERLAND TRADE REPORT.
If
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207
"President McKinley has at length decided to take official recognition of General Gomes. Mr. Robert Porter will accordingly invite the Cuban leader to a conference at Havans, and there seek to persuade him to accept three mil- lion dollars as the first instalment of the Cuban army's pay; and on condition of its disbandment. It is expected that General Gomez will decline this proposal, on the ground that the Cuban Assembly is entitled to have all the pay, which it puts at sixty million dollars, handed over, before the men disarm. The Government admits some un- easiness ou confirmation of the report that a great quantity of ammunition, and over two thousand rifles, have been found concealed near Santiago de Cuba and Holguin, The Cuban guards in charge of these arms at first resisted their seizure. After yielding, they threatened vengeance on the Americans. The entire ess- tern part of the island is now said to be in a state of simmering revolt against American control."
properly challenging the advancing party, which tary to Mr. F. Agoncillo, the special envoy of paid no attention to him, fired, killing the the Filipino National Government. Agoncillo Lieutenant and a private. The Insurgents re turned the fire and retreated. These were the sending such a document in to the Department was given to understand that the mere act of first shots, and then for a time the firing ceased. Is the United States Executive able to dis
was impudence and that it could be neither con- The battle really began when Ser-sidered nor answered. The covering letter "tinguish what are the immediate impediments geant Oran A. Curtis ordered his men to fire explained that on the 6th January Agoncillo to progress in the Philippines? Surely not, upon a large body of Insurgents who were at- asked for an audience to present his oredentials otherwise there would be no need of a Com tempting to cross the river opposite his post. as envoy from the Philippine Republic to the mission sitting in Manila, which, we are told, is Volley after volley was fired in quick succession, President of the United States, and expressed to sot as an Advisory Board to President Mo- which sent them sorambling back to their forti- regret that up to the 11th January he had re- Kinley. Well, then, seeing that the U.S. Ex-fications." Freedom (Manila) makes the same ceived no answer. He was told that his com- ecutive in May last knew even less than it does statement. Owing to the collision on 4th Feb. munications could not be considered or even now about the prevailing conditions in the ruary and the inability of the Filipinos to get auswered. It is remarkable that not only did Philippines was it not wise policy on the part their side of the affair promptly before the the United States Executive studiously avoid of Admiral Dewey, Consul General Pratt of American people it is not improbable the recognizing both the Cuban and Filipino Singapore, and others to promise Aguinaldo U.S. Government was able to self-government and allow him to issue, without majority by which the Treaty, with the of papers received by the English mail yester- get the leaders until quite recently, but I find from files protest, a Declaration of Independence and obnoxions Philippines purchase clause, was day that "liberated" Cuba resents American form a National Republican Government-go. carried through the Senate. I shall have interference with its domestic affairs just as vernment of the people, by the people, for the more to say about this when I receive much as the Filipinos. That, at least, is what people? I contend that it was wise policy. It reports from the States at an early date. I infer from the New York special correspon- was a policy that made for peace. The arrange. That poiut, however, is a matter quite foreign dence published in The Scotsman on 2nd Fe ment with Aquinaldo was wholly in keeping to the main issue and I have no desire to waste bruary. It reads as follows:----- with the declaration made by President Mo- valuable time in discussing it. This is not the Kinley that in going to war with Spain he time for recrimination. What we have to was not guided by any intention of territorial consider is the attitude of the Filipinos, for if expansion, but was only guided by the principles they are bent on a continuanos of the war of humanity, the duty of liberating tyrannized which has so unfortunately commenced there people, and the desire to proclaim the in- is danger of the foreign trade of the country- alienable rights of sovereignty of the count. chiefly British-being greatly interfered with ries released from the yoke of Spain. Aud for two or three years. And worse still: although this was the object in view, and an obnoxious system of Government is forced on these people have all along been willing that the people at the point of the bayonet I think the United States should retain a coaling and it may be taken for granted that the blessings naval station in the islands and establish a of lasting peace will never be observable in the Protectorate, and even to contribute towards the country, and instead of the United States being war expenses, we now find the United States in a position to render as valuable assistance in Government placing itself in a position to forcing open the door of commerce in China, obtain for itself-even at the cost of a bloody, which is now ajar and being gradually shut by desolating war, if necessary-sovereign rights our trade rivals, we shall find our cousins com- and prerogatives for which the trifling sum of plaining of the strain on their finances caused twenty million dollars has been paid to Spain. by a large army of occupation in the Philip. The Philippines would indeed be cheap at the pines, the decline of trade with the islands, and price even if inhabited only by the mach an atter lack of disposition to expend millions, despised negro or the fading red-skins. But it and perhaps sacrifice valuable lives, în securing so happens that irrespective of the enormous for all time a dominant position in the greatest tracts of laud cultivated by the natives and market in the world. I am very glad, though, their enormously valuable house property there to be able to assure you, sir, that the are many foreigners with large commercial Filipinos are as willing to-day as they interests there, to say nothing of the magnifi- ever were to stand by the arrangement cent properties of the Church which may be made with General Aguinaldo before he re- valued, roughly, at forty millions of dollars. turned to Cavité last May, from Hongkong, on To get all this for twenty millions seems in- board the U.S.S. McCulloch The Filipinos credible, and yet that is what Spain accepted. wish for Peace, they desire that there shall be It was just about the market value of the only a fair field and no favour" in their country, spots in the islands (Iloilo and Zamboanga) and they desire that the United States should of which she had possession when the establish, as originally agreed, a protectorate. Treaty was signed in Paris. I cannot help in conclusion I beg to assure you that I am in thinking that there are some ins-and-outs a position to prove that the Agreement with connected with this deal and the apparently General Aguinaldo; made with Admiral Dewey ill-advised policy of the States in endeavouring through Cousal-General Prait, and sanctioned to force on the people a system of government by the U. S. Government, was as follows:- which their accredited representatives strongly
I.-Independence of the Philippines under and, I think, reasonably, object to. It is pos- an American Protectorate to prevent sible that the truth will leak out before long- foreign aggression. magna est veritas et prævalebit. In the mean- II.-The ports of the Philippines to be free time Filipino sympathisers and I declared to the trade and commerce of all nations. myself one in my letter published in the Hong- kong Telegraph on the 13th December and since reproduced in various parts of the world-may. be excused if they bear in mind the President's Message to Congress a year ago last Decem. ber. In that Message he said:-"I speak not of forcible annexation, because that is not to be thought of, and under our code of morality that would be orininal aggression."
When in November last I took up my pen to write on Philippines affairs I said I would not have taken that step had I not the assurance from those in authority that the Filipinos desire Peace. If I had reason for believing that the Filipinos were to blame, that they actually commenced the recent hostilities, I could not have continued to interest myself in their cause, for such action on their part would have been a violation of a clear understanding. I have, however, no reason to suppose that they acted so foolishly--they had everything to lose and absolutely nothing to gain by coming to blows with Americans. We are told under the headline "First Shot of the Fight" in the Manila Times of the 14th February that "on Saturday even- ing (4th) at 9 o'clock an Insurgent Lieutenant advanced with a few men and disregarded the challenge from the sentinel near No. 2, and endeavoured to carry out his usual plan. Pri vate Grayson of D Company, Nebraskas, after
III. Due precautions to prevent influx of
Chinese aliens.
IV.-Complete reformation of present cor- rupt judicature under experienced Europ- ean advisers.
V.-Eatire freedom of the Press, of associa-
tion, and of public meeting. VI-Complete religious toleration. VII-Facilities to be given for developing
Trusting you may see your way to favouring this letter with space in your columns and thank- ing you in anticipation therefor,-I remain, Sir, Yours faithfully.
From
THE HANKOW-CANTON RAILWAY AND ITN EXTENSIONS.
With reference to the proposed Hankow. Canton Railway, the Chinese Director Chang Taotsi, formerly Consul-General at Singapore, has informed his friends that the line will begin at Cantou, pass Fatshan to the city of Samshui on the West River. From this place the trunk line will go across and enter Huuan joining at Hankow the Lu-Han Railway. Samshui again there will be constructed branch lines; namely, one to Kweilin, the capital of Kwangsi province, which will be called the Western branch line; while from Canton there will be au Eastern branch line connecting that city with Huichou, thence to Swatow and northward into Fukien province. The Viceroy T'an has already detailed one Battalion of 500 men of the Chien Regiment to act as a guard to the workers on the new railway, which it is intended to begin early in May next.-N. C. Daily News,
ACCIDENT TO THE M, M. STEAMER
"SYDNEY."
bath con-
the natural resources of the islands accom. panied, with the removal of hindrances to the development of industries.
Shanghai, 2nd March. VIII. The opening up of the whole country On the first of the flood, one o'clock yester
by means of wide roads and railways. day afternoon, the French mail steamer Sydney IX-All Spanish officials to be removed to carried away her buoy shackle whilst swinging some place of safety pending repatriation in the upper reach. The starboard anchor was to Spain.
immediately let go, but the wind that was X.-Expulsion of the religions corporations, blowing across the reach carried her over to-
This has special reference to the Friars.] wards the Poolung shore.
tautening XL-General Aguinaldo to guarantee to of the cable the vessel swang
preserve law and order and prevent repri-siderable force and fouled the P. & 0.'s tender sals against defenceless Spaniards.
Gutzlaff, which was at her buoy the stem of Enclosed herewith I have the pleasure to the tender smashing in two of the steamer's hand you a copy of the official protest of the plates and denting a third just abaft the Filipino Government against the purchase after gangway on the port side. The heel of clause in the Treaty of Peace; also a copy of a the mail steamer then touched the bank and Memorandum bearing on the right of the she swung round head up river dragging her Philippine Republic to recognition which was anchor home. Assistance was immediately sum lodged with the State Department, Washing moned and Mr. W Carlson, Assistant Har ton, in January by Mr. Lopes, private secre- bour Master, accompanied by Mr. 1. A. T
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