The laws of the first Philippine Republic (the laws of Malolos) 1898-1899. / Compiled & edited by Sulpicio Guevara.

AGONCILLO'S MEMORIAL TO U.S. SENATE

237

injuries inflicted thereupon, redounding thereafter, with added force,
against the well-being of America.
In presenting the considerations 1 desire now to submit, it seems
necessary for me first to refer to the historical fact that a large number
of my countrymen have never been subdued by Spanish power, and as
against their liberties, the oppressive arm of Spain has never been able
to sustain itself; that the remainder of the inhabitants, because of their
adhesion to the cause of liberty, have been in almost constant insurrection
against the Government of Spain, these conflicts existing continuously
with greater or less fury for the past hundred years.
The impression has been created in America that at the time of the
declaration of war between America and Spain, the Philippine Revolution no longer existed. Upon this point, I may not appeal to the authority of my countrymen for contradiction but prefer to invite your attention to a letter written by Mr. Williams, U.S. Consul General at Manila,
under date of March 19, 1898:
"Rebellion never more threatening to Spain. Rebels getting
arms, money and friends and they outnumber the Spaniards,
resident and soldiery, probably a hundred to one."
Again on March 21, 1898, he wrote referring to the then condition
of the conflict:
"British shipmaster there (at Cape Borneo) at the time
reports about forty killed and forty wounded. After surrender,
the Spanish put the dead and wounded together in a house
and by burning cremated all."
Under the same date, he writes of the desertion of an entire regiment
of the Spanish forces to the insurgents, saying further:
"Now five thousand armed rebels, which for days have been
in camp near Manila and have been reinforced from the mountains, plan to attack the city tonight. All is excitement and life
uncertain."
On April 28, 1898, Mr. Pratt wrote a letter to Mr. Day, in which he
speaks of "learning from General Aguinaldo the state and object sought
to be obtained by the present insurrectionary government, which, though
absent from the Philippines, he was still directing."
Without additional authority, it must be evident to your Honorable
Body that an extensive revolution existed in the Philippine Islands at the
time of the declaration of war by America against Spain.
This revolutionary movement found at its head, General Aguinaldo,
now President of the Philippine Government, of whom Mr. Pratt wrote
to Mr. Day: