The development of Philippine politics

190 THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE POLITICS

that direction." Mabini, however, evidently thought that
the conservatives would not win. Perhaps he still relied
on the confidence that Aguinaldo had in him. In the same
letter he added: "It is not improbable, though, that they
may abandon the field to me, in which case I cannot give
my assurance that I will be able to carry the weight of the
work on my shoulders to the satisfaction of everybody."
Fall of Mabini Cabinet
Great must have been Mabini's surprise when he found
out that Aguinaldo was rather inclining towards the Paterno-Buencamino plan arid that the majority of the members
of the Congress were also against him. In the letter dated
May 3rd, (1) the members of the Mabini cabinet told the
President that whenever he was convinced "that other persons are better qualified to secure the realization of the happiness of the country," Aguinaldo could form a new cabinet.
On May 6th the few remaining members of the Malolos
Congress met, decided upon a policy of conciliation with
the United States and passed a resolution setting the President at liberty to appoint a new cabinet. In the words of
one of the members, "it was unanimously resolved to enter
into an understanding with General Otis, upon the basis
of the proclamation of autonomy offered by the Schurman
Commission. A copy of this resolution was delivered to
President Aguinaldo by the Secretary of the Interior and
the writer; in the said resolution there was contained, moreover, a request for the substitution of the Mabini cabinet
by one which should inspire in the American Government
absolute confidence in the securing of a peaceful arrangement. Aguinaldo, having expressed his agreement, immediately set out on the same day for Kabanatuan, where
Mabini was, to inform him of the resolution of Congress." (2)
Thereupon, on May 7th, Aguinaldo notified the Mabini
Cabinet as follows:
(1) Taylor V'ol. IV, Exh. 650. See also Documentos Constitucionales sobre Filipinas,
Vol. 2. Doc. No. 44.
(2) Letter of Dr. Jose Albert printed in LeRoy op cit., Vol. II, pp. 89, 90. According to LeRoy only 15 or 16 members- were present at San Isidro at that
time. Ibid, p. 89, footnote.