The development of Philippine politics

218 THE DEVELOPMENT OF PHILIPPINE POLITICS

retary of Foreign Relations, sent a memorandum to the
Congress of the United States setting forth the reasons why
the Filipinos aspired for independence. (1) On August 23,
the Congress elected Mabini President of the Supreme
Court and Gracio Gonzaga Attorney General. Mabini, it
may be remembered, was head of the cabinet up to May 9,
1899.
On August 31, 1899, Aguinaldo issued another manifesto in which he said:
"I make it known to the civilized world that the people
and army of the Filipinos do not forget the understanding
of alliance. and friendship which I contracted in their name
with the representative of the United States who came
here, Admiral Dewey, through the auspices of the American
consuls at Hongkong and Singapore."
Again another attempt for peace was made, and General Aguinaldo instructed a commissioner, General Alejandrino, to convey to General Otis the following message:
"General Aguinaldo invites you to accept the beautiful mission of pacifying in this war by securing from the government in Washington a generous and spontaneous declaration of our independence as was recently done with regard
to Cuba according to telegrams published in the newspapers
here, especially the 'Manila Times'." But General Otis
would never accept a conference on the basis of the recognition of the Philippine government. He would accept representatives to talk peace but they must be known to be
representatives of General Aguinaldo and not of President
Aguinaldo as head of the republic.
Period of Guerrilla Warfare
In November it was decided to discontinue open warfare and begin guerrilla methods, in view of the a'pparent
superiority of American arms. The Philippine Islands
were divided under separate military commanders. At the
meeting held at Bayambang, Pangasinan, on November 12,
1899, it was decided to give every military commander "full
(1) For text of this memorandum in Spanish see Dommnentos Com-tituviorala Sobr
Plyiias Vol II, Dee. no. 48.