The development of Philippine politics

DIPLOMACY OF THE RE VOLUTIONARY GOV'T.

229

ident appeared non-committal as to the Philippines. The
impression that he gathered was that there was no intention on the part of the President to recognize the Philippine
Republic, and so he advised Aguinaldo to prepare himself. (1) He was told that the American commissioners in
Paris might hear him as to conditions in the Philippines.
Agoncillo's surmise was correct. There was no hope,
so far as McKinley was concerned, for the recognition of
Philippine independence. By this time the administration
at Washington had decided to retain the Philippines. The
motives back of this decision were mixed, as all motives in
politics are. Sentimental impulses due to Admiral Dewey's
victory and commercial considerations, were in the writer's
opinion strongest at that time. Later on the humanitarian
spirit entered in. (2)
The day after the signing of the protocol, the President
caused a very significant cablegram to be sent by the navy
department to Admiral Dewey. This was indicative of the
fact that the President was beginning to heed the growing
popular demand to secure the Philippines for naval and
commercial purposes. The cable read as follows:(3)
Dewey,
c/o American Consul, Hongkong.
The President desires to receive from you any important
information you may have of the Philippines, the desirability
of the several islands, the character of their population, coal,
and other mineral deposits, their harbor and commercial advantages, and, in a naval and commercial sense, which would
be the most advantageous...
ALLEN, Secretary.
On the same day that the above cablegram was sent
Manila fell into the hands of the American troops. This
event must have stimulated the already growing desire for
the possession of the Philippines. Of the five commis(1) Taylor. Vol. HI. Exh. 620.
(2) See Kalaw. The Case for the Philippines, Chap. II.
(8) Natvy Department Report, 1898, Appendix to the Report of the Chief of the
Bureau of Navigation, pp. 122-128.