Militarism in the Philippines:

10

and possibly murder.' He also states that he was told (remark well,
he never heard it from the Insurgents themselves) Aguinaldo's men
and subordinate Leaders frequently said they. intended to cut the
throats of all the Spaniards in Manila. I beg to refute such insults
against the very Allies of the American Army, whose Leader,
General Aguinaldo, was received on board the American Flagship
after his conquest of the Province of Cavite with the full Military
honours due to a victorious General who was fighting on behalf of
the Stars and Stripes. No Filipino Leader has ever said that he
intended to cut anyone's throat. If they ever thought of doing so
they could start on fourteen thousand Spanish prisoners, which they
then and now have. As a Filipino Insurgent I appeal to your
honour for the publication of this disclaimer.-Yours, etc.,
"F. MADRIGAL.
VI.
Here is the paragraph published by nearly all the press of
America:"Admiral Dewey has a much higher opinion of the Philippine
people and their capacity for self-government than is generally
supposed. The Filipinos.of the northern group, meaning by that,
first, the people on the Island of Luzon, and, after that, in order,
Cebu, Panay, Leite, Mindoro, and Samar, are, as a rule, intelligent,
practical and!! FAR BETTER QUALIFIED FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT THAN
THE INHABITANTS OF CUBA. I!!
"Admiral Dewey is as familar with the qualifications of the
Cubans in this respect as almost any naval officer, having had
personal experience with the people."
"Admiral Dewey considers it absolutely necessary that a first
class Statesman be sent to Manila to throughly investigate the
situation and to ascertain the aspirationsof the Filipino Republicans.''
(New York Herald, Decenmber 2gtk, I898.)
We must record now, after these angry polemics, the fair action
taken by President McKinley. which is equivalent to a judgment
after hearing both parties and their qualified witnesses.