The appeal of Emilio Aguinaldo, who signs himself President of the Philippine republic, addressed "to the civilized nations, and especially to the great North American republic," gives his version of the causes of the Philippine conflict. He entitles his manifesto "An Authentic Review of the Philippine Revolution." The appeal, written in Spanish, was sent to this country and fell into the hands of Mr. Erving Winslow, of Boston, Eastern secretary of the American Anti-Imperialist League. Mr. Winslow, who says that it came into his hands accidentally, sent a translation of it to the Springfield Republican, which published it the morning of January 25. The Republican, which is one of the leading anti-imperialist journals, says of Aguinaldo's review:

"Aguinaldo's statement must go out for what it is worth. That his is a partizan relation goes without saying. There is bitterness in it, of course, for this could not be otherwise under the circumstances; the statement of facts will be open to dispute at many points; people opposed in an armed contest never see alike; but the value of this Filipino presentation is twofold. It offers an opportunity for sizing up the man whose leadership his people have invited and welcomed, and to which they adhere under extraordinary stressful circumstances with dogged loyalty, and it presents the other side....

"Undoubtedly there are inaccuracies in this narrative by the Filipino leader, while the discrepancies with the testimony of American officials are often sharp and irreconcilable. He writes with a national bias, just as General Otis or Professor Worcester writes with a bias equally strong. It will be the task of the impartial historian to discover, if possible, the actual truth as between the conflicting witnesses."

As Aguinaldo's review repeatedly avers that Admiral Dewey promised the Filipinos independence, The Republican sent a set of proof-sheets to the admiral, asking for such comment as he might care to make. Response was received through his private secretary as follows:

"The admiral, after examining this article, adheres to his determination not to talk of the matter, at least until after the report of the commission is made public."

Aguinaldo's statement, in a few words, is that he was induced to cooperate with the American troops against the Spanish by definite and repeated oral promises from Admiral Dewey and others, guaranteeing Philippine independence; but that after Manila was taken by the combined forces, it became evident that American control of the islands was contemplated, an impression soon confirmed by President McKinley's proclamation issued January 4, 1898. Aguinaldo protested, "threatening also to open hostilities at once," but, reassured by General Otis, he did not do so. The American forces, however, he says, unexpectedly attacked the Filipinos the night of February 4, 1899, when most of the Filipino officers were away on furlough. The war has continued from that time to the present, General Otis refusing all requests for an armistice. The Filipinos are determined, says Aguinaldo, to defend their country's liberty "to the death," and he appeals to the American people to recognize the justice of their cause.

The first promise of Philippine independence, says Aguinaldo, was made to him in Singapore, where he was in hiding. When Consul Pratt asked him to renew the rebellion against Spain, Aguinaldo asked "what advantages the United States would concede to the Filipinos?" The consul said he would cable Commodore Dewey, and, continues Aguinaldo --

"in the morning the conference was renewed, Consul Pratt stating that Admiral Dewey had answered with regard to my wishes, that the United States would at least recognize the independence of the Philippine Islands, under a naval protectorate, and that there would be no necessity for putting down this agreement in writing, as the word of the admiral and the American consul was sacred and would be kept, being not at all like that of the Spaniards, adding finally that the North American Government was very honorable, very just, and very powerful."

When they parted, a few days later, the consul "suggested to me that I should name him as representative of the Philippines in the United States in order to obtain promptly the official recognition of our independence," and Aguinaldo promised to do so. Reaching Manila on the McCulloch, May 19, 1898, Admiral Dewey sent his launch for him at once. Aguinaldo continues:

"The admiral received me in his saloon, and after the first exchange of courtesies, I asked him whether all the telegrams which he had sent to Mr. Pratt, the consul at Singapore, in regard to me were authentic; he answered me in the affirmative, and added that the United States had come to the Philippines to protect the natives and to liberate them from the yoke of Spain. He said, besides, that America was rich in land and money, and had no need of colonies, finally assuring me that there would not be any doubt with regard to the recognition of the Philippine independence on the part of the United States."

Aguinaldo says that he mentioned to Admiral Dewey the fear felt by some of the Filipino leaders that the United States might turn upon the Filipinos after the war with Spain was over, and deprive them of their independence; but the admiral reassured him with new promises of independence and encouraged him to devise a Filipino flag, which he did, flying it over towns taken by the native troops and over Filipino boats in the bay. When the independence of the Philippines was proclaimed by the dictatorial government on June 12, 1898, in the town of Kawit, however, "the admiral, through his secretary, excused himself from being present, alleging that this was his mail-day." During an interview in July, however, Aguinaldo says that Admiral Dewey said to him:

"Trust to my word, which I pledge, that the United States will recognize the independence of this country. But I recommend that you maintain the greatest reserve with regard to all that we have said and agreed upon."

Manila was captured on August 13, the Filipinos attacking at the same time as the American troops, altho Aguinaldo does not say that they were ordered or asked to cooperate, or were even notified of the time of the attack. General Merritt asked Aguinaldo to order his troops not to enter Manila, a request which Aguinaldo refused, because the native troops had been fighting severely for months for the very purpose of entering Manila. When General Merritt insisted, however, Aguinaldo gradually withdrew his forces to the edge of the city. "Until then," he says, "and even until the day on which the Americans openly started hostilities toward our people, I had cherished in my soul the most well-founded hopes that the American generals would maintain in behalf of their Government the agreements made verbally with the chief of the Philippine revolution, notwithstanding the symptoms to the contrary."

"These hopes, however," he says, "vanished entirely" on learning that Mr. McKinley, "at the instigation of the imperialistic party, had decided to annex the Philippines." This news, says Aguinaldo, "struck like a lightning bolt into the camp of the revolution. Some cursed the hour and the day on which we had verbally negotiated with the Americans; others censured us for having given up the suburbs." The majority wanted to send an ultimatum to General Otis, but Aguinaldo restrained them. Aguinaldo still believed that the promised independence would be given them. He says:

"I was also confirmed in this opinion by the circumstance, not less evident and notorious, that the other American generals who arrived after the glorious victories of the admiral, Generals Merritt, Anderson, and Otis, proclaimed to the Philippine people that 'America had not come to conquer new territories, but to liberate their inhabitants from the oppression of Spanish rule.'"

"Joy and satisfaction returned again to the hearts of all the Philippine revolutionists" when they heard the glad tidings that the United States Government had decided to send a civil commission to treat with the Filipinos in regard to the government of the islands; but meanwhile "the abuses of the Americans became in many cases unbearable." Aguinaldo says: "I could fill a whole book if I continued to relate one by one all the abuses and brutalities committed by the American soldiers in these days of general anxiety." These abuses, he thinks, were "ordered, or at least officially tolerated, with the evident intention of provoking a fight" before the commission arrived, so that they would see the country in a state of war and think the imperialistic policy necessary. Aguinaldo says that the Filipinos "would have come to a friendly understanding and settlement with the said commission, if the same on arriving had found the country at peace." He continues:

"We Filipinos would have received this commission with proofs of true friendship and complete adherence as honored agents of great America. The commission would have traveled through all our provinces, seeing and observing directly the order and tranquillity throughout our territory. They would have seen the fields plowed and sown; they would have examined our constitution and public administration quite at their ease."

But on the 4th of January, 1899, a proclamation was issued, "establishing in the name of the President, Mr. McKinley, the sovereignty of America in these islands, threatening ruin, death, and desolation to all who failed to recognize it." Then, he says:

"I, Emilio Aguinaldo, humble servitor of all, but President of the Philippine Republic, charged as such to watch over the liberty and the independence of the people which has elected me to that high but thorny position, mistrusted for the first time the honor of the Americans; comprehending at once that this proclamation of General Otis had passed the boundary of all prudence, and that there was no other remedy than to repel by force of arms such an unjust as well as unlooked-for proceeding from the chief of a friendly army.

"I protested against that proclamation, threatening also to open hostilities at once, as the whole nation was crying 'Treason.'"

Now General Otis resorted to conciliatory measures. He appointed a commission to confer with the Filipinos, heard what they had to say about the abuses and about independence, and promised to inform the Government at Washington of their desires. At this the expectations of the Filipinos ran high again, "the majority giving themselves up to the most flattering hopes." Most of the Filipino generals went home on furlough. Then, says Aguinaldo, "came the fatal day of the 4th of February, on the night of which the American troops suddenly attacked all our lines, which were practically abandoned."

The anti-imperialist press have long asserted that at this point Aguinaldo sent a message to General Otis saying that the hostilities were not begun by the Filipinos, and asking for an armistice that the misunderstanding might be settled peaceably; but General Otis, the story goes, replied that as the fighting had now begun, it must go on to the bitter end. Aguinaldo, in this review, makes no mention of this alleged incident. He does say, however, that while our civil commission was in the Philippines, he asked General Otis three times for a suspension of hostilities so that he might confer with them, but General Otis replied "that he would not suspend the hostilities as long as the Philippine army would not lay down their arms." Aguinaldo makes no mention of having received assistance, directly or indirectly, from the anti-imperialists in this country.

Aguinaldo then asks if General Otis and the Administration have forgotten their promises and the services of the Filipinos. Pointing to the Cubans, he says: "Are we less worthy of liberty and independence than these revolutionists?" The closing paragraphs are an appeal to the honor and sympathy of the American people.

The Hartford Courant says:

"The one really important question raised anew by this missive from Tarlak is whether George Dewey recognized the insurgents as allies of the United States and repeatedly promised Aguinaldo on his honor that they should have political independence. Aguinaldo reaffirms that he did. George Dewey has told the President and the country that neither on May 19, 1898, nor on any other day did he give Aguinaldo any such promise. It is the word of a Malay adventurer -- a Malay 'patriot,' if you please -- against the word of an American admiral and gentleman. Erving Winslow and the Springfield paper are at perfect liberty to make their choice. We made ours some time ago. We believe George Dewey."