having made a thorough investigation: In 1896 a proclamation attributed to the chiefs of the Katipunan was issued, of which the essential clause was as follows: 'When the signal H. 2. Sip. is given each brother will perform the duty imposed by this grand lodge, murdering all Spaniards, women and children, without consideration for kindred, friendship or gratitude.' Nothing of the kind was ever attempted. 'The rumor,' says Lieutenant Calkins, 'was revived on December 15, 1898, substituting Americans for Spaniards.' You will find Lieutenant Calkins' article in Harper's Magazine for August, 1899. As it makes the speech of Secretary of the Navy Long look worse than ridiculous, he certainly would not have written it without feeling fully warranted by the facts. It was simply an idle rumor, the vaporings of a fanatic or a Spanish lie put into circulation to cause trouble between the Americans and Filipinos."

Private Smith-" There is one well-authenticated case where friars were issuing the incendiary circulars of which they accused the Filipinos, and those famous orders for the

The American quality of "canned liberty" is more objectionable than Algerian canned beef.

massacre of Spaniards and Americans doubtless originated from the same source."

Chairman-" Dewey was level-headed and saw much of the Filipinos, what did he say of them?"

Private Smith--"In his statement read before the Paris commission, Admiral Dewey says: 'In a telegram to the department on June 23, I expressed the opinion that "these people are far superior in their intelligence and are more capable of self-government than the natives of Cuba, and I am familiar with both races.' Further intercourse has confirmed me in this opinion."

Chairman-" President Schurman, of the Peace commission, also gives some testimony as to the Filipinos. He says: 'It will be a surprise to many Americans to know that the educated Filipino is the equal of any other civilized people in the world, Americans must deal gently with the Filipino.'

Private Smith-" The statements of Betford, Greene, King, Dewey, Williams, Worcester, Foreman, Schurman, and others who have studied the Philippines and the Filipino people should be conclusive; but the aver

age expansionist, though he has never been within 10,000 miles of the Philippines, has never seen a Filipino, nor even read a book on the islands, will be ready to swear that all of these men are wrong and that the Filipino is an uneducated savage into whom we must shoot liberty and civilization; and that we must burn their houses to convince them how much we dote on their welfare."

Colonel Handy-"Lincoln was one of the few really great and good men. Perhaps his greatest utterance was this: 'No man is good enough to govern another man without that other's consent. When the white man governs himself, that is self-government; but when he governs himself and also governs another man, that is more than self-government-that is despotism.' Talk about 'Americanism!' Wherever you find Abraham Lincoln you are up against the real thing.

"John Hay, who, as his private secretary, sat at the feet of Lincoln, exactly expressed the Filipino case in the preface to his 'Castilian Days' in these words: 'There are those who think the Spaniards are not fit for freedom. I believe that no people are fit for

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anything else.' That was written before Mr. Hay became a member of Mr. McKinley's cabinet and a convert to the latter's doctrine of 'benevolent assimilation.""

Captain Bevans-"Do you mean that the Philippine archipelago should be turned over to a dictatorship with a corrupt man, like Aguinaldo, at its head?"

Private Smith-"Is Aguinaldo a corrupt man? Has he done anything to justify such an accusation?"

Captain Bevans-"Certainly. He betrayed his people to Spain for $400,000, and thea failed to 'stay bought.' Everybody knows that is true. If he would sell out one time, he would sell again. The only reason Mr. McKinley has not bought him, as he bought the Sultan of Sulu, is his fear that he is not honest enough to stay bought."

Chairman-“There seems to be much difference of opinion as to the character of Aguinaldo. Suppose we discuss him to

morrow."

The suggestion of the president was agreed to, and the 'meeting' adjourned for the day.