John Gilber

We have made a treaty with the slave-holding, polygamous Mohammedans of the Sulu group, by which they are hired to fight the Christian Filipinos, while we guarantee to them the perpetuation of slavery and polygamy under the Stars and Stripes.

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not a large amount for men who were thrown out to make their way in a strange country. Calkins says it is shown by the records of the English courts at Hong Kong that Aguinaldo's share was one thirty-seventh of the $400,000, Mexican silver.

"Again I cite what General Greene said in a communication to the Paris commission, (Senate Doc. 62, p. 421):

'A portion of the money, $400,000, was deposited in banks at Hong Kong, and a lawsuit soon arose between Aguinaldo and one of his subordinate chiefs named Artacho, which is interesting on account of the very honorable position taken by Aguinaldo. * * ** Aguinaldo claimed that the money was a trust-fund, and was to remain on deposit until it was seen whether the Spaniards would carry out their promised reforms, and if they failed to do so, it was to be used to defray the expenses of a new insurrection. The suit was settled out of court by paying Artacho $5,000.'

"Murat Halstead, who went to Manila, with General Merritt, as the official historian of the expedition, in his book, 'The Story of the Philippines and Our New Possessions,' says:

'He (Aguinaldo) accepted the money as a war fund, and has held and defended it for the purchase of arms, and resumed hostilities when all promises of reform were broken.'

"To complete the record of the alleged bribe I quote from Consul Williams' letter to Secretary of State Day (Senate Doc. 62, p. 328):

'To-day I executed a power of attorney, whereby Aguinaldo releases to his attorney in fact $400,000, now in bank at Hong Kong, so that the money therefrom can pay for 3,000 stand of arms bought there and expected here to-morrow."

"It is also stated in the consular correspondence that Aguinaldo refused any finan cial aid from the United States for the assistance he gave against Spain, and far more important is the fact that he refused to be bribed by American officials to betray his own people. He was offered more than $5,000 a year by the Schurman commission if he would come over to the Americans, and was offered the support of the American arms, if needed, to enforce his authority as governor, or head chief, of the Tegalos, so long as he kept the tribe pacified and under

American rule. He rejected the offered bribe, and said nothing but independence would satisfy the Filipinos." (See "Special" from Ithaca, N. Y., home of President Schurman, in Chicago Tribune, September 15, 1899.)

"The remainder of the firearms used by Aguinaldo were furnished him by Admiral Dewey, who treated him as he would have treated an ally only.

"Much as annexationists would like to regard Aguinaldo as corrupt, our own published official documents prove him the reverse."

Colonel Handy-" The charges of cruelty are also easily shown to be false. Of him Lieutenant Calkins says in Harper's Magazine of August, 1899: 'He restrained cruelty and repressed lawlessness with a strong hand. His popularity was largely due to the fact that he was simple in his manner and always accessible.' Calkins says further in the same article: The president, Bonifacio, is said to have been put to death as a rival by Aguinaldo, but authentic testimony shows that, having been wounded in a skirmish, he was

carried many miles in a hammock until the pursuit became pressing and dangerous. Aguinaldo was urged to hurry, but refused to abandon his comrade, although capture would involve the slaughter of the whole party. An impatient and unscrupulous lieutenant relieved the strain by shooting Bonifacio.' Lieutenant Calkins might have added what is well known in Manila, that Aguinaldo at once ordered the lieutenant shot for insubordination and for murder.

"It has also been charged in the United States that Aguinaldo had General Luna assassinated. The following cable dispatch to the New York Sun, dated, 'Manila, June 13,' tells the story as has since been authenticated from numerous sources:

'Last Tuesday General Luna and his adjutant, Colonel Ramon, visited Aguinaldo's headquarters at Cabanatuan, their purpose being to secure Aguinaldo's authority to imprison all Filipinos suspected of being friendly to the United States. General Luna asked the captain of the guard *** if Aguinaldo was at home, to which question the captain replied insolently, "I don't know." Luna berated him vigorously,