The Philippines - Past and Present (Vol. 1&2). Dean C. Worcester
target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="#ulink_81414bfb-8b98-5ef6-af55-4c51e39c84d3">35 For the document on which this statement is based see p. 733.
36 P.I.R., 849.
37 Taylor, 81 AJ.
38 “In reply to your telegram concerning your dream of entering Manila after four hours of combat. I have the honour to inform you for myself and the officers and soldiers under my command that your dream will come true as soon as the conflict with the Americans begins, since we shall advance at any cost.”—P.I.R., 849.
39 On January 21, 1899, the commander of the fourth zone, Caloocan, wired Aguinaldo that:
“Julian Santo, commander of the territorial militia of Trozo, informs me that 400 native soldiers of the Spanish army to-day incorporated in his militia. He lives in the walled city, and he wants to know your opinion upon the present situation, since the Americans want to hold them as prisoners or confine them in Bilibid prison.”
(Indorsed, handwriting of Aguinaldo:) “Tell the Filipino soldiers in the walled city affiliated to our cause that they must keep on good terms with the Americans, in order to deceive them, and prevent their confining them, since the hoped-for moment has not yet arrived.”—P.I.R., 849.
40 On January 20, 1899, a correspondent wrote to one of the Insurgents abroad:
“In some places (in Manila) there have been fights with bolos between Filipinos and Americans who wanted to tear down the proclamation of our president while the people defended it with their bolos. They say that it amuses them to see the Americans run when they draw their knives. It is said that some 10,000 servants have gone on strike. Some Americans have already disappeared by the method of ‘dukut’ but it will not be proper to publish this in my opinion.”—P.I.R., 980. 82.
41 Taylor, AJ. 73.
42 (Telegram received by E. Aguinaldo:)
“To the President of the Republic, Malolos, from the Provincial Governor of Manila, San Juan del Monte, Jan. 29, 1899, 10.25 A.m.: I yesterday visited the military road in process of construction, Santa Ana to Pineda. Tomorrow it will be sufficiently completed to permit passage, and in two days after it will be finished. Considering opening another military road direct from Caloocan to San Juan. Desire authority.
(Endorsed, handwriting of Aguinaldo:) “Telegram received. I am very much satisfied, and in the name of the government I congratulate you and the presidents of Santa Ana and Pineda with their inhabitants for their efforts for the public good. You are authorized to open another military road from Caloocan to San Juan del Monte, and I want you to endeavor to finish it this week, as I am certain you will.”—P.I.R., 849.
(Telegram received by E. Aguinaldo:)
“To the Secretary of the Interior, Malolos, from Sah Juan del Monte—Received Feb. 3, 1899 from the Provincial Governor Manila: Road marked out; work began Wednesday. I shall put forth every effort to finish by middle of the coming week.”—P.I.R., 849.
43 Taylor, 73 AJ.
44 Taylor, 73 AJ.
45 P.I.R., 2018.
46 Ibid., 1090. 5.
47 P.I.R., 453. 4.
48 P.I.R., 453. 2.
49 P.I.R., 493. 12.
50 Blount, p. 190.
51 Taylor, 86 AJ.
52 Blount, p. 175.
Chapter V
Insurgent Rule and the Wilcox-Sargent Report
The Good Book says, “By their fruits ye shall know them, whether they be good or evil,” and it seems proper to apply this test to the Insurgents and their government.
The extraordinary claim has been advanced that the United States destroyed a republic in the Philippines and erected an oligarchy on its ruins. Various writers and speakers who have not gone so far as this have yet maintained that Aguinaldo and his associates established a real, effective government throughout the archipelago during the interim between his return and the outbreak of hostilities with the United States.
In summarizing conditions on September 15, 1898, Judge Blount says:1—
“Absolute master of all Luzon outside Manila at this time, with complete machinery of government in each province for all matters of justice, taxes, and police, an army of some 30,000 men at his beck, and his whole people a unit at his back, Aguinaldo formally inaugurated his permanent government—permanent as opposed to the previous provisional government—with a Constitution, Congress, and Cabinet, patterned after our own,2 just as the South American republics had done before him when they were freed from Spain, at Malolos, the new capital.”
He refers to our utter failure to understand “what a wonderfully complete ‘going concern’ Aguinaldo’s government had become throughout the Philippine Archipelago before the Treaty of Paris was signed.”3
He bases his claim as to the excellent state of public order in the Insurgent territory at this time on a report of Paymaster W. E. Wilcox and Naval Cadet L. R. Sargent of the United States Navy, who between October 8 and November 20, 1898, made a long, rapid trip through northern Luzon, traversing the provinces of Bulacan, Pampanga, Tarlac, Pangasinán, Nueva Ecija, Nueva Vizcaya, Isabela, Cagayan, South Ilocos and Union, in the order named, thence proceeding to Dagupan and down the railroad through Pangasinán, Tarlac, Pampanga and Bulacan to Manila.
He says that these gentlemen found the authority of Aguinaldo’s government universally acknowledged, the country in a state of perfect tranquillity and public order,4 with profound peace and freedom from brigandage and the like.5
Now if it be true that Aguinaldo established complete machinery of government throughout all of Luzon outside of Manila for all matters of justice, taxes and police, so that life and property were safe and peace, tranquillity and justice assured, we may well dispense with quibbling as to whether the