F *J ^ 1 • 4- ■^*>v\> vv; .•-.-Oil- - ^^--^ <«><-?w -'JT^3» /^iall -'•'■• r""" >:/* '-^.y^-iT:^ r^y- .y^^-^'"-: ■:^r^-- •»v ^^■■ AmeHcan *:i^...^v. \^^.. •-. . "< y .- ■•i ' A- *..■ r .^, .> f-tJ. 1 ^ .-r, ■ ... ^-^ ■ • -■-.^, ■ ...^s:^^ ^ -:- / '■ . v.— 1 ■ J'^.^- V , * ,' -'- <' ■ ^ '>' . ,.;•_■' ^^•~ -^.^■*' \-.. ^- f .. >>. -N ■'■ r ^ -.>■ f""' ,»' >r ;c^ -•: tS*- / . J . ».>T,. ■■.- •"V : - J'^ 'T '''/^'_ .fir-. • • -fsV ,,. . . .^ ; --V , i '■ ' V \. ■ ■■* . ■' 'A ; ^^ . - r.. . : \- ; ■•• .v', r To tM -4iiiefi€ao 31 >-^;; &3 :*^ '"I^ ro the American Peo]3le. 58387 •^ C; 7 :4 !,••..• ■■: - ''-..'■■ t' i * . Al Puebio Americano. To the American People. Dios sabe cuan injusta es la guerra que contra nuestro infortunado pals ban provocado y sostienen las armas imperialistas ! Si los bonrados patriotas americanos pudieran comprender en toda su triste exactitud la verdad de esta afirmacion, por seguro tenemos que, sin p^rdida de momento, harian cesar lucba tan incalificable. A este proposito les requerimos : oigan nues- tra voz, mediten sobre nuestras ex- bortaciones, p^senlas y midanlas en parangon con las falacias de qu^ el Imperialismo usa para disfrazar sus designios y, luego, resuelvan confornie d dictados de razon y conciencia. Sonios los filipinos un pueblo culto, progresivo y amante de la paz ; dan testimonio de lo primero cuantos, con imparcial espfritu deobservacion, habla- ron y escribieron sobre nuestro estado de aventajada cultura, acerca de nues- tra capacidad para lograr todos los adelantos, de los dos siglos de bien recibida educacion literaria que lleva- mos, del escaso ni'imero de inalfabetos que hay entre los habitantes de las Islas, de los hombres de ciencia, artis- tas, n»agistrados, militares y altos dig- GoD Almighty knows how unjust is the war which the Imperial arms have provoked and are maintaining against our unfortunate country ! If the honest American patriots could under- stand the sad truth of this declaration, we are sure they would, without the least delay, stop this unspeakable horror. And, that they may have a just understanding of it, we entreat them to hear our voice, to meditate on our exhortations and to weigh our statements against the misrepresenta' tions under which Imperialism seeks to conceal its designs. Turn not away from our prayer, Americans, but listen, and give judgment according to reason and conscience. We, the Filipinos, are a civilized, progressive and peace-loving people. Many impartial writers and speakers have testified that we are advanced in civilization, that we are capable of im- provement, that many of our people for two centuries have enjoyed the ad- vantages ot university education, that the number of illiterates among our people is small, and that as artists, scientists, magistrates, generals and •v; natarios de la Tglesia, hijos de Filipinas, que en Europa, especiaimcnte en Es- pana, fueron reronocidos en su justo valer alcanzando prominentes posi- ciones, lauros acadt^micos, honores de todo gt5:nero. Que somos progresivos, hien lo demostro la conducta del pais filipino cuando, reciente la capitulacion de Manila y gozando los pohladores de aquel suelo, con indudable asentimieto del Gohierno de los EE. UU., de un principio de independencia. lejos de dcfjarse poseer de la fiebre revolu- cionaria y de entregarse A excesos y demasias, con una sensatez de qu^ ha- llareis escasos ejemplos en la Historia, constituyose un prudente gohierno que respeto los derechos legitimamente creados, se convoc6 un Congreso cuya labcr legislativa por nadie ha sido justamente criticada, se reorganizaron los mecanismos administralivos todos, perturbados por la reciente lucha, fun- cionaron regularmente los correos, tele- grafos y ferro-carriles, se estableci6 el alumbrado el^ctrico en algunas pobla- ciones, se crearon una nueva Universi- dad, cuatro institutos de segunda en- senanza y numerosas escuelas primarias y entro, en suma, la nueva nacionalidad en un camino de ordenada evolucion que prometfa muy risueno porvenir. . . Todo esto es lo que pueden vanaglo- riarse de haber conturbado los canones imperialistas ! v -1/ . .Ni^ : De nuestro amor A la paz, qu^ mejor dignitaries of the Church, the sons of the Filipines, have distinguished themselves greatly and have achieved many positions of eminence, espe- cially so in Spain. That we are pro- gressive, was well shown by the con- duct of our whole country when, at the time of the capitulation of the city of Manila, the inhabitants of our islands, supposing themselves to have entered upon a career of national independence that was to be assured to them by the" United States Government, instead of abandoning themselves to any revolu- tionary fever and excess, established with careful thought and scrupulous regard for justice a prudent government which respected all rights created legi- timately ; they convoked a Congress whose legislative work has not been justly criticised \y anybody ; they re- organized the administrative machinery which had been disturbed by recent struggles : telegraphs, railroads and means of communication began to work regularly ; we had adopted the electric light in some of our towns ; and we had established a new university, four high aqd several primary schools. In brief, the new nation had entered upon a path of progress which already promised a bright future. All this pro- gress the Imperialists have disturbed ; all this progress have they destroyed. For proof that we love peace, we ask you to remember the story of our rela prueba podemos dar que la historia de nuestras relaciones con Espana ? Du- rante tres sig'os nuestro pueblo estuvo d merced de la dominacion espanola : fuimos sdbdilos de su Monarquia. Los gobiernos de dicha nacion se negaron siempre A oirnos para legislar en la forma mejor avenida con nuestros intereses : negaronnos la representacion en Cortes y se dejaron inspirar solo de los eleinentos niAs reaccionarios, los frailes princi[)aln)ente, interesadisimos en mantener A l^ilipinas alejado de la Madre Patria y de los beneficips de la Hbertad para mds A su sabor explotarlo. Nos negaron la libertad de imprenta, restringieron el derecho de asociacion y atentaron A la inviolabilidad del doiDJcilio ; crearon los llamados expe- dientes gubernativos mediante los cuales, sin forma de juicio y sin que se oyeran sus exculpaciones, soliase arrebatar del hogar y sumir en las tris- tezas del destierro al mAs pacifico ciudadano. En conclusion, pcdemos asegurar que los mal aconsejados go- biernos espanoles, A quienes ahora plagia y aiin supera en tirdnicos alar- des el Imperialismo de vuestros gober- nantes, nos negaron muchas de las libertades de que gozabais ya vosotros cuando os alzasteis, quejosos de opre- sion, contra la soberania de la Gran Rretana. ■ >. Y A pesar de tanto mal sufriamoslo resignados, reduci^ndose nuestra pro- tions with Spain. For three hundred years our country has been at the mercy of Spanish domination ; we were the subjects of that monarchy ; the go- vernment of that nation denied us any voice in the enactment of remedial legislation : they denied us rej^resenla- tion in the Spanish Cortes. They al- lowed themselves to be directed by the most reactionary elements, and took counsel chiefly from the friars who sought to estrange the mother country from us and to deny us the blessings of liberty, so that they might the more completely exploit us at their will. They denied us freedom of the press, restricted the right of peaceable assem- bly and violated the security of our homes. They created the so called administrative process (expedientes gubernativos) ; so that, often, without hearing and without trial the most peaceable citizen was snatched from his house and condemned to the miseries of banishment. In brief, the Spanish government, whose despotic cruelty American Imperialism now imi- tates, and in some respects surpasses, denied to us many of the liberties which you were already enjoying when, under pretext of oppression, you re- volted against British domination. Notwithstanding these great wrongs we submitted quietly, confining our protests to earnest prayers for repara- tion ; such was our love of peace. Only 6 testa al ruego de la reparacion, A la when we became convinced that our siiplica encarecida, tal era nuestro amor requests were absolu'ely disregarded, A la paz ; y solo cuando nos convenci- that the most worthy officials were re- mos de que nuestros requerimientos moved from office, even those of emin- eran en absoluto desairados ; de que ent character, when it was n)ade known eran depuestos los mejores gobernantes, that they had manifested even a slight aunque de prestigiosos funcionarios se sympathy for us, when we had lost tratdra, apenas mostraban simpatia every hope of peaceful remedy and all hdcia nosotros ; cuando perdimos toda faith in the oft promised liberal reforms, esperanza de solucion paci'fica, toda fe only then it was that the armed protest, en el advenimiento de las tantas veces the Filipine revolution, the most jus- anunciadas reformas liberales, surgio tifiable of all revolutions, began. It la protesta armada, la Revolucion Fili- was an uprising void of every feeling of pina, la mils justificada de las revolu- hatred and revenge toward Spain, the clones. Fu^ u alzamiento sin odios country that we respected and loved ; ni rencores, no contra Espaiia, A la que it was a revolt against her bad govern- respetdbamos y queriamos, sino contra ment, just as we now revolt, not against BUS malos gobiernos, ue la propia suerte America, whosj power and greatness que hoy luchamos, no contra America, we recognize, and whose justice we still cuya grandeza y cuyo poderio recono- hope to see proven, but against her cemos y en cuya justicia aim espera- unworthy rulers. Those who tell you mos, sino contra sus indignos gober- that we are an adventurous and sedi- nantes. Os mienten, si, miserable- tious people, ready to go to war at the mente os enganan en iSsta como en least pretext, basely deceive you in this otras calumnias por los imperialistas as in many other calumnies invented by discurridas, los que os dicen que somos the Imperialists. If, yesterday, we un pueblo aventurero, levantisco, dado fought against Spain, and, to-day, are A guerrear al menor pretexto ; si contra resisting your powerful arms, even Espana luchilramos un dia y hoy hace- though sure to be vanquished, it is be- mos resistencia A vuestras poderosas cause we have been forced as a last armas, aiin en la certeza de ser venci- resort to an unequal and bloody war dos, es porque A la lid, desigual y san- for the attainment of an aspiring grienta, hemos sido precipitados, como people's legitimate ambitions. Thus liltimo y supremo recurso para alcanzar we can repeat proudly and with the la posesion de legitimas ambiciones. firmness of one who carries the truth Asi que podemosrepetir,alta la frente on his lips and in his heart, that if our y con la hrrneza del que Ueva la verdad en los labios y en el corazon, que si por nuestras condiciones de cultura y caracler somos dignos de la indepen- dencia, nicls aiin venimos d serlo por los altos moviles que inspiraron siempre nuestros actos de rebeldia. Porque, entonces, americanos, nos negais la libertad ? Porque, olvidando toda vuestra historia y las nobles ensenanzas de vuestros antepasados, combatis la causa del progreso y de la justicia, que es la nuesiia ? Que medio entre vosotros y nosotros para que tan in- creible monstruosidad ocurra ? Un dia declarasteis la guerra ci Es- paiia, manifestando A la faz del Mundo (jue apelabais A las armas solo A titulo de libertadores de pueblos oprimidos ; y entonces vuestra bandera, como si'm- bolo de libertad, ondeo ante las costas de Filipinas sobre potentes acorazados para los cuales iu6 un juego de ninos destruir la debil escuadra adversa. Entonces fu^ cuando vuestros repre- sentantes diplomdticos invitaron al mAs prestigioso de los caudillos filipinos, al honorable Sr, Aguinaldo, A una alianza ofensiva contra el que presenta- ban como enemigo comun, A fin de que, venri^ndole, logrdramos nuestras constantes aspiraciones de libertad po- litica ; entonces fu& cuando vuestro idolo el almirante Dewey y vuestros celebiados generales Merritt y Ander- son, como auiigos y aliados nos tra- character and culture entitle us to independence, still more do we show ourselves entitled to it by the high motives which have always inspired our resistance. Why, then, do you deny us liberty ? Why, forgetful of all your history and the noble precepts of your illustrious forefathers, are you fighting against the cause of Independence, of Progress and of Justice, which is our cause? What has come to pass be- tween you and us that should cause you to permit this incredible and mon- strous war to be waged against us ? When you declared war against Spain you proclaimed to the world at large that you had appealed to arms only in order to free oppressed peoples ; and when your flag waved before the coasts of the Filipines on powerful vessels which easily destroyed ihe weak fleet of the enemy, it was an emblem of liberty then. Your diplomatic repre- sentatives invited the most famous of our Filipino leaders, Hon. E. Agui- naldo, to an offensive alliance against those whom you represented to us as a "common enemy," in order that by vanquishing them, we might achieve our aspirations for peace and happiness. It was then that your idol, Admiral Dewey, and your distinguished gene- rals, Merritt and .Xnderson, treated us as friends and allies, saying sincerely that we were fit for independence, even more so, as the admiral asserted, than h. 8 taron, diciendo sin rebozo que ^ramos aptoi para la independencia, aiin inds que los cubanos A quienes en justicia habeis prometido darla, segun el pri- mero de los citados prohombres afirmo ; entonces fu^ cuando la honrada ban- dera de la joven nacion filipina ondeo A la sombra del pabellon estrellado en la bahia de Manih ; entonces fu^ cuando en Cavite, al alcance de vues- tros canones y sin oposicion alguna, se proclamo la independencia de Fili- pinas, casi con las mismas palabras que se consignan en vuestra inmortal Declaracion; entonces fud cuando vues- tros soldados, A la vez que los nuestros aclamaban A la libertadora Amt^rica, victorearon A la nueva nacion oceAnica ; entonces fu^ cuando, por servir vuestra causa, ya que juriibais era la de la libertad de su patria, derramaron los filipinos sangre A torrentes ccnibatiendo A un enemigo valeroso y obstinado, A la vez que os prestaban auxilios de toda clase ; entonces . . . hasta A punto estuvisteis de romper las hostilidades con otra nacion que mostr6 simpatias hAcia los reveses de Espana y que, en Subig, quiso obstaculizar la accion del que vosotros mismos denominabais " ej«Jrcito libertador." Entonces era el tiempo de la ficcion hermosa ; hoy parece haber Uegado la bora de la aniarga realidad, del cruel desencanto : entonces fuimos recibidos y tratados como aliados, y ahora se nos rechaza A the Cubans to whom you have with equity i)iomised to give it. It was then thai the flag of the new Filipine nation waved in the shadow of the Stars and Stripes at Manila Bay. It was then that the independence of the Filipines was proclaimed ai Cavite, within range of your cannons, without any opposition, and in almost the very words of your immortal Declaration. It was then that your soldiers hailed the new nation, while ours were cheer- ing the American liberators. It was then, to save your cause, since you had assured us that your cause embraced our freedom, that the Filipinos gave their blood for you in your fight againsi a valiant and obstinate enemy, and at the same time placed in your reach all available resources and aid. You were at that moment almost at the point of breaking into hostilities with another nation which had manifested her sym- pathy for Spain by attempting to bar at Subig Bay the course of what you your- selves had called " an army of libera- tion." That was the hour of the beau- tiful fiction : now we seem to have come to the time of the bitter reality, the cruel disenchantment. Then we were received anM treated as allies ; now we are scourged back into the mountains and denied every right except that of fighting the very flag in whose beneficent shadow we had ex- pected to find freedom and happiness. 9 las montaiias, negdndosenos todo de- recho, como no sea el de luchar contra la misma bandera A cuya sombra ben^fica espei^lbamos hallar la libertad y la dicha. Desde un principio nuestro pueblo se unio A los EE. UU. en la guerra contra Espana y avanzo orgnlloso al lado de vuestros hijos, A los qu6 tuvo por companeros de armas, por soJdados de una misma causa, hdcia la victoria. En todo tienipo, mientras dui-6 la lucha aquella y durante algunos meses despues, las autoridades de los EE. UU. nos hicleron esperar la in- dependencia : bajo la proteccion de ellas ?e publicaron en Manila perio- dicos y folletos que este ideal defen- dian ; con su v6nia el Ej^rcito Revo- lucionario fu^ conquistando las posi- ciones espaiiolas y estableciendo en ellas gobiernos provinciales depen- dientes del de la Repiiblica Filipina. Entonces era America una gran nacion redimiendo A filipinos y cubanos de la fj^rrea mano de un gobierno imperial, solo jiara darles la libertad, para eman- ciparles : nuestro pals saludo las es- trellas y franjas de vuestra bandera como un emblema de libertad, como una garantia de redencion para todo ser humano, como una divisa de honor para los pitriotas muertos en la lid ; y asi, con renovada energia, con ex- p]6ndido ardor, con determinacion inquebrantable, raarcharon los soldados From the outset our country took sides with the United States in the war with Spain, and we marched proudly with your sons as comrades in arms, as soldiers in the same cause, to vic- tory. At all times during that war, and for months afterward, the civil, military and naval authorities of the United States caused us to hope for Independence. Papers and pamphlets advocating this ideal were published in Manila under the protection of the United States authorities : with their consent the revolutionary army had been conquering the Spanish positions and establishing in them provincial governments dependent on that of the Filipine Republic. America was then a great republic., releasing the Cubans and the Filipinos from the iron grasp of an imperial government and conducting them to emancipation and freedom ; and our people hailed the Stars and Stripes as an emble.n of free- dom, as the token of liberty for the living and the badge of honor for the patriots dead. With renewed energy, with proud alacrity, with fearless deter- mination they pressed on, side by side with your noble sons, to the end. What reward did we get ? Did the expected freedom come to us ? No ! As a requital for our sacrifices and as a reward for our loyalty, subjugation is offered to us instead of freedom. We may have a colonial government of the , >' 'J '•it- ' ' *r'"' 10 filipinos al par que los nobles hijos de America hasta el fin de la Jornada. Cual ha sido la recompensa obtenida ? Ha venido a nosotros la libertad que esperabamo3 ? No ; como premio A nuestros sacrificios, como recompensa d nuestra adhesion, se nos ofrece la esclavitud en vez de la libertad : ten- dremos un Gobierno Colonial de LOS EE. UU., administrado en un idioma extrano, en vez del gobierno colonial de Espana que, al fin, era administrado en una lengua ya cono- ciday que habiamos hecho nuestra . . . tendremos un gobierno colonial que nos negard la ciudadania de su nacion, cosa que, pese A sus tendencias reac- cionarias, jamds llegaron a negarnos los gobiernos espaiioles ! Cuando, en dia de triste memoria, nos negarnos i aceptar esta indignidad, cuando protestamos contra tan inicua ingratitud, los canones de los EE. UU. se volvieron y dispararon contra noso- tros como traidores y rebeldes, ma- tando millares de combatientes, vues- tros aliados de la vispera, despeda- zando ancianos, mugeres y nifios, pa- dres, esposas 6 hijos de vuestros amigos y favorecedores, arrasando nuestros hogares, donde como hu^s- pedes de honor os acogidramos y regando de sangre y sembrando de ruinas el hermoso suelo de nuestra desventurada Patria. Ved, pues, ame- ricanos, y considerad, no solo cual TTnited States, administered in a fo'.pig;-! language, instead of the colonial government of Spain, which, at least, was administered in a language already known to us and which we have made ours. We are to have a colonial gov- ernment which will deny us the citizen- ship of its nation. In spite of their imperialistic tendencies, the Spanish government never went so far as to deny us citizenship ! When, on a day of sad recollections, we declined to accept this shame, when we protested against this iniquitous in- gratitude, then the guns of the United States were turned upon us ; we were denounced as traitors and rebels ; you destroyed the homes to which you had been welcomed as honored guests, killing thousands of those who hfld been your allies, mutilating our old men, our women and our children, and watering with blood and strewing with ruins the beautiful soil of our Father- land. Behold, therefore, Americans, and consider not only our right to independence but what your conduct has been, and what your plain duty is towards us in good faith, and then judge, in view of these ante- cedents, whether the crusade of exter- mination which the Imperialists have inaugurated against our unfortunate country is a worthy one, whether it is just, and whether it is in the least degree excusable. , » .. • » . K: -. N ■< t<::':V: ^,-J--' 11 es nuestro derecho d la independencia, sin6 tambien cual ha sido vuestra C3n- ducta y cual es vuestro includible deber para con nosotros, y senten- ciad, en vista de estos antecedentes, si es justa, si es digna, si es de alguna manera disculpable la cruzada de ex- terminio que las armas imperialistas ban emprendido contra el mds des- graciado de los paises. Estos y solo estos son los verda- deros t^rminos del problema plantea- do : no oigais los falaces argumentos de los qu6, para disculpar sus yerros politicos y sus codicias coloniales, os dicen lo contraiio en aserciones cuya falsedad puede solo equipararse A la mala fe que las inspira. Os dicen que somos incapaces del gobierno propio, como si los hechos consumados no demostrdran lo contrario y como si no hubiesen otracosaafirmado, undnimes, todos los americanos que nos juzgdran serenamente con anterioridad A esta guerra de conquista j os aseguran que entre nosotros existen profundas divi- siones y que a la retirada de las fuerzas americanas se producirdn la anarquia y el desgobierno en nuesiro pais, como si no fuera notorio que reinaba el orden mds completo alii antes de que las tropas imperialistas introduge- ran, con su injusta agresion, el desor- den ; os cuentan que el Gobiermo de la RepiSbiica Filipina jam&s fu^ por todo el pais reconocido, falsedad mani- These and only these are the true terms of the simple problem. Do not give ear to the specious arguments of those who, in ordtr to excuse a politi- cal crime and in order to disguise their greed and covetousness, tell you the contrary by means of assertions whose falseness is as great as the bad faith of their authors. They tell you that we are incapable of self-govern- ment, as if the accomplished facts had not proven the contrary ; and as if, also, all the Americans who had calmly judged us, previous to this war of con- quest, had not unanimously asserted otherwise. They assure you that there exist deep divisions among us and that the withdrawal of the American troops would create anarchy and misgovern- ment in our country, as if it were not evident that the most complete order prevailed there until the Imperial troops had, with their unjust war, brought confusion. They tell you that the government of the Filipine Re- publ c had never been recognized by the whole country. This is a manifest falsehood, because it had been recog- nized even by the Mohammedans in the South, whom the Imperialists, their friends and allies, boast so much of having reduced to submission ; and by the mountain races of Luzon, who always refused to reoognize the Spanish Government and who will do the same to the American Government. The 12 fiesta, pues lo fu^ hasta por los niaho- Filipine Government is the only one metanos del Sur, decuyasumision tanto which can conciliate and redeem them, sj envanecen sus.amigos y afines los for m that goveinment only have they imperialistas, y por las razas monteses confidence— a success for civilization de Luzon, que siempre se resistieron which Imperialism could never accom- ■A reconocer el Gogierno espaiiol y se plish. They assert that the existence resistirdn al Americano, siendo el of these mountain races makes the unico apto para atraerlas A la vida civi- Filipine Independence impossible, lizada, por la confianza que les inspira. This is an absurd assertion, which el Gobierno Filipino, 6xito civilizador would be equal to maintaining that you que el Imperialismo estorba ; afirman are incapable of self-government simply que la existencia de esas razas mon- because there are Indians on your soil teses viene A hacer imposible la inde- in a proportion almost equal to pendencia filipina, absurdo que equi- that which the Ingcrrotes, Aetas, etc., valdria A softener que sois vosotros represent among us. They mislead incapaces de gobierno proprio ya que you with the idea that because the en vuestro suelo habitan tribus indias Taealogs, the Visayos, the Ilocanos, y en proporcion tan crecida, cierta- etc., speak difierent dialects, it is not mente, como la entre nosotros repre- feasible for us to constitute a national sentada por igorrotes, aetas, etc. ; in- unity. This is an objection of gross sini'ian la estupenda idea de que por ignorance which forgets that in the hablar diversos dialectos los tagalogs, most civilized European nations peoijle visayas, ilocanos. etc., no es factible speak different dialects and even differ- que constituyamos unidad nacional, ent languages, as in the highly civilized objeccion de crasa ignorancia que ol- Switzerland ; it is also a sophistical vida que en las mAs cultas naciones objection which overlooks the fact that europeas se hablan tambien distintos in all the provinces of the Archipelago, dialectos, y aiin idiomas diferentes, in the Tagal, the Visayan, and the como en la cultisima Suiza ; objeccion Ilocos provinces, etc., whose inhabi- sofistica, tambien, que olvida de pro- tants are of the same ethnical condition posito que en todas las provincias del and culture, the only language officially Archipi^lago, tagalas, visayas, ilocanas, spoken is the Spanish. They allege etc., cuyos pobladores son, en puridad, that the majority of (he Filipinos are de una misma condition <^tnica y de in favor of the American sovereignty, igual cultura, se habla un solo idioma and that they would rather be colonials oficial, el castellano \ alegan que la of America than be independent. This 18 mayoria de los filipinos son partidarios de la dominacion americana, que pre- fieren ser colonos de America A ser independientes, burda falsedad que desmiente el hecho de los millares de soldados que alli han tenido que situar los imperialistas y el regimen de tirania militar de qu6 necesitan valerse, tan opresor como jamAs lo conocimos antes, aprisionando gentes pacificas, suspendiendo seiios peri6dicos y otro sin fin de abusos contra todo fuero, para ahogar los clamores por la inde- pendencia ; tambien os dicen que la agresion en la actual guerra partio de nosolros, como si no constilra cuanto hicimos por evitar la ruptura de hos- tilidades con qu^ A diario se nos pro- vocaba y cuantas veces propusimos una cesacion en la lucha para llegar A un acuerdo, peticion A que siempre se han negado vuestros gobernantes ; anaden que nuestro pais tiene grandes 6 inexplotadas riquezas y que con el se lucrard mucho America, engano patente, pues tales tesoros, los hii- neros inclusive, han sido ya cuidadosa- mente explotados por espanoles, ale- manes ^ ingleses, y nunca obtuvieron los ^xitos portentosos con qu^ suefia ahora el Iraperialismo, antes por el contrario, mds quiebras se registran en la historia de esas explotaciones que probperos sucesos ; que alli hay, ana- den, tienas f^rtiles que repartir y cul- tivar, y A esto contestariin los iinmi- is a base falsehood, which belies the fact of the thousands of soldiers which the Imperialists have had to put on the islands, and of the regime of military tyranny, more terrible than was ever known before by us, of which they were compelled to avail themselves, impri- soning thousands of honest people, sup- pressing serious newspapers, and other endless abuses against all law, in order to smother the cries for independence. They also tell you that we were the aggressors in the present war, as if it were not evident how much we have done in order to prevent the outbreak of hostilities with which we were daily provoked, and how many times we proposed a cessation in the fight in order that we may come to an agree- ment, a demand which your rulers have always refused to grant us. They further tell yon that our country has great and unexploited riches and that with it America would gain. This is a new deception of Imperialism, because such treasuresj'even the mines, have already been carefully exploited by Spaniards, Germans, and English, and they never obtained the marvellous success of which Imperialism now dreams ; on the contrary, the record ot these exploifcitions shows more failure than success. They go on to say that there are in our country rich lands to distribute and cultivate. To this the deceived Americrn immigrants who, .^ : V. f ', 'V' ' 14 ■ .■ grantes americanos que, creyendo pro- believing such promises, shall go and mesas tales vayan A sucumbir a los succumb to the rigours of the climate, rigores de aquel clima, fatal d su raza, so fatal to their race, will answer accurs- renegando de quienes les indugeron d ing those who made them leave their abandonar su mds rico y salutifero rich and habitable land. That the suelo ; que el cristianismo y sus inte higher interests of Christianity demand reses ultraterrenos aconsejan la reten- the retention of the Islands, is another cion de las Islas, es otro error, porque deception, because if our subjugation si nueslra subyugacion se realiza, jamds becomes a reality, we could never for- podremos olvidar cuanta parte tom6 get how much religious fanaticisms en ella el fanatismo religioso, y nues- have had to do with it, and our present tras actuates convicciones cristianas Christian belief would stagger and per- vacilarcin, trocdndose quizas en aver- haps we would look with distrust on sion A las creecias de nuestros escla- the creeds of our subjugators. Finally, vizadores ; dicen, finalmente, los im- the Imperialists say that God trusted perialistas que Dios puso en sus manos in their hands the government of the reglar los futuros destinos de Filipinas, future destinies of the Filipines, as como si el Supremo Espiritu pudiera if the Sopreme Spirit could have been haber encarnado en el oro de los incarnated in the gold of the twenty veinte millones de dollars que se millions of dollars which were paid to dieron A Espana y en el accro de los Spain, and in the steel of the quick- caiiones de tiro r^ipido que matan y firing guns which are mutilating the hieren A los heroicos defensores de la independencia de su patria ! No oigais, no, las mentidas asevera- ciones de los imperialistas : escuchad solo la voz de la razon y de la justicia. No atendats A las sugestiones de los que unfortunate Filipinos. No, do not listen to the false asser- tions of the Imperialists, listen only to the voice of reason and justice. Heed not the suggestions of those who pretend to excite your national self- pretenden excitar vuestro amor propio love and your innermost feelings, m nacional y vuestras mds intimas pa- order that you may convert yourselves siones, para que os couvirtais en d6ciles instrumentos de sus concupis- cencias y ambiciones, inmoralidades y escfindalos propios de toda adminis- tracion colonial, deshonra ya del hasta hoy inmaculado nombre americano y into docile instruments of their cupi- dity and ambition, of their immoralities and scandals which are peculiar to every colonial administration, and which have already dishonored the until now immaculate name of America .r: 1 -w.-Ts ■ 15 de su hasta hoy honrada politica ex- terior : no OS dejeis enganar por falsas imputaciones ni alucinar por ficticias promesas ; fallad, tambien, sin que la hipocresia ni el fingimiento encubran vuestro lAudo. De una parte, vuestro propio honor y vuestras gloriosas tra- diciones, os imponen el deber de dacnos la ofrecida y bien ganada inde- pendencia ; de la otra, enganosi'simas noticias sobre las riquezas de nuestro suelo, la codiciada posesion colonial que constituye, la sordida y ciega avaricia, que es la sola musa del Im- perialisnio, os inducen A continuar la repugnante lucha que por subyugarnos, y sin vuestro consentimiento, han em- prendido vuestros gobernantes : esco- ged, pues, hijos de Washington, de Jefferson y de Lincoln, entre estas dos soluciones : escoged, entre la libertad para un pueblo honrado que bajo vuestra ^gida se coloc6 y la mayor libertad para vosotros, con qu^ Dios recompensarA vuestra accion, 6 la tirania para vuestras infortunadas victinias, con el consiguiente castigo del derrumbamiento de vuestras pro- pias libertades ; la generosidad reden- tora, fecunda en bendiciones para todos, 6 la codicia colonial, germen de inmoralidades y tiranfas ; la virtud 6 la maldad. Fallad en conciencia y estamos seguros de que os inclinareis al bien, A la dnica solucion honrada, que sexA la que retorne la paz A nues- and her foreign policy. Do not be deceived by false charges, nor allured by false promises. Give judgment without hypocrisy and without self- deception. On the one hand your honor and your glorious traditions are calling upon you to accord to us our rightful and well-earned independence. On the other hand the distorted dreams of avarice, the dark conspiracies of greed and remorseless ambition, nurses of Imperialism throughout all time, these counsel you to uphold the war of subjugation which your rulers, but not your people, have authorized and forced upon us. Choose, then, sons of Washington, of Jefferson and of Lin- coln, between these two alternatives : Freedom for the hapless peoples who are in your power, and thus, under God's just laws, the recompense to you of a larger freedom for yourselves, or, tyranny and destrrction for your strug- gling but helpless victims, whose wrongs the Great Ruler of all will in due time avenge by the mournful destruction of your own liberties. Shall it be gener- osity, or colonial greed ? Shall it be right, or wrong ? Give ear to your own conscience, and we are sure you will incline yourselves toward mercy, toward justice, and toward the only honorable course that will restore peace to our ransacked homes and to our devastated fields, stopping at once and forever this horrible war which has 16 tros saqueados hogares y A nucstros devastados campos, cesando de una vez y para siempre esta guerra hor- rible que tanto oro y sangre viene costando y que aiin miis, mucho mas, ha de costar porque nuestra resolucion es irrevocable : la libertad 6 la muene, la independencia 6 el exterminio. Y para que quieren subyugarnos los imperialistas ? Que se propone hacer de nosotros ? Quieren que nos rin- damos, que cedamos nucstros inalie- nables derechos, nuestros hogares, nues- tra propiedad, nuestras vidas, nuestro destino fufiuro, A. la entera disposicion de los EE UU. ? Que hariin de los nueve millones de habitantes que pueblan nuestro Archipi^lago ? Nos permitireis tomar parte en vuestras elecciones ? Consentireis que nos erijamos en uno 6 mils Estados fede- rales ? Nos concedereis el derecho de enviar senadores y representantes A vuestro Congreso ? Nos tasareis los impuestos sin oir A nuestros procura- dores ? Cambiareis vuestras tarifas aduaneras, A fin de dar libre entrada en los EE. UU. A nuestros productos en condiciones de competencia con los de vuestro suelo ? Permitireis que los " trusts " se utilicen de nuestra barata labor para producir con ventaja sobre vuestra propia produccion ? De- jareis que dichos trusts se sirvan de nuestro pueblo, explolAndolo A su an- tojo, en tanto que vosotros gozais de already cost so much in treasure and hiood, and which, if not abandoned, will yet cost much more, because our resolution is fixed : Liberty or death ; independence or annihilation. Why do the Imperialists wish to sub- jugate us? What do they intend to do with us ? Do they expect us to surrender, — to yield our inalienable rights, our homes, our properties, our lives, our future destinies, to the abso- lute control of the United States ? W^hat would you do with our nine millions of people? Would you permit us to take part in your elections ? Would you concede to us the privilege of sending Senators and Representa- tives to your Congress ? Would you allow us to erect one or more federal states ? Or, would you tax us without representation ? Would you change your tariff laws so as to admit our products free of duty and in compe- tition with the products of your own soil ? And thus would you allow the American trusts to utilize our cheap labor in the manufacture of goods that would compete with the products of your own factories ? Would you permit the trusts to bottle up our people to subserve their own ends, depriving us even of those liberties v/hich you are enjoying ? Would you admit our artizans, mechanics, laborers, and servants to take employment in your country on an equal footing with 17 . ■ ' las bend:ciones de la Libeitad ? Per- American citizens, Indians and Ne- mitireis que nuestros artesanos. me- groes ? Would you allow us to pro- cdnicos, labradorcs y sirvientes traba- hibit Chinese immigration ? VVould jen en vuestro pais bajo un pitS de you permit us to retain our own igualdad con los ciudadanos ameri- language and not force us to adopt canos, indios y negros ? Nos liegareis yours ? Would you let us elect our el derecho, que vosotros ejercitais, de own local officers ? VVould you allow rechaz .r a los inmigrantes chinos ? us to share your offices, your honors Nos dejareis conservar nuestro idioma and your privileges ? And, as for the sin- forzarnos A adoptar el vuestro ? saloons (which were almost unknown Nos cedereis la libre eleccion de nues- in Manila before) would you allow tros funcionarios locales? Nos deja- them to go on multiplying at the appal- reis gozar de vuestros ofic-os, honores ling rate at which their number has in- y privilegios ? Permitireis que las creased there within the past two years ? tabernas, antes casi desconocidas en Would you allow the lands in the Filipinas, se multipliquen en la escan- Filipines to remain at all untaxed, dalosa proporcion que alli esvA pro- as formerly, simply because some re!i- duci^ndose, mientras aqui restringi's gious corporations have acquired enor- su aumento ? Consentireis que las mous and fraudulent properties in tierras en Filipinas, solo porque en them ? Would you remove your ellas tienen gran y dudosa propiedad American soldiery and permit us to poderosisimas corporaciones, sigan sin create an army of our own ? Or, if pagar contribucion alguna ? Rctirareis you were determined to maintain a de nuestro pais vuestros soldados anglo- powerful army and fleet in order to americanoSjConcedi^ndonos lacrtacion protect your newly acquired " prop- de milicias propias ? xMantendreis erty " from foreign ambitions, and from alli, A vuestras exclusivas expensas, ya our natural and perpetual anxieties for que los ingresos de un pais pobre como liberty, would you do this solely at el nuestro jamais podran costearlos, your own expense, because the revenues • una flota para defender de extrangeras of a poor country like ours could not ' ambiciones la nueva propiedad que do so? You who so ardently protest habeis adquirido y un poderoso ej»^r- against the destruction by England of cito para ampararla de nuestras natii- two small republics which challenged rales y eternas ansias de libertad ? her to war, would you continue to l.os que tan ardorosamente proiestais remain indifferent whilst your rulers de que Inglaterra extinga dos pequenas are engaged in annihilating a weaker ■T-': /-^^.^ 18 repi'iblicas que a guerrear la retaron, permanecereis indiferentes niientras vuestros gobernantes aniquilan otra repviblica, miis debil, mucho mas des- valida (jue aquellas, y que, lejos de declararos la guurra, (u6 vuestra amiga servicial, vuestra eficaz aliada ? Que hareis de Filipinas y de los fili- pinos, si aquello no ha de ser un nuevo estado de America, ni nosotros hemos de gozar de vuestra mfsma ciudadania ? El Imperialismo ni sabe ni puede contestar A estas preguntas ni A otras semejantes que pudi^ramos dirigirie. Tan solo codicias del momento, afan de explotacion, sed miserable de oro, le inspiran, pero en sus desorientadas imaginaciones no logra darse verdadera cuenta de cual es su plan, cuales sus propoiitos para lo porvenir ni hasta donde le autorizareis d desarollar sus insaciables apetitos Porque el dilema es inexorable : 6 la relencion de Fili- pinas causarii inmenso quebranto A vuestras industrias y A vuestro comer- cio, si con miras nobles se realiza, 6 se reducira A una despiadada y vergon- zosa explotacion colonial que borrard cuanto de loable y alto hay en vuestra historia ; y, sera posible que vosotros, ciudadanos de la libre America, con- sintais que seamos convertidos en sier- vo3 6 esclavos? Si esto sucediera, habria que convenir en que vuestras sabias y nobles doctrinas, — al esta- blecer que todos los hombres son republic which is much more helpless than those of South Africa, and which, far from declaring war against you, was your obliging friend, your success- ful ally ? What would you do with the Filipinos and with the Filipinos if you refused to allow them to become a new American state, if you refused to allow them to enjoy your citizenship ? Imperialism knows not how to an- swer these questions. It is inspired only by greed, by a vile thirst f r gold and by the lust of spoliation. But, ever misled by its ruthless impulses, it cannot determine which would be its better plan, which should be its settled purpose for the future, or how far it may safely indulge its insatiable appe- tites. For the dilemma is inexorable : either the retention of the Filipine Islands, if it is realized with a noble pur- pose, will result in great harm to your industries and your commerce, or, it will become a system of merciless and shameful colonial spoliation which will forever blot out the honor of whatever there is that is lofty and noble in your history. Can it be possible, sons ot America, that you will allow us lo become subjects or slaves ? Should this happen, how will you reconcile it with the wise and noble principles set ^ forth in your Declaration of Indepen- dence : ' That all men are created equal ; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights ; 19 iguales, que fueron dotados por el Creador de id^nticos inalienahles de- rechos, entre ,los cuales figuran en primera linea al de ser libres y el de la libre prosecucion de la felicidad, y que solo para garantir estos derechos existen los gobiernos, cuyos poderes se derivan del consentimiento de los go- bernados — que tanhermosas yhonradas declaraciones, son especiosos enganos, fraudulentas promesas. No podeis, no, sentar un tan rotundo mentis A toda vuestra historia : no podeis consentir la trasgresion palmaria que el Imperia- lismo se [)ropone hacer de vuestros mds fundamentales principios. Mien- tras el Congreso se resuelve A cor- regir las ilegales agresiones de que venimos siendo victimas, con violacion de todo derecho, de solemnes pro- mesas y deberes de elemental gratitud, confiamos en el alto sentido de justicia que siempre caracterizo, para honra vuestra, la libre conciencia del libre americano. No podeis, no, consentir nuestra esclavizacion que seria vuestra eterna deshonra. Influid, pues, cuanto antes sobre vuestros legisladores y gobernantes para que nos concedan el gobierno propio que se nos debe, y la paz se harei en el acto, con beneficio vuestro y nuestro, cesando con tlla el inter- minable y esteril derramamlento de sangre que la actual guerra significa. that among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness ; that to secure these rights governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed," Will you transform these beautiful and honorable sentiments into specious deceits, fraudulent promises, arlfe high- sounding but hollow words? No! You cannot belie your whole history. You cannot tolerate the violation which Imperialism is so evidently working against your most venerable and fundamental principles. Until Congress succeeds in redressing the illegal aggressions of which we are the victims, and shall suppress these viola- tions of reason, of solemn contracts and of the elementary conce[)tions of gratitude, we shall rely upon and appeal to the high sense of justice which has hitherto so honorably characterized the free American conscience. We do not believe you will allow us to be en- slaved ; it would be a dishonor to your- selves. Influence, then, as soon as possible your legislators and rulers to give us self-government, which by right be- longs to us, and peace will be restored immediately, to your benefit and ours, ending the now incessant and fruitless bloodshed entailed upon us by the present war. ' . : , We are ready to make peace, and, 20 Estamos dispuestos A la paz y para in order to facilitate this end, we facilitarla proponernos : i.o Que iiidemnizaremos A los EE. UU., abonandoselos, de los veinte millones de doUarsi que fueron pagados a Espaiia ; 2.0. Que las relaciones comerciales mils amistosas 6 inquebran- tables nos unirjin siempre, para miituo beneficio y mayor ade- lanto de nuestro pais ; 3.0 Que los EE. UU tendrAn en nuestras costas los sitios razo- nablemente necesarios para es- taciones de carbon, fuera de las ciudades establecidas ; 4.0 Que nopermitiremosen las Islas inonop61ios de ningun g^nero, y que daremos A vuestros ciu- dadanos todas las condiciones y garantias apetecibles de se- guridad personal y respeto A su3 propiedades de quti gocen nues- tros compatriotas ; 5.0 Que nos hallamos dispuestos A acceder A cuanto deseeis en . vuestra pr6, siempre que sea ' justo y no constituya un aten-,, propose : First : That we will pay back to the United States the twenty mil- lion dollars paid by them to Spain. Second : That the most amicable and perpetual commercial re'a- tions shall exist between us for our mutual benefit and for the greater progress of our country. Third : That we will grant to the United States whatever space is reasonably necessary for coal- ing stations outside of our established cities. Fourth : That we will not allow monopolies of any kind in the Islands, and that we will give to your citizens all the guaran- tees and protection accorded to our own citizens for the secu- rity of life and property. Fifth : That we are ready to enter- tain whatever terms you may desire for yourselves, so long as they do not infringe upon our individual and political 21 :?.. ' ■■.«. " " tado A nuestra libertad indivi- - .; dual y social 6 jI la integridad ;w ' 'i ■'■':'■-■::. liberties, or upon the integrity of our nationality. After these offers, it only remains that you, the free citizens of America, for the glory of your name throughout the world and foY the honor of your flag, shall do justice. Thus shall the hands of your noble sons be no longer stained with innocent blood. Thus shall it not be said that the vile inspi- rations of greed have banished from your hearts those lofty traditions of liberty and philanthropy which you have inherited from your honest fore- fathers. Toronto, June, 1900. For the Central Filipino Committee, Q. APACIBLE, . V'- &ft' • 9 " , I. ■ c f' O V ^ » I 'J U ' ' **. b V O V « ". -.[^iS.' ..: „ ■:.^■■■^■■r■l r,l. J I D '1../ • » • , 4 «4<0 * « 1. " *< V .' ■■■'I ■'-'' y ■•-■■ •' ■ i-'iyc, ' r :■'>;. - \. :,£■ V f- .-.. ".■. -^ V- •■ ■'<■: