Show EMILIO AGUINALDO Who Is for tor a cause c use loftier than that for which Washington W contended To the Editor of ot The Herald There Ther is evidently an attempt to e In Induce induce induce duce a misapprehension concerning the character and conduct of Aguinaldo the Filipino leader At least Republican can orators following the Tribune une In la their efforts to obscure the real ques question question question tion underlying the issue of imperial imperialism ism lam defame the life Ufe and character of Aguinaldo by repeating stale slanders i affecting his Integrity and motives It Itis ItIs is not perceived per e Ived that the unworthiness I of o this map if he were in fact un unworthy Unworthy worthy worth In anywise affects the rights of a nation struggling for rOI independence ence once Since however the militarists of the times appear to think the argument argument ment meat is weighty and conclusive the tue facts may be stated In 1897 Spain unable to put down the insurrection made concessions and arid promised many m ny reforms in the admin administration adminIstration of government in Luzon in including Including eluding Jn In the cortez freedom r dom of ot the press pr sS general generalI I amnesty of the insurgents and the tha ex ox expulsion of the monastic orders It was also stipulated to pay poy Aguinaldo and the other ether leaders in silver slIver they bey to leave the country There never v W was is any secret about this agreement which was publicly made with the knowledge and consent of the whole Filipino na nation nation nation tion Spain deposited of the amount In a bank at but did not riot carry out the proposed re reforms forms and one of the subordinate chiefs named Artacho Artache sued for a dl di division vision of this fund The rest of the tory Story can best be told in the language of General F V Greene in a report to Major Malor lf or General Merritt which wIts was I submitted to the American peace com corn commission commission mission at Paris With reference to t the money and suit General Greene GrAena wrote Which lIch fact is Interesting on account of or the very honorable position token taken by Aguinaldo Aguinaldo claimed that the money was a trust fund and was to remain on deposit unil un n It was seen whether the Spaniards would carry out their promised reforms and if they failed to do so 80 it was to be bo used to defray the expenses of a new insurrection Insurrection tion The suit was as settled out of court by payIng pacing Artacho No steps having been taken to introduce the re reforms reforms reforms forms more than 2000 2 insurgents who had been deported to Fernando Po and other places are still in confinement and Aguinaldo is now using the money to carry on the operations of the pros pres present eat ent insurrection So much for the statement made that Aguinaldo sold his country for Span Spanish SpanIsh ish Ink sliver silver The best evidence of the th sincerity and purity of his motives in carrying on a defensive w war ar against our government is found In the confidence and attachment of his people It a is not strange that no Filipino has ever suspected his leader lead r of defection to the national cause ause Others in high position position tion have fallen before Spanish and possibly American intrigue victims to cupidity or fear but Aguinaldo by his I patriotism and devotion d to his coun cause still retains the respect and confidence of at his people Spain put a aprice aprice aprice price of In gold upon his head yet in all aU the Filipino nation n was found not one BO sp base and degraded as to be betray betray betray tray the soldier who was fighting for forthe forthe forthe the liberties of his country There was no Benedict Arnold to earn the execration execration execration tion of mankind by taking the price of blood and liberty This fact attests more strongly than all aU other evidence the sincerity and pa patriotism patriotism patriotism of ot Aguinaldo fully tully believed in inand inand and arid appreciated by his followers Gentlemen of the Republican press and rostrum is it not time for you to still the voice of ot slander and upon pon facts and real conditions alone find arguments arguments ments if it you have them in support of your endeavors io to divert the govern government ment meat from the purposes of its organ organization organization and being C S VARIAN |