“I declined even to discuss with General Aguinaldo the question of the future policy of the United States with regard to the Philippines, that I held out no hopes to him of any kind, committed the government in no way whatever, and, in the course of our confidences, never acted upon the assumption that the Government would cooperate with him—­General Aguinaldo—­for the furtherance of any plans of his own, nor that, in accepting his said cooperation, it would consider itself pledged to recognize any political claims which he might put forward.” [21]

What reason if any is there for denying the truth of this allegation?

I will give in full Blount’s statement as to what occurred at a meeting held at Singapore, to celebrate the early successes of Dewey and Aguinaldo, as it constitutes his nearest approach to a direct claim, that any one at any time promised independence:—­

“First there was music by the band.  Then followed the formal reading and presentation of the address by a Dr. Santos, representing the Filipino community of Singapore.  The address pledged the ’eternal gratitude’ of the Filipino people to Admiral Dewey and the honored addressee; alluded to the glories of independence, and to how Aguinaldo had been enabled; by the arrangement so happily effected with Admiral Dewey by Consul Pratt, to arouse eight millions of Filipinos to take up arms ’in defence of those principles of justice and liberty of which your country is the foremost champion’ and trusted ’that the United States... will efficaciously second the programme arranged between you, sir, and General Aguinaldo in this port of Singapore, and secure to us our independence under the protection of the United States.’

“Mr. Pratt arose and ‘proceeded, speaking in French,’ says the newspaper—­it does not say Alabama French, but that is doubtless what it was—­’to state his belief that the Filipinos would prove and were now proving themselves fit for self-government.’  The gentleman from Alabama then went on to review the mighty events and developments of the preceding six weeks, Dewey’s victory of May Ist, ’the brilliant achievements of your own distinguished leader, General Emilio Aguinaldo, cooperating on land with the Americans at sea,’ etc.  ’You have just reason to be proud of what has been and is being accomplished by General Aguinaldo and your fellow-countrymen under his command.  When, six weeks ago, I learned that General Aguinaldo had arrived incognito in Singapore, I immediately sought him out.  An hour’s interview convinced me that he was the man for the occasion; and, having communicated with Admiral Dewey, I accordingly arranged for him to join the latter, which he did at Cavite.  The rest you know.’” [22]

Now, it happens that Dr. Santos himself forwarded his speech, and his version of Pratt’s reply thereto, in a letter to Aguinaldo, dated Singapore, June 9, 1898.  As he served as interpreter, he, if any one, should know what Pratt said.  After describing the change in tone of the Singapore Free Press, with which strained relations had formerly existed, and the subsequent friendliness of the editor of this paper and that of the Straits Times, he says that on the previous afternoon he went with the other Filipinos to greet Pratt.  He continues:—­