Admiral Dewey has testified as follows, concerning the recognition of Philippine independence by him:—­

“The Chairman.  You remember the question of your recognizing his republic was a good deal discussed and you wrote me a letter, which I read in the senate.  Of course, I am only asking now about what you said in the letter.  There was no recognition of the republic?

“Admiral Dewey.  Never.  I did not think I had any authority to do it and it never occurred to me to do it.  There was a sort of a reign of terror; there was no government.  These people had got power for the first time in their lives and they were riding roughshod over the community.  The acts of cruelty which were brought to my notice were hardly credible.  I sent word to Aguinaldo that he must treat his prisoners kindly, and he said he would.”

He has further testified that he never as much as heard of independence until the appearance of Aguinaldo’s proclamation of June 15, 1898:—­

“Admiral Dewey....  Then when I heard that our troops were coming I asked him to withdraw his troops from Cavite and make room for our men.  He demurred at this, but finally withdrew and established headquarters across the bay at a place called Bacoor, from which place on the 15th of June he sent me a proclamation declaring the independence of the Philippines.

“The Chairman.  Was that the first?

“Admiral Dewey.  That was the first intimation; the first I had ever heard of independence of the Philippines.

“The Chairman.  He had said something to you—­

“Admiral Dewey.  Not a word.  He had done what I told him.  He was most obedient; whatever I told him to do he did.  I attached so little importance to this proclamation that I did not even cable its contents to Washington, but forwarded it through the mails.  I never dreamed that they wanted independence.”

Remembering that Admiral Dewey was not being interrogated as to the statements of the “Resena Veridica,” it will be seen that he has, nevertheless, covered them fully.

It was my good fortune to be long and intimately associated with Admiral Dewey while serving on the first Philippine commission.  He always grew indignant when the subject of any promises relative to independence said to have been made by him was so much as mentioned, and gave to the commission in writing the following:—­

“The statement of Emilio Aguinaldo, under date of Sept. 23, published in the Springfield Republican, so far as it relates to reported conversations with me, or actions of mine, is a tissue of falsehood.  I never, directly or indirectly, promised the Filipinos independence.  I never received Aguinaldo with military honors, or recognized or saluted the so-called Filipino flag.  I never considered him as an ally, although I did make use of him and the natives to assist me in my operations against the Spaniards.” [48]