“’The defenders of the Philippines in your command will attack the guard at Bilibid and liberate the prisoners and “presidiarios,” and, having accomplished this, they will be armed, saying to them: 

“’"Brothers, we must avenge ourselves on the Americans and exterminate them, that we may take our revenge for the infamy and treachery which they have committed upon us; have no compassion upon them; attack with vigor.  All Filipinos en masse will second you.  Long live Filipino independence.”

“’The order which will be followed in the attack will be as follows:  The sharpshooters of Tondo and Santa Ana will begin the attack from without and these shots will be the signal for the militia of Troso Binondo, Quiata and Sampaloe to go out into the street and do their duty; those of Pake, Ermita and Malate, Santa Cruz and San Miguel will not start out until 12 o’clock unless they see that their companions need assistance.

“’The militia of Tondo will start out at 3 o’clock in the morning; if all do their duty our revenge will be complete.  Brothers, Europe contemplates us; we know how to die as men, shedding our blood in defense of the liberty of our country.  Death to the tyrants.

“’War without quarter to the false Americans who have deceived us.

“‘Either independence or death.’”

There is not sufficient reason to assume that this paper setting forth an order to carry out a conspiracy of house burning and assassination is beyond belief.  It is characteristic of the Filipino literature that relates to Americans.  General Otis is a man whose communications may be relied upon absolutely.  He is a believer in the exact truth and has shown exemplary care in stating it.  The Filipino faction of warriors are habitually false, and wherever they have an agent, are circulating falsehoods manufactured to order.  The Junta of the Aguinaldo pretenders, issued at Hongkong a statement as follows: 

“Information which has leaked through the Pinkertons, sent by President McKinley to investigate the shipment of arms to the Filipinos, shows that the first shipments to Aguinaldo were made by order of the American government, through Consul Wildman, hence the shipment per the Wing Foi.  The American government subsequently telegraphed to cease this, coincident with the change of policy to annexation.

“Mr. Wildman and Rear Admiral Dewey promised to pay, but have not yet paid, for a subsequent expedition by the Abbey, authorized by Admiral Dewey, who afterward seized the steamer, and it is still held.  Papers respecting this are now in the possession of the Secretary of the Navy.

“The protestations of Admiral Dewey and other Americans that they made no promises are ridiculous.  In view of these facts let the American people judge how the nation’s word of honor was pledged to the Filipinos and confided in by them, and violated by the recent treachery of General Otis.”