Article I. The lives and property of all foreigners, including Chinese and all Spaniards who either directly or indirectly have joined in taking arms against us are to be respected.

Article II.  The lives and property of those who lay down their arms are also to be respected.

Article III.  Also are to be respected all sanitary establishments and ambulances, and likewise the persons and things which may be found either in one or the other, including the assistants in this service, unless they show hostility.

Article IV.  Those who disobey what is prescribed in the preceding articles will be tried by summary court and put to death, if such disobedience shall cause assassination, fire, robbery and violation.

Given at Cavite, the 24th of May, 1898.

Emilio Aguinaldo.

It is to be remarked of this semi-official statement that Admiral Dewey did not make any promises he could not fulfill to Aguinaldo; did not assume to speak for the President or the army of the United States, but gave guns and ammunition to the insurgents, who aided him in maintaining a foothold on the shore.  The insurgents did not win Dewey’s victory, but aided to improve it.  Without the aid of the American army Manila might have been destroyed, but could not have been captured intact.  General Merritt settled the question of the status of the insurgent army with respect to the capture of Manila in a summary and sound way when he said there could be but one military authority in a military government, and as the commanding general of the Philippine expedition of the United States, he was that authority.

CHAPTER VI

The Proclamations of General Aguinaldo.

June 16th, 1898, Establishing Dictatorial Government—­June 20th, 1898, Instructions for Elections—­June 23d, 1898, Establishing Revolutionary Government—­June 23d, 1898, Message to Foreign Powers—­June 27th, 1898, Instructions Concerning Details—­July 23d, 3898, Letter From Senor Aguinaldo to General Anderson—­August 1st, 1898, Resolutions of Revolutionary Chiefs Asking for Recognition—­August 6th, 1898, Message to Foreign Powers Asking Recognition.

One of the most critical questions in the situation of the Philippines is the precise position of the leader of the insurgents, General Aguinaldo.  His utterances in his official character of leader of the natives who for years have been in rebellion against Spain, have been but fragmentary, as they have come before the people.  We give for the public information the consecutive series of proclamations.

No. 1.

To the Philippine Public: 

Circumstances have providentially placed me in a position for which I can not fail to recognize that I am not properly qualified, but since I can not violate the laws of Providence nor decline the obligations which honor and patriotism impose upon me, I now salute you, Oh, My Beloved People!