Without going into
details, we may note that from the very beginning of their cooperation
in 1898, the Americans and Filipinos were at cross - purposes with each
other. The American policy at that time was too vague and uncertain
to be convincing to anyone, especially to Filipinos, who, misled by their
own ardent desires, too readily invested the Americans with the status
of allies in their own struggle for liberty. Hence, the Dictatorial
Government set up by Aguinaldo at Cavite on May 24 was probably regarded
by the Americans as merely a means of controlling the Filipinos and holding
them in check, while the latter looked upon it as a preliminary step to
a government of the Philippines by and for the Filipinos themselves.
On June 16, Aguinaldo
claimed that he was called upon to assume the role of Dictator, and five
days later, the Revolutionary Government was declared with the avowed object
of struggling for the independence of the Philippines until all nations,
including the Spanish, shall expressly recognize it, and to prepare the
country so that a the Republic shall be established. This all took
place with the knowledge of the Americans, but they were powerless to enforce
any objection or protest as the only forces available were those at the
ships and at Cavite, So the breach continued to widen, and the Filipinos
passed from American control.
Meanwhile, troops
had been organized in the United States to go to the Philippines and assure
the results of Dewey’s victory. They arrived on July 16 and were
see landing south of Manila, which they invested on that side well as on
the Bay, while the Filipino forces encircled it on all other sides. Friction
between the forces increased continually, until, on August 1, the
Declaration of Independence of the Filipino nation was issued. This
foreshadowed a crisis, evident alike to American and Spanish, and
necessitated prompt and concerted measures to protect Manila and the lives
and property of its inhabitants from the revengeful excesses of Filipinos
should they succeed in entering the city. Negotiations were accordingly
entered into between the Americans and the Spaniards, as a result of which
Manila surrendered on August 13, after a short bombardment, and the Americans
assumed control without allowing the Filipino to enter the city.
And when the Stars and Stripes replaced the Spanish flag over old Fort
Santiago, the Spanish dominion over the Philippines passed away forever,
and that of the United States came into existence.
American outposts
were established around Manila, facing those of the Filipinos, who had
become, in fact even if not as yet in act, insurgents against the American
Government. Both forces were uniformed, armed, equipped, and under
military control, and all of the courtesies and outward semblance
of friendship were scrupulously observed, the leaders on both sides desiring
to avoid a breach and hoping for an amicable settlement of all difficulties
through diplomatic means.
Early in September
Aguinaldo moved his headquarters to Malolos, on the railway and about 20
miles north of Manila; these on September 15, the first Filipino Congress
assembled, and the Revolutionary Government was perfected and put into
effective operation practically throughout the Islands except in
places actually held by either Americans or Spaniards. Continually, the
strain grew more tense, and at last, on the night of February 4 - 5th,
the clash came and the long expected war of the Insurrection began, Malolos
continued the seat of the Revolutionary Government until it was captured
by the Americans on March 31, 1899, when Tarlac became the new capital,
to be followed later by Bautista; each of these towns was also upon the
Manila - Dagupan railway, and successively farther north. Military
operations went on, but the Insurrection was practically at an end when
Dagupan was captured and the whole line of railway came into the possession
of the Americans, in November 1899. [36] |