The General himself usually wore a spotless suit of white linen,
a white shirt, with a well-polished front, a high collar and a
black necktie. He wore red velvet slippers, embroidered in gold. In
his office was a modern desk,--piled high with documents,--a large
mirror, two large, strong, iron boxes,--which served as a safe for
the moneys of the insurgent government,--and a grand piano of Spanish
make. Against a hat-rack leaned the rebel standard, and on the wall
hung a map of the province. This the General used to scan eagerly,
tracing the movements and the disposition of his troops.
Aguinaldo was usually surrounded by various members of his staff, none
of whom, however, was as impressive as himself. I believe Aguinaldo
to be sincere and patriotic. He is courageous, and has surely proved
himself an able general.
He has unbounded influence with his countrymen, and while, as stated,
$25,000 was offered for his head, no one betrayed him or attempted
to make an assault upon his life.
He is bravery personified, and inasmuch as the Filipinos admire this
above all other attributes, Aguinaldo is always at the head. He is a
born leader, and has just enough tact to adopt expediencies and make
compromises, yet not seem to do so.
And in so doing he, nevertheless, rarely appears to infringe upon
his own original plans.
In everything he takes the initiative; in no event does he consult
any one. He brooks no opposition; he has had no rivals in reality:
there have been one or two would-be-ones, but they could not withstand
him. He is perhaps not always scrupulous as to the attainment of
his ends, yet his proclamations are wise and moderate, his conduct
all one would desire in even a European dictator. Moreover, few have
shown themselves so modest and so merciful.
There is a tremendous magnetism about the man, and whenever he
addresses his troops, he holds them with a grip that would be
spellbound but for the rapt attention and for the devotion that is
vociferously manifested.
The natives, too, seem to be unable, as well as unwilling, to get
away from his power; and, to all appearances, he is to the islanders
the man of the hour.
Of course I do not agree with him in everything he does, but,
knowing his sincerity, and believing that he makes his spectacular
display merely to impress the natives, and so hold their allegiance,
I therefore admire him and hope that the Americans will co-operate
with him to give us a stable Philippine Government.
At all events, the man's strong personality, and his large following,
cannot, I believe, well be ignored by the American Government.
DEWEY AT MANILA.
The White Squadron.
It was the 19th of April. An American fleet lay in the harbor of
Hong-Kong, where it had been anchored for nearly a month, impatiently
awaiting the command that should send it to battle.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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