and when these were not sent, he resigned his position. Fernando Primo de Rivera succeeded him in the spring of 1897. During these months the rebels had not openly demanded independence; their cry was, "Long live Spain; death to the Friars." Their demands, as expressed in a Tagálog proclamation of July, 1897, included the expulsion of the friars and the restoral to the township of the lands they occupied, the concession of parliamentary representation, freedom of the press, religious toleration, and equality of all persons before the law. Shortly after this, however, Aguinaldo, in another proclamation, spoke guardedly of independence. But independence and reforms were temporarily lost by the signing of the treaty of Biacnabató in December, 1897. By this arrangement, perfected through the diplomacy of the Filipino half-caste Pedro Paterno, in consideration of the payment to them of the sum of $1,700,000, Aguinaldo and the other insurgent leaders agreed to leave the islands and obtain the surrender of the arms and ammunition of their followers, while Governor Rivera is said to have promised in an indefinite way and without any written record, to bring about some of the desired reforms. The treaty resulted in the payment to the insurgent leaders of $400,000, only one-fourth of the promised sum; in their exile to Hong Kong and Singapore, and in the disorganization of the rebellion by the bribery and exile of its leaders. But the Spanish failed to follow up these advantages by conciliatory measures for quieting the natives. In China, the leaders quarrelled over the disposition of the funds; in the Philippines, continued severity against suspected persons kept alive the enmity to Spain; the publication of a Manila journal was suspended because it had ventured to print an article demanding an autonomous government; in April, 1898, insurrection broke out in Cebú, an island which had previously been peaceful; and, with the assistance of the Junta of politicians in Hong Kong and Singapore, Luzón again became the seat of armed rebellion. But by this time war had been declared between the United States and Spain, and the Tagálog insurrection thereupon entered upon its second stage. CHAPTER IX AMERICAN RULE IN THE PHILIPPINES WHILE Admiral Dewey, in the early part of the year 1898 in pursuance of orders from Washington, was preparing to attack the Spanish power in the Philippines, the Filipino leaders in China were seeking permission to join. his expedition. The American authorities realized that the rebels against Spain might prove useful in the prosecution of the American military and naval plans. But the exiled Philippine leaders had lost caste with the rebels because of the questionable financial operations by which they were induced to leave the islands, and there was some doubt whether the leaders would be received in a friendly manner if they attempted to return. When an American attack upon the Spaniards in the Philippines was impending, and the chance of return under American auspices arose before Aguinaldo, he at once promised a disposal of the funds according to the military necessities of the Filipino cause. Two agents of the exiles who were carried over to the islands by Dewey's expedition, were put ashore by the admiral, and travelling among the insurgents, received assurances that the principal leaders could with safety return. In interviews with Consul-General Wildman at Hong Kong, Aguinaldo promised to assist the United States against Spain, and expressed his desire for American citizenship, and for an American protectorate over the islands. (Edwin Wildman, Aguinaldo, p. 72.) The consul, believing Aguinaldo's |