"After this there was enthusiastic applause for the Consul; he
offered us all cigars, glasses of very fine sherry, and lemonade
for the musicians and the majority. The toasts were offered with the
sherry by your humble servant, Sres. Cannon, Enríquez, Celio, Reyes,
the Consul, the editors of the _Free Press_, _Straits Times_ and
Mr. Bray. We drank to America and her humanitarian work of redemption;
to the Philippines with America; we gave thanks to the Consul, to
Mr. Bray as an important defender; we drank to the _Free Press_ for
taking such an interest in our affairs, and to the _Straits Times_
(sarcastically); but I was very careful not to propose a toast to our
general, which was done at the proper time by 'Flaco' [23] when we
gave three cheers; for the sake of courtesy we cheered for England,
which had been so hospitable to us, and when everybody had become
quiet, the Editor of the _Straits Times_ took his glass in his hand
and cried in a loud voice, 'The Philippine Republic,' to which we
all responded. 'Flaco' disappeared a moment, and when he returned
he brought with him the American flag, and formally presented it to
us in French, which I interpreted to all in Spanish, as follows:
'Gentlemen: The American Consul, with his deep affection for us,
presents us this flag as the greatest and most expressive remembrance
which he can give us. The red stripes stand for the generous blood of
her sons, shed to obtain her liberty; the white stripes stand for her
virginity and purity as our country; the blue background indicates
the sky and each star represents a free and independent State; this
is America, and the Consul is desirous that we also should have so
glorious a history as hers and that it may be as brilliant as could
be wished, securing peace with respect, and may God be our help and
guide in securing liberty. Viva and with it our most sincere thanks
for so signal a courtesy.' Hereupon, to the surprise of everybody