it and it never occurred to me to do it. There was a sort of a reign
of terror; there was no government. These people had got power for
the first time in their lives and they were riding roughshod over
the community. The acts of cruelty which were brought to my notice
were hardly credible. I sent word to Aguinaldo that he must treat
his prisoners kindly, and he said he would."

He has further testified that he never as much as heard of independence
until the appearance of Aguinaldo's proclamation of June 15, 1898:--

"_Admiral Dewey_.... Then when I heard that our troops were coming
I asked him to withdraw his troops from Cavite and make room for
our men. He demurred at this, but finally withdrew and established
headquarters across the bay at a place called Bacoor, from which
place on the 15th of June he sent me a proclamation declaring the
independence of the Philippines.

"_The Chairman_. Was that the first?

"_Admiral Dewey_. That was the first intimation; the first I had ever
heard of independence of the Philippines.

"_The Chairman_. He had said something to you--

"_Admiral Dewey_. Not a word. He had done what I told him. He was
most obedient; whatever I told him to do he did. I attached so little
importance to this proclamation that I did not even cable its contents
to Washington, but forwarded it through the mails. I never dreamed
that they wanted independence."