The Philippines: Past and Present (Volume 1 of 2) by Dean C. Worcester
page 90 of 662 (13%)
page 90 of 662 (13%)
![]() | ![]() |
|
bombardment, and prevented this garrison from betaking itself to the
provinces, as it might otherwise have done, leaving Manila to shift for itself. Aguinaldo was powerless to take the place by assault. It lay at the mercy of Dewey's guns, and it would have been possible for the Admiral to take it at any time, but he could not at first have garrisoned it with United States forces, and never thought of attempting to use Insurgent forces for this purpose. Did Dewey really want or need Aguinaldo's help? Let us consider his testimony on the subject:-- "_Senator Carmack_. You did want a man there who could organize and rouse the people? "_Admiral Dewey_. I didn't want anybody. I would like to say now that Aguinaldo and his people were forced on me by Consul Pratt and Consul Wildman; I didn't do anything-- "_Senator Carmack_. Did they have any power to force him upon you? "_Admiral Dewey_. Yes; they had in a way. They had not the official power, but one will yield after a while to constant pressure. I did not expect anything of them; I did not think they would do anything. I would not have taken them; I did not want them; I did not believe in them; because, when I left Hongkong, I was led to suppose that the country was in a state of insurrection, and that at my first gun, as Mr. Williams put it, there would be a general uprising, and I |
|