Benevolent Assimilation

Dec. 21, 1898: Mckinley issues “Benevolent Assimilation” Proclamation

william mckinley small size pic_edited On Dec. 21, 1898, President McKinley issued the BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION PROCLAMATION, announced in the Philippines on Jan. 4, 1899, which stated the U.S.’ “altruistic” mission in acquiring the Philippines.

The U.S. have “come, not as invaders or conquerors, but as friends, to protect the natives in their homes, in their employment, and in their personal and religious rights.”

Moreover, the U.S. wanted to “win the confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of the Philippines by assuring them in every possible way that full measure of individual rights and liberties which is the heritage of free peoples, and by proving to them that the mission of the United States is one of benevolent assimilation substituting the mild sway of justice and right for arbitrary rule.”

Christmas at Manila program, Dec 25 1898

US soldiers and carabao-drawn dray cart_opt_opt — Christmas Day, 1898. US soldiers on a carabao-drawn dray cart at San Miguel district, Manila.

1st Nebraska on outpost detail, Dec. 25, 1898 — Christmas Day, 1898. 1st Nebraskans on outpost detail.

Company E 1st Nebraska enjoying Xmas dinner at Camp Santa Mesa, Dec. 25, 1898 — Christmas Day, 1898. Men of Company E, 1st Nebraska Volunteers, enjoying the holiday meal at Santa Mesa district, Manila.

Agoncillo leaves for Washington, The San Francisco Call, Dec 27, 1898 — The San Francisco Call, issue of Tuesday, Dec. 27, 1898, Page 1

Filipinos to establish junta, The Evening Times Dec 28 1898 — The Evening Times, Washington, D.C., issue of Wednesday, Dec. 28, 1898, Page 1

Otis proclaims US protection, Jan 4 1899 1_opt

Otis proclaims US protection, Jan 4 1899 2_opt — MGen. Elwell S. Otis proclaims American protection over the Philippines. Typo error in this original press release submitted to Manila newspapers by the US army: the date “January 4, 1898” should have read “January 4, 1899.”

Aguinaldo response in Spanish to Otis Proclamation of Jan 4 1899 1_opt

Aguinaldo response in Spanish to Otis Proclamation of Jan 4 1899 2_opt — Emilio Aguinaldo’s response to Otis’s proclamation published in El Heraldo De La Revolucion, official newspaper of the Philippine government, Jan. 5, 1899.

Aguinaldo response in English to Otis proclamation, Jan 5 1899_opt — Aguinaldo’s response, in English, to Otis’s proclamation; a soldier of the 1st Washington Volunteer Infantry said he pulled this document off a public wall in Singalong district, Manila, in January 1899.

Aguinaldo will resist, SFC, Jan 5 1899 — The San Francisco Call, issue of Thursday, Jan. 5, 1899, Page 5

Aguinaldo will resist, text SFC Jan 5 1899 — The San Francisco Call, issue of Thursday, Jan. 5, 1899, Page 5

Aguinaldo will resist, text 2 — The San Francisco Call, issue of Thursday, Jan. 5, 1899, Page 5

Filipinos want their rights, The Scranton Tribune, Jan. 6, 1899 — The Scranton Tribune, Scranton, Pennsylvania, issue of Friday, Jan. 6, 1899, Page 1

Filipinos may give battle, TRU Jan 6 1899

On Jan. 5, 1899, Aguinaldo issued a counter-proclamation to Mckinley’s “Benevolence”. He warned that his government was prepared to fight any American attempt to forcibly take over the country.

This sounded like a declaration of war to the American military although Aguinaldo had no wish to get into a war with the United States. He knew that war would only cause untold suffering to the Filipino people.

He was still hopeful that the situation could be saved by peaceful negotiations between him and the American military leaders in the Philippines.

Otis issues proclamation, GDL Jan 6 1899 — The Guthrie Daily Leader, issue of Friday, Jan. 6, 1899

Otis issues proclamation, text — The Guthrie Daily Leader, issue of Friday, Jan. 6, 1899

Otis issues proclamation, text 2 — The Guthrie Daily Leader, issue of Friday, Jan. 6, 1899

Agoncillo presents credentials, Omaha Daily Bee Jan 7 1899

Aguinaldo strong protest

Aguinaldo strong protest, text

emilio aguinaldo full body_edited During the period Jan. 9-29, 1899, the Philippine Government negotiated with General Otis.

The Filipino panel was composed of Manuel Arguelles, Ambrosio Flores, and Florentino Torres; their American counterparts were Brig. Gen. Robert P. Hughes, provost-marshal-general of Manila and inspector-general ; Col. Enoch H. Crowder, judge-advocate-general; and Col. (later Gen.) James F. Smith, of the 1st California Volunteers. elwell s. otis_edited [Arguelles, Flores and Torres later abandoned Aguinaldo and became founding members of the pro-American Partido Federal on Dec.23, 1900].

All this while, however, Otis was merely waiting for six regiments of the U.S. army to arrive to supplement his forces against the Filipino army. When they did come in late January, the seventh negotiation session was forthwith called off.

Otis thought he was now ready to carry out President Mckinley’s mandate to move on from Manila to occupy all of the archipelago.