onfidences, never acted upon
the assumption that the Government would cooperate with him--General
Aguinaldo--for the furtherance of any plans of his own, nor that,
in accepting his said cooperation, it would consider itself pledged
to recognize any political claims which he might put forward." [21]

What reason if any is there for denying the truth of this allegation?

I will give in full Blount's statement as to what occurred at a
meeting held at Singapore, to celebrate the early successes of Dewey
and Aguinaldo, as it constitutes his nearest approach to a direct
claim, that any one at any time promised independence:--

"First there was music by the band. Then followed the formal reading
and presentation of the address by a Dr. Santos, representing the
Filipino community of Singapore. The address pledged the 'eternal
gratitude' of the Filipino people to Admiral Dewey and the honored
addressee; alluded to the glories of independence, and to how Aguinaldo
had been enabled; by the arrangement so happily effected with Admiral
Dewey by Consul Pratt, to arouse eight millions of Filipinos to take up
arms 'in defence of those principles of justice and liberty of which
your country is the foremost champion' and trusted 'that the United
States... will efficaciously second the programme arranged between you,
sir, and General Aguinaldo in this port of Singapore, and secure to
us our independence under the protection of the United States.'

"Mr. Pratt arose and 'proceeded, speaking in French,' says the
newspaper--it does not say Alabama French, but that is doubtless
what it was--'to state his belief that the Filipinos would prove
and were now proving themselves fit for self-government.' The
gentleman from Alabama then went on to review the mighty events and
developments of the preceding six weeks, Dewey's victory of May Ist,
'the brilliant achievements of your own distinguished leader, General
Emilio Aguinaldo, _cooperating on land with the Americans at sea_,'
etc. 'You have just reason to be proud of what has been and is being
accomplished by General Aguinaldo and your fellow-countrymen under
his command. When, six weeks ago, I learned that General Aguinaldo had
arrived _incognito_ in Singapore, I immediately _sought him out_. An
hour's interview convinced me that he _was the man for the occasion_;
and, having communicated with Admiral Dewey, I accordingly arranged
for him to join the latter, which he did at Cavite. The rest yo