er American
authority."

Aguinaldo became swollen with the conceit of greatness, and flattered
to believe he had a commanding destiny, he took on airs of extravagant
consequence in his correspondence with General Anderson, who commanded
the first expedition of the United States troops to the Philippines,
and dared to assume to have authority as to the disembarkation of the
soldiers of the United States. July 24th Aguinaldo wrote to Anderson:

"I came from Hongkong to prevent my countrymen from making common
cause with the Spanish against the North Americans, pledging before
my word to Admiral Dewey to not give place [to allow] to any internal
discord, because, [being] a judge of their desires, I had the strong
conviction I could succeed in both objects."

After this false and foolish presumption, he proceeded in a pompous
way to observe that "without the destruction of the Spanish squadron
the Philippine revolution would not have advanced so rapidly." He
claimed, in a letter dated August 1st to Consul Williams, that if he
did not assert himself as he was doing he would be held by his people
to be a traitor. His point at Singapore was that he could wield his
people at his pleasure. His observation was:

"I have done what they desire, establishing a government in order
that nothing important may be done without consulting fully their
sovereign will, not only because it was my duty, but also because
acting in any other manner they would fail to recognize me as the
interpreter of their aspirations and would punish me as a traitor,
replacing me by another more careful of his own honor and dignity."

On the day after the storming of Manila, Aguinaldo wrote to Anderson:

"My troops, who have been for so long besieging Manila, have always
been promised that they could appear in it, as you know and can not
deny, and for this reason and on account of the many sacrifices made of
money and lives, I do not consider it prudent to issue orders to the
contrary, as they might be disobeyed against my authority. Besides,
I hope that you will allow the troops to enter, because we have given
proofs many times of our friendship."

On the day of occupancy of Manila Aguinaldo wrote Anderson:

"I received a telegram. My interpreter is in Cavite; in consequence
of this I have not answered till now. My troops are forced by yours,
by means of threats of violence, to retire from positions taken. It
is necessary, to avoid conflicts, which I