se of time, North America should find herself in
the pitiful plight, of a weak and oppressed people and the Philippines,
a free and powerful nation, then at war with your oppressors, asked
for your aid promising to deliver you from such a weighty yoke, and
after defeating her enemy with your aid she set about subjugating you,
refusing the promised liberation?

Civilized nations! Honourable inhabitants of the United States, to
whose high and estimable consideration I submit this unpretentious
work, herein you have the providential facts which led to the unjust
attack upon the existence of the Philippine Republic and the existence
of those for whom, though unworthy, God made me the principal guardian.

The veracity of these facts rests upon my word as President of this
Republic and on the honour of the whole population of eight million
souls, who, for more than three hundred years have been sacrificing
the lives and wealth of their brave sons to obtain due recognition
of the natural rights of mankind--liberty and independence.

If you will do me the honour to receive and read this work and then
pass judgment impartially solemnly declaring on which side right and
justice rests, your respectful servant will be eternally grateful.

(Signed) _Emilio Aguinaldo_.

_Tarlak, 23rd September, 1899_.

NOTES

[1] A kind of sword--_Translator_.

[2] Of their own free will and accord--_Translator_.

[3] Suspension bridge.--_Translator_.

[4] Philippine Local Exhibition.--_Translator_.

[5] Short sword--_Translator_.

[6] The "Black Hole" of Manila.

[7] Many of the American papers reported that the majority was _one_
vote only in excess of the absolutely requisite two-thirds majority.

Index

I.--The Revolution of 1896; 1.
II.--The Treaty of Peace of Biak-na-bato; 4.
III.--Negotiations; 6.
IV.--The Revolution of 1898; 19.
V.--The Dictatorial Government; 22.
VI.--The First Triumphs; 24.
VII.--The Philippine Flag; 26.
VIII.--Expedition to Bisayas; 28.
IX.--The Steamer "Compania de Filipinas"; 28.
X.--The Proclamation of Independence; 30.
XI.--The Spanish Commission; 32.
XII.--More American Troops; 37.
XIII.--The 13th August; 38.
XIV.--First Clouds; 40.
XV.--Vain Hopes; 42.
XVI.--The American Commission; 44.
XVII.--Impolitic acts; 46.
XVIII.--The Mixed Commission; 50.
XIX.--Outbreak of Hostilities; 51.

End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of True Version of the Philippine