entlemen, however, have publicly expressed their regret for
their vote, as is well known, enough to have changed the result.

When I think of my party, whose glory and whose service to
Liberty are the pride of my life, crushing out this people
in their effort to establish a Republic, and hear people
talk about _giving_ them good Government, and that they are
better off than they ever were under Spain, I feel very much
as if I had learned that my father, or some other honored
ancestor, had been a slave-trader in his time, and had boasted
that he had introduced a new and easier kind of hand-cuffs
or fetters to be worn by the slaves during the horrors of
the middle passage.

I do not believe that there is a respectable or intelligent
Filipino to-day, unless possibly some Macabebe scout, who
would not get rid of the Government of the United States
at once, if he could. Buencamino is said to be one of the
ablest of their public men. He has been quoted as friendly
to us, and is so. There is no doubt that he has so expressed
himself. He has been appointed a member of the Taft Government,
and has had committed to him the responsible and important
duty of deciding the appointments to the offices which are
to be filled by the native Filipinos, under the existing establishment.
It is said by both sides that he is crafty and selfish and
ambitious, and that he likes to be on the side that is the
strongest. How that may be, I do not know. But he will not
even pretend to accept the rule of the United States willingly.
He appeared as a witness before a Committee of the House of
Representatives, when in this country in 1902. He was asked
whether his people approved the policy of the Democratic Party.
He answered emphatically: "No. They do not wish to have the
United States abandon them to the ambition or cupidity of
foreign Governments." But he added: "Every Filipino is in
favor of the policy advocated by Senator Hoar." "What!" said
his inquirer, with great surprise, "Do you mean to say that
every Filipino agrees with Senator Hoar in his views?" "Yes,"
replied the man, with great emphasis; "every Filipino agrees
with Senator Hoar."

I mentioned this one day in conversation with President Roosevelt.
He told me that Buencamino had said exactly the same thing
to him.

General Miles told me on his return from his journey round
the world that he saw many leaders of the Philippine people;
that they spoke of me with great rega