CHAPTER IX.
SOME FACTS ABOUT THE PHILIPPINOS.
WHO AGUINALDO IS.
Emilio Aguinaldo was born March 22, 1869, at Cavite, Viejo.
When twenty-five years old he was elected Mayor of Cavite.
On August 21, 1896, Aguinaldo became leader of the insurgents.

The revolution started on that day.
He fought four battles with the Spaniards and was victorious in all.
He lost but ten men, to the Spaniards 125.
On December 24, 1897, a peace was established between Aguinaldo and the Spanish.
Aguinaldo received $400,000, but the rest of the conditions of peace were never carried out.
In June last Aguinaldo issued a proclamation, expressing a desire for the establishment of a native administration in the Philippines under an American protectorate.
In an interview with a World correspondent at that time he expressed himself as grateful to Americans.
In July he issued a proclamation fixing the 12th day of that month for the declaration of the independence of the Philippines.
In November Aguinaldo defied General Otis, refusing to release his Spanish prisoners.
The Cabinet on December 2 cabled General Otis to demand the release of the prisoners.
[Illustration: EMILIO AGUINALDO, MILITARY DICTATOR OF THE FILIPINOS.] AGUINALDO THE MAN.
In his features, face and skull Aguinaldo looks more like a European than a Malay.
He is what would be called a handsome man, and might be compared with many young men in the province of Andalusia, Spain.

If there be truth in phrenology he is a man above the common.

Friends and enemies agree that he is intelligent, ambitious, far-sighted, brave, self-controlled, honest, moral, vindictive, and at times cruel.

He possesses the quality which friends call wisdom and enemies call craft.