We have seen how they held their soldiers in check until after Spain had been ousted from the Philippines by the Treaty of Paris as they had originally planned to do.

It now only remained to carry out the balance of their original plan to get rid of the Americans in one way or another.
General Otis states that "when Aguinaldo had completed his preparations for attack he prepared the outlines of his declaration of war, the full text of which was published at Malolos on the evening, and very shortly after, hostilities began.

This declaration was circulated in Manila on the morning of February 5." [234] The Insurgents brought down upon themselves the punishment which they received on February 4 and 5.
Blount has stated [235] that if the resolutions of Senator Bacon introduced on January 11, 1899, had passed, we never should have had any war with the Filipinos.

The resolutions in question concluded thus:-- "That the United States hereby disclaim any disposition or intention to exercise sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over said islands except for the pacification thereof, and assert their determination when an independent government shall have been duly erected therein entitled to recognition as such, to transfer to said government, upon terms which shall be reasonable and just, all rights secured under the cession by Spain, and to thereupon leave the government and control of the islands to their people." I must take issue with Blount as to the effect which these resolutions might have had if passed.

The Insurgents felt themselves to be fully competent to bring about such pacification of the islands as they deemed necessary.