The Springfield Herald

Aguinaldo's Government,

How It Was Formally Inaugurated at Cavite.

On the afternoon of June 12th the formation of a provisional government was officially proclaimed in Old Cavite. A large crowd of natives, numbering between five and six thousand, were gathered in the wide streets of the village, and the principal avenue was gay with triumphal arches. Hastily extemporized flags of the country were liberally displayed from the windows and on the house-tops, and a band of music enlivened the eventful occasion. Delegates from the eight provinces of Luzon island were present to represent the Filipinos of those districts. Nearly a thousand insurgent soldiers were drawn up in long columns near the old church and the presence of these added a touch of military impressiveness to the scene.

A stand had been erected from which the different addresses were made, and prominent leaders of the movement were on hand to add the necessary oratory of the occasion. A declaration of independence was read and General Emilio Aguinaldo was elected president of the new republic. Nearly all the official addresses were made in two languages, Spanish and Tagala, and there was a generous sprinkling of applause during their delivery.

The general was not present at the time. It was not considered wise to expose him to the possibility of being assassinated, and so he remained in his headquarters at Cavite. Colonel Johnson, an American army officer, who is now in command of the ordnance of the insurgent forces, was greeted with the greatest enthusiasm. He was borne aloft on the shoulders of demonstrative natives, and on account of his nationality was taken to symbolize the co-operation of the United States in the new movement for independence. Marian Ito Trias was elected vice president, and Balinero Aguinaldo was proclaimed minister of finance. Daniel Pirondo was made minister of war.

During the forenoon General Aguinaldo held a reception at Cavite to the delegates of the provinces and to prominent officers of his army.