The Americana believe, probably on good evidence, though the Filipino
agents deny, that the time of the attack was fixed by a telegram from Agoncillo, Aguinaldo's agent in Washington, with the view of influencing the Senate's votes. If so, he is a blunderer. The vote was doubtful till the attack, but on receiving news that the flag had been fired on six Senators abstained from voting, and two changed sides, the final vote, with ninety Senators in Washington, being fifty-seven to twenty-seven. This shows the necessary two-thirds majority, and the Treaty with Spain is therefore ratified. The House of Representatives has at the same time passed the vote of £4,000,000 sterling to be paid for the Philippines, and nothing is now wanting but ratification by the Cortes, which will not be delayed. President McKinley still hesitates a little to act without this, but reinforcements have been sent to Manila, and orders to crush the enemy, but the Generals await instructions as to the formation of a new Government. The islands, however, now belong to the United States, and till they frankly submit—and we trust for a cen- tury longer—they will be governed from above, the Americana being now pledged to take up their share of the " white man's burden."
