115.
   “When Admiral Dewey smashed the Spanish fleet in Manila harbor in 1898, the Philippine people had been fighting the Spanish for independence for years. Just before the Spanish American War, the Americans had promised the Philippines independence if they joined them against the Spanish. The Americans even brought back their leader, Emilio Aguinaldo from exile to lead the thirty-thousand man Philippine army. That army surrounded Manila as the American fleet sank the last Spanish battle-ship off the coast. Aguinaldo planned to join the Americans for the final battle in their war for independence, but he was stunned when the American forces marched up to the gates of Manila and the gates opened. The shock turned to rage when he discovered that America had paid Spain twenty million dollars at the Treaty of Paris for the entire Archipelago and President McKinley had announced the ‘Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation’. His country had been bought and paid for by the very country that had promised to liberate it.”

   “Benevolent Assimilation Proclamation.”, growled Pat “ What is it with Americans and euphemisms?”
   “Euphemisms, the tawdry cosmetic for power and greed in America or anywhere else.”, snapped Nanette.
   I let loose a weary sigh and prepared myself for the next painful history lesson. Conrad leaned against the railing across the deck and stared into the distance.