The Philippine American War a War of Frontier and Empire In A War of Frontier and Empire, Silbey traces the rise and fall of President Emilio Aguinaldo as Aguinaldo tries to liberate the Philippines from colonial rule only to fail, devastatingly, before a relentless American army. He tracks President McKinley's decision to commit troops and fulfill a divinely inspired injunction to uplift and civilize, despite the protests of many Americans. Most... Nichols On Silbey, 'A War Of Frontier And Empire - H-Net Hill & Wang Pub; Reprint edition (4 March 2008). Language, English. Paperback, 254 pages. ISBN-10, 0809096617. ISBN-13, 978-0809096619. Item Weight, 272 g