Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1899-11-08
The PHILIPPINES COMMISSION.
Says That This Country Is Honor Bound to
Suppress Aguinaldo.


Suppress Aguinaldo.
The commission appointed by the
president last winter to investigate the
situation in the Philippines, submitted
an exhaustive preliminary report last
Thursday, and the same was at once
given out for publication in the daily
papers of Friday morning.
The report is evidently prepared
with great care. 1t commences with
the rebellion that took place against
the Spaniards in 1896, and reviews all
the important developments up to the
time the commission left the islands
some months ago. The report is signed
by J. c. Schurman, George Dewey,
Charles DENLY and Dean G. Worcester
1t is published in full in all the metro
politan dailies, and an extended synop.
sis of it was sent out by the Associated
Press. The full text of it would fill
nearly two pages of THE ENQUIRER
but synopsis will probably prove as
interesting to our readers.
The insurrection of 1896 is described
as having been instituted, not for the
the purpose of gaining independence
but merely to secure the reform of out
rageous abuses that were being perpe-
trated by the Spanish government and
the Romish clergy. The specific com
plants of the insurrectionists are pub
lished in full. The Spaniards acknowl-
edged the justice of these complaints,
and after some fighting secured set
tlement of the trouble by the promise
of large sum of money to Aguinaldo,
and the granting of the reforms de-
manded. By the terms of the argu-
ment, Aguinaldo and his associates
were to leave the islands before the
money would be paid. They left.
Spain paid a part of the money to
Aguinaldo on his arrival at Hong Kong,
and promised to pay the balance when
the insurrectionists laid down their
arms. The insurrectionists laid down
their arms; but Spain refused to pay
the balance of the money. Not only
this, but so soon as she found the in
surrectionists helpless she abused them
worse than ever. The Fllipinos, OF
course, were greatly outraged, not only
at the Spaniards; but also at Agulnaldo
for the way he sold them out.
Upon the breaking out of the war
with Spain, the United States consul
general at Singapore advised Admiral
Dewey that Aguinaldo would arrange
with him for cooperation against the
Spaniards. Admiral Dewey accepted
the offer; but after the battle OF Ma
uila found that Aguinaldo had nelth-
er arms or men. Admiral Dewey sup.
piled Aguinaldo with arms captured
from the Spaniards, and joined by the
native militia that had been equipped
by Spain, the Filipinos established
themselves at Cuvile, and soon over
ran all the Island of Luz)n except the
city of Manila.
At no time did Admiral Dewey form
an alliance of any kind with Aguinal'
do, and it was not until after the arrl-
val of General Anderson that Aguln'
aldo ever said anything about claiming
national independence. Admiral Dew
ey requested Aguinaldo to remove his
headquarters from Cavite to Bacoor, I'D
order that the Americans might occu-
py Cavite. Upou this Aguinaldo pro-
claimed himself dictator, and upon his
own authority told his people that the
Americans had promised them inde-
pendence.