Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1899-01-11
|ILOILC TO BE TAKEN
M'klNLEY ORDERS AMERICAN
SOLDIERS TO LAND.
Aguiua1do's Followers Will Be Over
come by Force, If Necessary, but
Their Peaceful Submission Is Ex-
pected-Issue Rests with Natives.

The United States win force the issue
with the Filipinos. This decision may
lead to a harassing war with the natives
of the Philippines 1t is hoped and be-
lieved such calamity will be averted,
but 1t remains for the insurgents to de
termine what the result will be. 1t is re-
ported from Washington that the Presi-
dent has ordered Gen. Miller to land his
troops d. lloilo. The American command
er is directed to be conciliatory toward
the natives, but at the same time he is
instructed to use force, if necessary, to
effect his landing and establish himself
In the desired camp. In other words, Gen.
Miller is to act on the defensive. He will
not fire a gun unless attacked by the Fill
pinos, but if the natives willfully shoot at
his soldiers he is to administer a dose
OF American retribuiion and marksman-
ship.
Gen. Miller has about 5000 soldiers at
lloilo, and among them are men of the
Fifty-hrst Iowa infantry. He will also
have the support of several gunboats, for
Admiral Dewey notified Secretary Long
OF the Navy Department that he had sent
the Concord and the Petrol to join the
| naval force under Col. Dyer at Iloilo. 1t
is not known how strong a force the in
surgcnts have at that point. The War
Department has information which seems
to indicate the natives have only about
5000 stand of arms, and 1t is assumed
that fairly represents their fighting power
| at Iloilo. They have no modern artillery,
while the American force is we'll equipped
in that respect. There is no doubt of the
ability Of Gen. Miller to defeat the Fill
pinos in pitched battle, but he has been
warned not to be the aggressor. Dis
patches from Manila report rumors that
Aguinaldo has gone to Iloilo to take COM
mand Of the insurgent force. He has hith-
erto assumed IN attitude of hostility to
American authority, but advices from
Gen. Otis lead American officials to be-
lieve he will submit when forced to final
decision between peace and war.
The instructions of the President .ela-
tive to the administration Of affairs in
the Philippine Islands, as transmitted to
Gen. Otis at Manila, are comprehensive
enough to fully meet present conditions
as well as any contingencies that may
arise. The President urges that the COM
mander of the forces of occupation shall
proclaim that we come mot as invaders
or conquerors, but as friends, to protect
the natives in their homes, in their en-
pigments and in their personal and re-
ligious rights
After promising support and protection
to those who will cooperate with the
Government to give effect to these bene-
tts and purposes, the President declares
that, while the military Authority must be
| supreme until the legislation of the Unit
ed States shall otherwise provide, the mu-
nicipal laws of the territory in respect to
private rights and the repression ot crime
will remain in force; all ports in the ISL
ands will be opened to the commerce of all
friendly nations. and all goods will be ad-
mitted upon payment of such duties as
shall be in force at the time of their i'm
portation"; and the officers to administer
local governmental affairs are to be Sc
lected as far as may be practicable from
the inhabitants of the islands after they
have taken the oath of allegiance to the
United States. The instructions adequate
ly convey the purpose of our Government
in assuming control of the Philippines