The record-union., 1899-11-03


leans Conquered the Spanish at
Manila.
WASHINGTON, Nov. Pin accord
ance with the understanding reached at
the conference at the White House yes
terday the Philippine commission SUD
mitted to the President the prelimina'N
report which it had promised to pre-
pare.
The report appears to be a compact
summary of conditions on the islands
as the commission left them; OF the
historical events which preceded the
Spanish war and led to the original
Filipino insurrection; of the exchanges
between Admiral Dewey and the other
American commanders and the lnsur-
gents and the breaking out and prog
ress of the present insurrection, and,
finally. a statement of the capacity of
the F'ilipinos for self government. A
notable feature of the report is mem
orandum by Admiral Dewey explana-
tory of his relations with Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how it
conducted the task entrusted to it,,
hearing statements from all classes OF
people in Manila as to the capabilities
of the Filipinos for self government,
the habits and customs of the people,
and also the establishment of munich
pal governments in many towns. All
this matter is to be included in the
final report.
Turning to the history of the islands,
the commission attaches little import
ance to the divers rebellions which had
preceded that of 1896. AS to this move
ment they declare that it was in no
sense an attempt to win independence,
but solely to obtain relief from intol-
erable abuses.
To sustain this statement they quote
from an insurgent proclamation, show
ing that what was demanded was the
expulsion of the friars and the restitu-
ton to the people of their lands. with
a division of the Episcopal Sees be-
tween Spanish and native priests 1t
was also demanded that the F'ilipinos
have parliamentary representation,
freedom of the press religious tolera-
tion, economic autonomy and laws SIM
liar to those of Spain The, abolition
of the power of Punishment was de-
manded, with legal equality for all
persons in law and equality in pay be-
tween Spanish and native civil SER
wants.
The commission declares that these
demands had good ground; that on pa
per the Spanish system of government
was tolerable, but in practice every
Spanish Governor did what he saw fit,
and the evil deeds of men in the Gov
ernment We're hidden from Spain by
strict press censorship.
Allusion is made to the powerful
Katipunan Society, patterned on the
Masonic order, and mainly made up
of Tagalos, as a powerful revolutionary
force.
The war began in 1896 was terminal
ed by the treaty of Biao- -na-Bate. The
Filipinos were numerous, but possess
ed about only 800 small arms. The
Spanish felt that it would require 100,
GOO men to capture their stronghold,
and concluded to resort to the use of
money. Certain concessions We're also
decided upon, including representation
of the Filipinos in the Cortes, the de-
portation OF the friars, which was the
principal question:; the grant of the
right of association and of a free press.
Governor General Rivera was willing to
pay S2,000,000 Mexican money when
Aguinaldo and his Cabinet and leading
officers arrived in Hongkong. 1t ap-
pears, however that Paterno only offer
ed the latter 100000, $20O.00O to be
paid when Aguinaldo arrived at Hong
kong and the balance when the Fill
pinos had delivered up their arms The
arrangement was not acceptable to the
people.
The promises were never carried out.
Spanish abuses began afresh. In Ma
Mia alone more than 200 men were ex-
ecuted. Hence sporadic revolutions oc-
CURED, though they possessed nothing
like the strength of the original move
ment. The insurgents lacked arms, am
munition and leaders. The treaty had
ended the war. which, with the excep-
tion of an unimportant outbreak, has
been confined to Luzon, Spain's SOW
ereignty in the islands never having
been questioned, and the thought of
independence never having been enter
tanned.
The report then tells how General
Augustine came to Manila as Governor
General, and when war broke out be-
tween Spain and the United States Au-
gustine sought to secure the support
of the Filipinos to defend Spain
against America, promising them au-
tonomy, but the Filipinos did not trust
him. Then came the first of May and
the destruction of the Spanish fleet by
Dewey, with the resulting loss of pres
tige to Spain. Then in June, Agui-
naldo came. On this point the commits
sion says:
THE following memorandum on this
subject has been furnished the COM
mission to Admiral Dewey:
Memorandum Of relations with
Aguinaldo.
ION April "a, 1898, the following
cipher dispatch was received at Hong
kong from E. Spencer Pratt, United
States Consul General at Singapore:
'Aguinaldo, insurgent leader here.
Will come to Hongkong, arrange with
Commodore for general cooperation in
surgents Manila If desired. Telegraph
PRATT
ION the same day Commodore Dewey
telegraphed Mr.. Pratt:
Tell Aguinaldo come soon as pos
sible.' the necessity for haste being