The times., 1899-12-06

intention Of dcspatching to Mania COM
mission composed Of taTce gent. .cmeu OF
the highest character and distinction
thoroughly acquainted with the OTient
who. in association with Admiral Dewey
and Msior General Ots. were iuz,ru.tcI
TO facilitate the most humane and c1-
fective extension of authority ,hroughous
the islands and to secure with the least
possible delay the benefits of a wise acd
generous protection of iifs aud property Cd
the Inhabitants" These gentlemen were
Dr. Jacob Gould Schurm8G. Pres dent 0-
Cornell University. the Hon CharI
DENLY for many years minister tO Chine.
and Prot Dean e. Worcester. OF she Jni-
versjty of Michigan, who hal made a
most careful study Gf life il tGe iGilip-
pines While the treaty Of peace was uC-
der consideration iu the Senate these Com
missioners set out on their mis- len Of good
viii and liberation. Their character was
suihcieHt guaranty of the beuC6c Et pur-
pose with which ;dey west. even 81 tgCy
hsd not borne the positive iUst uctioUs ct
this Government. which made their erTaud
prominently enc Of peace and friend
ship.
But before their arrival sf Manila the
sinister ambition of a few leaders OF the
tiltpinos had created a situation fuiI OF
embarrassment for US and most grievCus
in its consequences to theuselves The
clear and impartial preliminary report of
the Commissioners. which I transmit here
With gives so lucid and comprehensive
a history OF the present iusurrectlonary
movement that the story need not De here
repeated. X is enough to say that the
claim OF the rebel leader that he was prom
ised independence by any officer % the
United states In return for his assistance
has no foundation jn fact and is cateEori-
caIly denied by the very Witnesses who
were called to prove it. The most the
insurgcnt leader hoped for when he came
back TO Manila was the liberation OF the
islands from the Spanish control which
they had been labOring for years without
success to throw on.
AgniaaIdo.
The prompt accomplishment OF this work
by the American Army and Navy gave him
other ideas and ambitions. and lusidicus
suggestions from various quarters pcryerl-
ed the purposes and intentions with which
he had taken up arms. No sooner had cur
army captured Manila than the Filipino
forces began TO assume an attitude CT
suspicion and hostility which the utmost
efforts of our officers and troops were
unable TO disarm or modify. Their sind
ness and fCrbearaHce were taken as q PROOF
Of cCwardice. The aggressious Cf the FIJI
piDCs continually Increased until finally.
just before the time set by the Senate o.
the United States for a vote upon ths
treaty, an attack evidently prepared jB
advance. was made all along the American
lines which resulted iu terrible destruc-
tive and s8ngUiBary repuise Of the Insur-
gents.
Ten days later an order OK the iE5urEen-
government was issued TO IT'S adhersn-s
who had remained I'm Manila, Cf which
General OTIS justly observes that "lor
barbaFous intent it Is uusqualed in modern
times" Il directs that az o'clock ON the
night CT the 18th Of February the terrific
rial militia" shall ccme together in the
streets CT San Pedro armed with their
bClOs. with guns and ammunition where
convenient; that Filipino families only
shall be respected. but that all other in
dividuals. CT whatever race they may b.,
shall Be eXterminated without any com
passion. after the determination Of ths
army of occupation and adds. Brothers.
we must dvenge ourselves on the Amerl-
cans and eXterminate them. that We may
take cur revenge for the iGfamies and
treacheries which they have committed
upon us Have no compassion uPOl them,
By good fortune into the hands Of our
officers and they were able TO take meas
ures TO control the rising. which was ae-
tually attempted on the night OF February
.. a week later than was originally con-
JempIated. Considerable numbers OF arm
cd insurgents entered the city by water
WAYS ana sWamps and in concert wlJE con-
federates inside attempted to destroy Ma
uila bv fire They were kept in cheek dur
3 HNHH
OF the city with heavy loss
The Commission.
This was the unhappy condit0l Of st-
fairs which confronted our Commissioners
on their arrival in Manila They had
come with the hope and intention Of CO.
operating with Admiral Dewey and Major
General Otis IN establishing peace and or
der in the archipelago and the largest
measure OF seIf-gOvsrument compatible
with the true welfare OF the people What
they actually found can best be set forth
in their own words.
Derlaf4hle 5z var IS the one 20 which vs zrc
uav- engaged was unavoidable bg US Hg we're
attacked by bold, .aveatureg-. and eurl''-ils
tic ARMY. No alternative w-= lett TO IS exec p
igro.Eiuoys retreat
Ii is not t9 be conceived oi chat any American
would have sanctioned ,Ee surrender of Manila
nations Iad r' tine friendly Fjlp.urs -l4 -7 orr
selves and aur faa demanded ta1. tarra should
br met ly force Whatever t.a rl-lfr 20 tle
Phifiuuiuls may be. there IS DO c1-rr open to
us uo. except the prosecution o- tie var rHi'l
the Insurgents ere IgdUggd 90 suui--s-i0lI- lAe
Commission t~ az tae opinion that there l1s been
u0 time SINCE che destruction G.. che spanish
-guaIr.a ts NlW-rli Dewey Wien o. was pa--l'i-
TO- withdraw clr forces from tie Islands aitaer
vi-h honor 81 ourselves or Ui-h -ii5-s 90 the
iulahiiaut-
The course thus clearly indicated has
been uufiuChingly pursued The rebellion
must be put down. Civil government can
not be thoroughly established until order
is restored. With devotion and sallantry
worthy of its most brilliant history. the
Army ably and Loyalty assisted hv tbs
Navy mas carried On this unvelcome hu.
most righteous campaign with richly de-
served success. The noble self-sGcritCe
with which our soldiers and sailors whose
terms OF service had expired refused 20
avail themselves OF their right 90 return
home as long Is they were needed 90 the
front forms one of the brightest pages in
our annals. Although their operations
have been somewhat interrupted anL
checked by a rainy season OF unusual yi0-
ferce and duration they have gained
ground steadily i'm every direction. and now
look forward confidently 10 @ speedy com
pIeriou OF their task.
decentralization.
The uofavorabIs circumstance connected
with an active campaign have not been
permitted TO interfere with the equally
f-uo-taut work Of reconstruction. Again
I invite your attention 20 the re-
port OF the Commissioners for the
interesting and encouraging details OF
the work already accomplished in the
establishment OF peace and order and tho