Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-07-06
FOURTH CELEBRATED
IN THE PHILIPPINES
Cosmopolitan Observance Of indie.
pendence Day in the Archi-
peIago Metropolis.
UNIQUE SCENE IN MANILA
Half Dozen Nationalttics Join in
Singing OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
lions for Release of
Spanish Captives.

Manila, July 6.-There was a great
celebration of the Fourth of July here
yesterday, with fireworks, bands,
speeches and decorations everywhere,
all nationalities participating. The
foreign ships and consulates, including
the Spanish, raised their colors in con-
junction with the stars and stripes.
The flagship Baltimore fired national
salute at noon.
MI nationalities enjoyed what the
Spanish papers termed 1.-THE fiesta of
North America" Newsboys shouted
Fourth of July editions, soldiers pa
raded the town, throwing firecrackers
from the batteries on the water front.
In the afternoon the Luneta was
crowded with Americans, Filipinos and
Spaniards. There were crowds of Pc
destrians and hundreds of carriages
went there for the concert directed by
Bandmaster Carl Erndt, of the Sixth
artillery band.
Several hundred boys and girls, Fill
pinos, Spaniards and Chinese from the
public schools, dressed in their best
clothes, each carrying an American
flag, sang "America" in curious mix
ture of dialects. Chaplain Knudsen, of
the Washington regiment, read the
Declaration of Independence.
The officers of the United States
cruiser Baltimore gave reception and
dance, which was attended by the for
eign consuls, the officers of the foreign
warslips and all officers of the army
and navy circle.
The officers of the Colorado regiment
gave reception at the regimental bar
racks, aand there We're several dances
during the evening.
A general celebration at night was
rendered impracticable by the law re-
quiring the streets to be cleared at $3.50
p. m.
The negotiations between the Spanish
officers and Agninaldo at Tarlac, con-
corning the Spanish prisoners In the
hands of the Filipinos, have resulted in
partial agreement. According to UNI
official reports the insurgents have
promised to release the sick soldiers,
who number several hundred, and the
civil officials, but they intend to keep
the friars, believing the church will
finally pay a heavy ransom. 1T is re-
ported that the civil prisoners are be-
ing concentrated at Tarlac and Apart,
as we'll as some Of the other ports re-
Gently opened. from which they could
be shipped to Manila. The Spanish as
sert that the Filipinos are impressing
all the military prisoners into engi-
neering, hospital and clerical work.
Today the Pennington will take
Prof. Schnrman, president of the
United States advisory commission for
the Philippines, to Itong Kong, from
which point he will sail for Japan, to
pay short visit there before leaving
for the United States. Admiral Dewey,
Colonel DENLY, Prof. Worcester and
Prof. Schurman will meet in Washing
ton during the autumn to compile
report of the commissions labors.
The commission recently investi-
gated the question of currency and the
Chinese problem, as it presents itself
there. ~. large majority of business
men wish to continue on the silver
basis. There are few, however, who
favor gold basis or the adoption of
the Japanese system. The Filipinos
are anxious to exclude Chinese labor.
On the other hand many large em-
ployers prefer Cinnamon, asserting
that they are more efficient, although
the element of cheapness doubtless in.
tiuences this view.