The Leon reporter. (Leon, Iowa) 1887-1930, 1899-12-14

who, In association with Admiral Dewey
and Major-General Otis, were instructed
to facilitate the most humane and eff
fective extension of authority throughout
the islands and to secure with the least
possible delay the benefits Of a wise and
generous protection of life and property
to the Inhabitants
These gentlemen were DR.. Jacob Gould
Schurman. president OF Cornell univer-
sity: the Hon. Charles DENLY, for many
years minister to China, and Prof. Dean
c. Worcester of the University of Mich
igan, who had made most careful study
of life in the Philippines. But betors
their arrival at Manila the sinister am
bition of q few leaders OF the Filipinos
| had created situation full OF embar-
| easements for us and most grievous in
Its consequences to themselves. The
clear and impartial preliminary report of
the commissioners gives so lucid and
comprehensive history of the present
| insurrectionary movement that the story
need not be here repeated. 1t is enough
TO say that the claim of the rebel leader
that he was promised Independence by
any officer of the United States in return
| for his assistance has no foundation in
fact and is categorically denied by the
| very witnesses who were called to prove
| 1t. The most the insurgent leader hop
ed for when he came back to Manils
was the liberation of the islands from the
Spanish control. which they had beer
laboring for years without success te
throw off.
The prompt accomplishment of this
work by the American army and navy
gave him other ideas and ambitions and
1nsidlous suggestions from various quar-
tiers perverted the purposes and inten-
tons with which he had taken up arms.
No sooner had our army captured Manila
than the Filipino forces began to as
sumo attitnSa of
tility. which the utmost efforts Of our
officers and troops were unable to disarm
or modify. Their kindness and forbear-
ance were taken as proof of coward
ice. The aggressions of the Filipinos
continually increased until finally. just
before the time set by the senate Of the
United States for vote upon the treaty
an attack. evidently prepared in ad-
vance. was made all along the A-naric,n
iines. which resulted in a terribly de-
structive and sanguinary repulse of the
insurgents.
gent government was issued to its ad-
herents who had remained in Manila. of
which Gen. Otis justly observes that for
oarbarous intent it is unequaled in mod
ern times" 1t directs that at O'Clock
on the night of the 18th of February the
territorial militia shall come together in
the streets Of San Pedro armed with
>A.SAA oSioS, with guns anu ammunition
where convenient; that Filipino families
only shall be respected; but. that all
other individuals. of whatever race they
may be, shall be exterminated without
any compassion, after the determination
OF the army Of occupation, and adds:
Brothers, we must avenge ourselves
on the Americans and exterminate them,
that ME may take out revenge for the
infamies and treacheries which they have
m or
sion upon them; attack with vigor."
A copy of this fell by good fortune into
the hands of our officers and they were
able to take measures to control the ris-
Ing, which was actually attempted on the
night of Feb. q. week later than was
originally contemplated. Considerable
numbers of armed insurgents entered the
city by waterways and swamps and In
concert with confederates inside attempt
ed to destroy Manila by fire. They were
kept in cneck during the night and the
next day driven out of the city with
heavy loss.
This was the unhappy condition Of af-
fairs which confronted our commission
ers on their arrival in Manila. They had
come with the hope and intention of CO.
operating with Admiral Dewey and
and order in the archipelago and the
largest measure Of self-government COM
patible with the true welfare of the peo-
pie. What they actually found can best
be set forth in their own words:
"Deplorable as war is. the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable by
us. We were attacked by a bold. adven-
tUrous and enthusiastic army. No alterna-
i tive was left to US. except ignominous
retreat.
cit is not to be conceived Of that any
American would "a ho
render of Manila to the insurgents. Our
obligations to other nations and to the
friendly Filipinos and to our selves and
our flag demanded that force should be
met by force. Whatever the future of
the Philippines may be, there is no
course open to us now except the prose-
cution of the war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission. The commits
sion is of the opinion that there has been
no time since the destruction of the Span
ish squadron by Admiral Dewey when
IT was possible to withdraw our forces
from the islands, either with honor to
ourselves or with safety to the inhabit-
ants
The course thus clearly indicated has
been unttinchingly pursued. The rebel
lion must be put down. Civil govern
ment cannot be thoroughly established
until order is restored With a devotion
and gallantry worthy of its most bril-
liant history, the army, ably and loyalty
assisted by the navy, has carried on this
unwelcome, but most righteous cam
paign with richly deserved success. The
noble self-sacrifice with which our SOL
diers and sailors whose terms of service
had expired refused to avail themselves
of their right to return home as long as
they were needed at the front forms one
Of the brightest pages in our annals. AL
though their operations have been some-
what interrupted and checked by a rainy
season Of unusual violence and duration,
| they have gained ground steadily In
| every direction and now look forward
confidently to q speedy completion OF
| their task.
AS to Porto Rico the message states
| the time is ripe for the adoption of a
temporary form of government for the
island. Many of the suggestions made
with reference to Alaska. it is stated,
are applicable also to Porto Rico.
Changes in the latter. however. should
not be made abruptly and racial pc
culiarities must be given due weight.
The message closes with some peril
nent suggestions as to lynchings In the
south. the proposed memorial bridge
| over the Potomac and statement of
the purposes of the executive order re-
lating to civil service of May 6, 1896,
and reference to the coming 14th of
December. the Tooth anniversary of the
death Of Washington. and the patriotic
reflections naturally arising therefrom
and concludes with these words:
Il