The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-03

Zam DaleS. II was strongest IN the UFSL
six named, and hardly existed IN the
last four. The population of this pro-
vince is estimated to be about l. 200,
but it should not be supposed that even
in the six provinces Immediately adja-
cent to Manila the people were united
in their opposition to us. Even here
there was a strong conservative ele-
ment, consisting of people of wealth
and intelligence, opposed to the war
Under the head 1.-The Rebellion not u
National Movement the report treats
of the rebellion outside of the provinces
of LuZOn, where, it is stated, the upriS-
ing was viewed at first with indiffer-
ence, and later with fear. Throughout
the archipelago at large there was
trouble at only those points to which
armed TagalS had been sent in cOnsld-
cradle numbers. The machinery of in
surgent government served only for
plundeFing the people under the pre-
while many of the insurgent officials
We're rapidly accommodating wealth"
As to the state of affairs when the
commission left, the report says:
Before the commission left the Phil
ippines nearly all the inhabitants had
returned to these ruined villages. Many
of the houses had been rebuilt. Fields
that had lain fallOW for three years
were green with growing crops. NUM-
cipal governments had been established
and the people, protected by our troops,
were enjoying peace, security and a de-
gree of participation in their own gov
history of the Philippines. Attempts
of the insurgents to raise recruits and
money in the province of Bulacan were
proving abOrtiVe, except when backed
by bayOnets and bullets, and even in
such cases the natives were applying to
Us for help to resist them"
The chapter devoted to establish
ment of municipal governments" gives
in detail the efforts in that direction.
There were many difficulties encoun-
tered. The condition of the people was
4 L. h 4
been plundered by the insurgent roop5
who had robbed them of jewels, money,
clothing and even food. so that they
were literally starving. Peaceful citi-
zens had been fired on; women had
been maltreated. There was general
satisfaction that the Americans had
come at last, and conditions seemed
favorable for an American propaganda.
The towns of Bacoor and linus were
selected for the purpose of experiment,
and after talks with the local head
men, q local form of government was
established. Encouraged by the result,
the work was continued at Paranaque,
Las PinaS and other towns with similar
good results. At the request of Gen.
LawtOn, who had been assigned to this
work by Gen. Otis, the commission pre-
pared a simple scheme of municipal
government, similar enough to the old
system to be readily comprehensive to
the natives, but giving them liberties
which they had never before enjoyed
This scheme was adopted, and gave
general satisfaction. In every instance
enthusiasm ran high before the COM
missiOners took their departure, and
cheers We're raised for Gen. Lawton and
for the country which he represented.
The commission states that large
amount of supervision over the affairs
of our new municipalities proved nee
essary as the officials were timid and
slow to comprehend their new duties.
At many of the elections the voters
went about asking who they were ex-
4 TO OF FOR
with great difficulty that they were
persuaded to exercise the right of free
suffrage.
The commission sums up the situa-
tiOn at the time of their departure as
follows:
When we left Manila a large volume
of business was being done, and the
streets were so crowded as to be hard
ly safe. The native population was
quiet and orderly, and all fear of an
uprising had long since passed. An ef-
ficient corps of native policemen was
on duty. A system of public schools in
which English was taught had been
advocated by the commission, and es
tablished by Gen. Otis. Some 5000
scholars were in attendance.
In the TagalOg province Of LuZon,
where the anti-American feeling had
been strongest. public sentiment had
greatly changed, as evidenced by the
fact that the military governor OF Ba-
langaS had offered to surrender his
troops and his province if we would
only send small force there. The Bi-
coils, in southern LuzOn. had risen
against their Tagalog masters. The
Macabebes were clamOring for an Op-
portunity to fight in our ranks and ma
tive soldiers and scouts were already
soon fighting under Gen. .Lawton. Stories
of the corruption of insurgent officers
We're becoming daily more common, and
the disintegratiOn of the enemy's forces
was steadily progressing. The hope of
assistance from outside sources seemed
to be all that held them together.
Having given so much attention to
the island of LuzOn, the commission
then takes up detail the condition of
the other islands. On this point 1T is
stated that the rebellion is essentially
TagalOg and when it ends in LuzOn it
must end throughout the archipelago.
The situation elsewhere than in Luzon
is summed up as follows:
'fThe only island apart from Luzon,
where serious trouble threatens, is
Panay, to which a considerable force
of TagalOg soldiers was sent before the
outbreak of hostilities. Many of the
Viscayans of this island are opposed
to the Tagalogs, however, and it is not
believed that the latter can make a
formidable resistance. In Samar, Leyte
and Masbate, the TagaIog Invaders are
numerically few and are disliked by
the natives Of the island, whom they
have oppressed. We were assured that
two hundred men would suffice to re-
store order in Ndindaro. BoboI was ask
ing for troops, the Calamianes islanders
had sent word that they would welcome
us. There can be no resistance in Pal
avian. Satisfactory relations had al
ready been established with the war
like Moros, whose Sultan had previously
been cOnciliated by a member of the
commission and in NindanaO this tribe
had even taken up our cause and at