The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-02-16
Trouble in the Philippines a Long
Time Brewing.
SOLDIERS READY FOR IT
Aguinaldo's Incendiary Reply to the
by General otis-will
Fight for Their Liberty
and Independents.

Il I s. -
A more difficult problem than that
with which the governor general of the
| Philippines is confronted at present
/ it would be difficult to imagine, for un-
less the Filipinos recede from their po-
sition, the situation in a nutshell
amounts to this: The Americans must
4 either fight and subdue the rebels or
withdraw from the archipelago. AS a
,matter of fact the F,ilipinos have been
and are being recognized officially all
!, the time, because in order to avoid
unnecessary bloodshed the American
| authorities have been compelled to
treat with them. A striking illustra-
] ton of this point occurred on Dec. 81
| last, when the two forces were probab-
ly nearer a conflict than at any other
| period since the occupation of Manila.
Up to that date the sentries of the two
forces had guarded opposite ends of
the Paco bridge, a stone structure
across 1O-foot creek on the outskirts
instructions the American officer Of
the day essayed to post his sentry
in the center of the bridge. The Fill
ipino guard objected, however, and
when a protest was made, informed the
Americans that at 8 o'clock next morn
ing they would fire upon the American
line unless the sentry was withdra Wn
At the appointed hour Major General
Anderson and some 1000 men were on
hand, but after conference the Fill
lpinos were recognized to the extent
that the sentry was Withdrawn to
his former position and the American
troops marched back to the quarters
until t1,n1, 1,a1 nod z,1.0 -
single shot.
The issuance of General Otis procla-
nation regarding the intentions of the
Americans in the Philippines gave
Aguinaldo the opportunity he desired
land in less than IL. hours after the for
mer was published the Fiiipino's re-
sponse was posted upon the walls of
the city: Its effect was instantaneous
upon the natives, generally and their
attitude was such that it was deemed
advisable to keep the entire army of
occupation in quarters and under arms,
in order that it might be ready if an
emergency arose.
simultaneously in different parts Of
the city occasioned a false alarm
at 2:30 o'clock on Wednesday afternoon
and the entire corps was called ito
arms. Within Is minutes after the
echoes of the bugles had died away the
WHOlG u Lie CITY WdS uilueT dIIllS, GN-
cry company of every regiment being
in it's allotted position ready for action.
While this created somewhat of a sem
saton temporarily the promptitude
with which the troops responded to the
call had the effect of restoring conf
dence.
Meanwhile, the insurgents have con-
centrated their forces on the outskirts of
the city and are strengthening their
position every day. Orders have, how
ever been issued that they shall act
only on the defensive, which indicates
disposition to avoid trouble if possi-
BILE. An accident may, however, pre-
cipitate a conflict at any moment
In his proclamation to the natives of
the Philippines issued on Jan. 1, Gen.
seral Otis says that "in the war against
Spain the United States forces came
here to destroy the power of that ma
ton and to give the blessings of peace
and individual freedom to the Philip
pine people; that we are here as friends
of the Filipinos to protect them in their
homes, their employments, their indi-
vidual and religious liberty; that all
persons who, either by active aid or
honest endeavor, cooperate with the
government of the United States to give
effect of the beneficent purposes will
receive the reward of it's support and
protection.
1.-THE president of the United States
has assumed that the municipal laws of
the country in respect to private rights
and property and the repression of
crime are to be considered as continue
ing in force, in SO far as they may be
applicable to free people, and should
be administered by the ordinary tri-
bunals of justice, presided over by rep
resentatives of the people and those in
thorough sympathy with them in their
n nCi fnf ri r. f1,nf
functions and duties connected with
civil and municipal administration are
to be performed by such officers as wish
to accept the assistance of the United
States, chosen in SO far as it may be
practicable from the inhabitants of the
Islands; that while the management of
public property and revenues and the
use of all public means of transportation
are to be conducted under the military
authorities until such authorities can be
replaced by civil administration, all pri-
waite property, whether of individuals
or corporations, must be respected and
protected. IL private property be taken
for military uses it shall be paid for at
a fair valuation in cash, if possible, and |
when payment in cash is not practicable
at the time, receipts therefor will be |
given to be taken up and liquidated as
soon as cash becomes available. The |
ports of the Philippine islands shall be |
open to the commerce of all foreign ma
tons and goods and merchandise not |
prohibited for military reasons by the /
military authorities shall be admitted |
upon payment of such duties and |
charges as shall be in force at the time
OF importation.
After quoting President Mckinley's |
instructions, General Otis says: Il am
fully of the opinion that it is the inten- |
ton of the United States government, |
while directing affairs generally, to t
appoint the representative men now |
forming the controlling element of the I
fiiipinos to civil positions of trust and I
responsibility, and it will be my aim
to appoint thereto such Filipinos as may |
be acceptable to the supreme authorities
at Washington.
1t is also my belief that it is the in
tentien of the United States government
to draw from the Filipino people so
much OF the military force of the ISL