The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-11-09
Report of Commission.

Report Oh OOmtuieSfOn'
The Philippine commission has sub.
mitted its preliminary report to Presl-
dent Mckinley. 1t Is a compact sum-
mary of conditions on the Islands as the
commission left them; of the historical
events which preceded the spanish war
and led to the original Filipino insurrec-
ton, of the exchanges between Admiral
Dewey and the other commanders and
the insurgents; the breaking out and
progress of the present insurrectioD,
and, finally, u statement OF the capacity
of the Filipinos for self.government. A
notable feature of the report Is memo
randum by Admiral Dewey explanatory
of his relations with Aguinaldo. This
memorandum says. 10 part:
"On April "a, 1898, the following
cipher despatch was received at Hong
Kong from Mr.. K. Spencer Pratt, U. s.
consul general at Singapore: 'Aguinaldo,
insurgent leader here. Will come Hong
Kong, arrange with Commodore for gen.
eral cooperation insurgents. Manila If
desired. Telegraph. Pratt"
"On the same day Commodore tele-
graphed Mr.. Pratt: 'Tell Agunaldo
come soon as possible The necessity
for haste being due to the fact that the
squadron had been notified by the Hong
Kong government to leave those waters
by the following day. The Squadron
left Hong Kong on the morning of the
10Th and Mrs Bays on the 27th.
"Aguinaldo did not leave Singapore
until the 28th and 80 did not arrive in
Hong Kong in time to have conference
with the Admiral.
ut had been reported to the Commo-
dore as early as March last by the Unit
ed States consul at Manila and others,
that the Filipinos had broken out into
insurrection against the Spanish author
tiles In. the vicinity OF Manila and on
March 30th MI. Williams had telegraph
ed Five thousand rebels armed In
camp near city. Loyal to US in case OF
war;
Upon the arrival of the squadron at
Manila it was found that there was no
instruction to speak OF and ii was ac-
cordingly decided to allow Aguinaldo to
come TO Cavite on board the McCulloch.
He arrived with 13 Of his staff on May
10, and Immediately came on board the
Olympia to call on the cOmmander-in-
chief, after which he was allowed to
land at Cavite and organize an army,
This was done with the purpose OF
strengthening the United States forces
and weakening the enemy. No alliance !
of any kind was entered into with
Aguinaldo, nor was any promise OF in-
dependence made to him, then or at any
other time"
The commissions report then rapidly
sketches events now historical.
1t states that Aguinaldo wished to at
tack the Americans when they landed at
Paranque, but was deferred by lack of
arms and ammunition. From that point
on, there was a growing friction be-
tween the Filipinos and the American
troops.
"There were no conferences" says the
report, "betwee the off, of the Fill
pinos and our officers with view of
operating against the Spa niards, nor was
there co operation of any kind. There
never was any pre-conceTted operations
or any combined movement by the Uaft-
ed States and Filipinos against the
Spaniards.
The commission is of the opinion that
there has been no time since the destruc.
ton Of the Spanish squadron by Admiral
Dewey when 1t was possible TO withdraw
our forces from the Islands, either with
honor to our service or with safety to
the inhabitants.
The commission takes up the condition
Of the country at the time of ITS arrival,
1t with conditions existing at
the time IL left a short time ago. A
vivid picture Is given Of the anarchy
existing among the inhabitants, In and
about Manila, during the early spring.
The reDOrt continues
Before the commission left the Phil
ppines, 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. Municipal
governments had been established, and
the people, protected by our troops,
were enjoying peace, security and a
degree of participation in their own gov
arnment, previously unknown ia the
history of the Philippines. Attempts of
the insurgents to raise recruits and
money In the province Of Bulaean 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 commissioners dismiss the reports
Of the Decorating of churches, the MUIR
1ering of prisoners and the committing
Of upmentionable crimes, and say they
are glad to express the belief that a war
was never more hunanely conducted.
The report concludes: "Our control
means to the inhabitants OF the Philip
pines internal peace and order, a guar
antee against foreign aggression and
against the ACKNOWLEDGMENT OF their
commercial and industrial
and as large "a share Of the
affairs of governments they shall prove
fit to take"
The report Is signed by j. g. Schur-
man, George Dewey, Charles DENLY,
Dean G. Worcester.