Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1899-11-06
KEEP PHILIPPINES.
COMMISSION ADVISES RETEN-
TON OF ISLANDS.
AEuinaldo Wanted to Loot Manila to Get
Arms to Fight Americans With-Filipi-
no Independence Would Mean An
archy Review of Situation.

Philippine commission submitted l.
the president the preliminary repor
which it had promised to prepare
This report appears to be compac
summary of conditions on the island
as the commission left them of tn,
historical events which preceded tn,
Spanish war and led to the origina
Filipino insurrection; of the exchange,
between Admiral Dewey and the othel
American commanders and the insur-
gents. the breaking out and progress.
of the present insurrection, and finally
a statement of the capacity of the
Filipinos for self-government. A no.
table feature of the report is a memo
randum by Admiral Dewey, explana.
tory OF his relations with Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how it
conducted the task entrusted to it,
hearing statements from all classes of
people in Manila, as TO the capability
Of the Filipinos for self-government,
the habits and customs of the people,
and also the establishment of munich
pal governments IN many towns. All
this matter is to be included in the
final report.
Turning to the history OF the islands,
the commission attaches little import
ance to the divers rebellions which had
preceded that of 1896. AS to this
movement, they declare it was in no
sense an attempt to win Independence,
but solely to obtain relief from intoler-
able abuses. 70 sustain this state
ment they quote from an insurgent
proclamation showing what was de-
manded was the expulsion of the friars
and the restitution to the people of
their lands with division of the
Episcopal sees between Spanish and
native priests.
The report states that Aguinaldo
wished to attack the Americans when
they landed at Paranaque, but was de-
tered by lack of arms and ammuni-
ton. From that point on there was
a growing friction between the Fill
pinos and the American troops. There
was no conferences" says the report,
between the officers of the Filipinos
and our officers with view to oper-
ating against the Spaniards. nor was
there cooperation of any kind. There
never was any preconcerted operations
or any combined movement by the
United States and Filipinos against
the Spaniards.
Reference is made to Aguinaldo's de-
mand that he be allowed to loot Manila |
and take the arms of the Spaniards. |
The latter demand is said to confirm
the statement that he intended to get |
possession of the arms to attack the
Americans. Further evidence of the
hostile intentions of the Filipinos was
found in the organization of popular
,lub," which later on furnished local
militia to attack the Americans. The
iecrees of the Filipino congress are
Ilso cited as well as the making of
'olos (kniyes) in every shop in Manila.
1t is shown that q considerable ele-
nent in the Filipino congress wished
o address to President Mckinley a re-
nest not to abandon the Philippines
At this stage the Paris conference
vas discussing the future of the Phil
ppines.) The president was also to
e asked his desire as to the form of
overnment he wished to establish.
tut all this time Aguinaldo was pre-
airing for war and delaying these
lessages, and it was understood the
tack would come when the first act
y the American forces would afford a
retext.
Should our power by any fatality
e withdrawn, the commission believes
he government of the Philippines
ould speedily lapse into anarchy,
hich would excuse, If it did not nee
'sitate, the Intervention of other
overs and the eventual division of
lie islands among them.
only through American occupation,
ierefore. is the idea of free self-gov-
'nment and united Philippine COM a
at all conceivable. And the i
need from the Philippine =
,int of view of maintaining American
over the archipelago is
cognized by all intelligent Filipinos 0
I'd even by those insurgents who de- h
re an American protectorate. The A
tier it is true, would take the reve-
'ues and leave US the responsibilities.
evertheless they recognize the indu- q
table fact that the Filipinos can not e
and alone. q
THUS the welfare of the Filipinos
incides with the dictates of national a
nor in forbidding our Abandonment ri