The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-06

sistance has no foundation in fact, and is
categorieally denied by the very witnesses
who were called to prove 1t. The most
the insurgent leader hoped for when he
came to Manila was the liberation of the
Islands from the Spanish control, which
they had been laboring for for years with
| out success to throw off.
The prompt accomplishment of this work
| by the American army and navy gave him
| other ideas and ambitions, and insiduous
suggestions from various quarters peryert-
| ed the purposes and intentions with which
| he took up arms.
Assumed Suspicious Attitude
| No sooner had our army captured Manila
! than the Filipino forces began to assume
| as attitude of suspicion and hostility which
| the utmost efforts of our officers and troops
were unable to disarm or modify. Their
| kindness and forbearance were taken as
| proof of cowardice. The aggressions OF the
| Filipinos continually increased until finally
! just before the time set 10y the senate OF
! the United States for vote upon the
| treaty an attack evidently prepared IN ad-
| vance was made all along the American
| lines, which resulted in a terribly destruc-
tive and sanguinary repulse of the insur-
gents. Ten days later an order of the In
| surgent government was issued to Its ad-
| herents who had remained in Manila, OF
| which Gen Otis justly observes That TOT
| barbarous intent it is unequaled in modern
| times 1t directed that at clock on the
|
| shall come together in the streets of San
| Pedro armed with their bolos, with guns
| and ammunition, where convenient that
| Filipino families be respected, but that all
| other individuals of whatever race they
| may be shall be eXterminated without any
| compassion, after the determination Oh the
| army of occupation" and ADDS:
Brothers, we must aYenge ourselves OF
| the Americans and eXterminate, that we
| may take our revenge for the lnIamles ana
treacheries which they have committed un-
On us. Have no compassion upon tHeih'
attack them with vigor.
A COPY of this fell by good fortune INTO
| the hands of our officers ana they were
| able to take steps to control the RISING,
which was actually attempted al the nlght
| of February 70. week later than was or
| iginally contemplated. A considerable
number of armed insurgents entered the
| city by waterways and swamps ana In CON
| cert with confederates inside, attempted 10
destroy Manila by fire. The next day they
were driven out of the city with heaVy loss,
This was the unhappy condition OF a1alrs
which confronted our commissioners on
| their arrival in Manila. They naa come
with the hope and intention OF the coop
Grafton with Admiral Dewey and MAJOR
| General Otis in establishing peace and or
der in the archipelago and the large9l
measure of self-government conlpat,ole
with the true welfare of the people, w ma
they actually found can be pest set III l"
in their own words: u,.,,
"Danlorable as war Is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable oy
us We were attacked by bold, adVell.u-
rous and enthusiastic army. No alternative
was left to us except lgnohliiou9 az
obligations to Our Flag
at is not to be conceived that any
American would have sanctioned the SUI
render of Manila to the lnsursenss. o .pa
obligations to other nations anu 70 lto
| Friendly Filipinos and to ourselves ana our
flag demanded that force should De met
by force Whatever the future oil the Is
| lands may be- there is no course open TO Us
now except the prosecution OIL One wa 80, az
sion The commission is of the opinion
that there has been no time since the uS-
| structton of the Spanish squadron pE ~
miral Dewey when it was possible 10 Win
| draw our forces from the lslanu9, go
| with honor to ourselves OF Will 9ss' ~
| the inhabitants.
The course thus clearly indicated mas
been unainchingly pursued. The reoei-
lion must be put down as civil goNefhi ,
cannot be thoroughly established uhti Or
der is restored With devotion ana s9i-
1antrv of the most brilliant history, the
army ably and Loyalty assisted oN inc navy,
has carried on this unwelcome' out sio9,
| righteous campaign with renly ueselFeu
| success The noble self-sacrluce VI lng,
With which our soldiers and sailors Whose
tarros of service had expired refusing 10
| avail themselves of their rgnt 10 ietu.H
home as long as they were heeueu a ~
| front. forms one of the brightest pages IA
our annals Although their operations ma
been somewhat interrupted ana cheehsu
~, a rainv season of unusual violence ana
| dnration they have gained ground soeduily
| in every direction and now look III 49,
! confidently to speedy coinlletioii W
| their task The unfavorable cTcuiiiSt'HCy
| connected with an active campaign nave not
"a RI Interfere with the etiudi-
u, irnnortant work of reconstruction.
| hgain 7 invite your attention to the re-
mort of the commissioners Tor the inee l'u,-
ING and encourag ing details OF tne WIN
already accomplished in the establishment
| of neace and order and the inauguration Oh
self-ooverning municipal life in many por-
tions of the archipelago. A notaole oesah.
| ming has been made in the estaplshlieht u
| a government in the island OF Negtos'
| r,bich Is deserving of special consideration.
! This was the first island to accept A1nerl-
ron sovereignty. Its people unreservedly
nr,cl,inced allegiance to the United states
and adopted constitution LOOKING 70 oie
| establishment of a popular government -
| was impossible to guarantee 10 uIie 95ortal
| If Negros that the constitution so adopled
sbould he the ultimate form Of government.
| .,,ch question under the treaty with Snalh
| and in accordance with our own constlih-
| tion and laws came exclusively WITHIN INC
| jurisdiction of congress-
the Scat o. esoVffnDlfHh
The seat of government was fixed at lSa-
| colod the military governor exercises tne
| supreme executive power. He IS 10 see Uh-tI
the laws are executed, appoint all vacancies
| in office not otherwise provided Tor, anu
may, with the approval OF the ihiltafy
| governor of the Philippines retain any Of
| fieer The civil governor advises the mil
itary governor on all public and civii ques-
| lions and presides over ule advisory conh-
| oil. He. in general, performs the duties
| which are performed by>secretarles OF state
| under our own system of government.
| The advisory council consists OF e!ght
members elected by the people WITHIN ter
| ritorial limits which are defined in the Or
| der of the commanding general.
Tho time and places of holding elections
| arb TO be fixed by the military governor
! of the island of Negros. The qualifca-
| tions of voters are as follows
| l. And a voter must be male citizen OF
| tlae island of Negros.
| 2. or the age of q years.
g. He shall be able to speak, read ana