The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-03
AGUINALDO'S
ASSISTANCE.
Was Offered to Americans and
Was Accepted
Though Nothing Was Promised
Him In Return.
so SAYS THE REPORT
Of the Philippine Commission
Made Public
In Condensed Form For 1mme-
diate Use.
so SAYS THE REPORT

w WaSnlnSLOus NOV III 49,
with the understanding reached at the
conference at the White House Wed
nesday, the Philippine commission has
submitted to the president the prelinin-
airy report which it had promised to
prepare.
The report appears to be a compact OF
conditions on the islands as the com
mission left them; of historical events
which preceded the Spanish war and
led to the original Filipino insurrect1on'
of the exchanges between Admiral
Dewey and other American cornman-
ders and the insurgents; the breaking
out and progress of the present lnsur-
rection and finally, a statement of the
capacity of the Filipinos for sef-goV-
ernment. A notable feature or the re-
port is a memorandum by Admiral
Dewey, explanatory Of his relations
with Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how it
conducted the task entrusted to II,
hearing statements from all classes OF
people in Manila, as to the capabilities
of the FihpinOS for self-gcVernnent,
the habits and customs of the people
and also the establishment of munlcl-
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 FebelliOns which had
preceded that of 1886 AS to this move
ment they declare that it was in no
sense an attempt to win independence,
but solely to obtain relief from intOler-
able abuses To sustain this statement
they quote from an insurSent procla-
nation, showing that what was de-
manded was the expulsion C1 the IrlarS
and the restitution to the people of their
lands with a division of the Episcopal
sees between Spanish and native
priests. 1t was also demanded that the
Filipinos have parliamentary represen-
tatiOn, freedom of the press, religious
liberation, economic autonomy and
laws similar to those of Spain. The
abolition of the power of banishment
was demanded, with a legal equality
for all persons in law and equality in
pay between Spanish and native civil
servants
The commission declares that these
demands had good ground; that on pa
per the Spanish system of government
was tolerable, but in practice every
Spanish governor did what he saw fit
and the evil deeds of the men in the
government were hidden from Spain by
strict press censorship AllusiOn is
made to the powerful katipunan so
ciety, patterned on the Masonic order
and mainly made up from Tagals, as a
powerful revolutionary force
The war begun in 1896, was termin-
ated by the treaty of Biac-na-Bate. The
Filipinos We're numerous, but possessed
only about 500 small arms. The Spanish
felt that it would require 100000 men
to capture their stronghold and con-
cluded to resort to the use of money
Certain concessions were also decided
upon. including representation of the
FilipinOs in the COrtes, the deportation
of the friars, which was the principal
question; the grant of the right of as
BOciatfen and of a free press. Governor
General Rivera was willing to pay
81 GOO Mexican when AguinaldO and
his cabinet and leading officers arrived
In Hong Kong. 1t appears, however,
that PaternO only offered the latter
$400, 600, 100000 to be paid when Aguin-
aldo arrived at Hong Kong and the
balance when the FilipinOs had deliv-
cred up their arms. The arrangement
was not acceptable to the people.
The promises were never carried out,
Spanish abuses began afresh, in Manila
alone more than 200 men being eXecut-
ed. Hence sporadic risings occurred,
though they possessed nothing like the
strength of the original movement. The
Insurgents lacked arms, ammunition
and leaders. The treaty had ended the
war, which with the exception of an un-
important outbreak in Cebu, had been
confined to LuZOn, SPANS sovereignty
in the other islands never having been
questioned and the thought of indie
pendence never having been entertain
The report then tells how General Au-
gustine came to Manila as governor
general at this juncture and war broke
out between Spain and the United
States. Augustine sought to secure the
support of the FilipinOs to defend Spain
against America, promising them
autonomy but the Filipinos did not
trust him
Then came the first of May and the
destruction of the Spanish fleet by
Dewey with the resulting loss of pres
tige to Spain Then in June AguinaldO
came. On this point the report says:
The following memorandum on this
subject has been furnished the commits
sion by Admiral Dewey.
Memoir ndum of relations with
Aguinaldo.
''On April "A, 1898. the following ci-
pher dispatch was received at Hong
Kong from Mr.. E. Spencer Pratt, I'm
fted States consul general at Singapore: