The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1899-11-11
SUBMIT A REPORT.
Philippine Commissioners Declar
We Should Retain the Islands. 4
The Natives, They Declare, Are Incapable
OF solf-Government and That at No
Time Since Dewey's Naval Battle
Could We Have withdrawn.

Washington, Nov. 4--In accordance
with the understanding reached at the
conference at the white house Wednes-
day the Philippine commission yester.
day submitted TO the president the pre-
liminary report which 1t had promised
to prepare. The report appears to be
a campact summary 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 insurrectlon; of the exchanges
between Admiral Dewey and the other
American commanders and the insur-
gents; the breaking out and progress
of the present insurrection and, finally,
a statement of the capacity Of the Fill.
pinos for self.government A notable
feature Of the report is memorandum
by Admiral Dewey explanatory Of his
relations with Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how IL
conducted the task entrusted to ii,
hearing statements from all classes of
people in Manila as to the capabilities
of the Filipinos for self-government,
the habits and customs of the people
and also the establishment Of munici-
pal governments in many towns. AL
this matter is to be included in the
final report. Turning to the history
of the islands the commission attaches
little Importance to the divers rebel
lions which had preceded that of 1895.
As to this movement they declare that
1t was in no sense an attempt to win
independence, but solely to obtain re-
lief from intolerable abuses. The re-
port then rapidly sketches events now
historical 1t tells in substance how
the Filipinos attacked the Spanish and
how Gen. Anderson arrived and Agui'
naldo, at his request, removed from
Cavite to Baccoor.
A brief chapter then tells of the lacl
of success attending the effort mad'
at this time by Gen, Merritt through 0
commission to arrive at a mutual under
standing with Aguinaldo as to the in
tentions, purposes and desires of thu
Filipino people. This brings the story
up to the evening of February 4, with
the attack upon the American troops
following the action Of the Nebraskar
sentinel. The commission, in con
cluding this chapter, says;
After the landing OF our troops Aguin0ld
made up his mind that 1t would be necessary
fight the Americans and after the making
the treaty OF peace at Paris this determinatio
was strengthened. He did not openly declar
hat h. In faRlad IN 10 the Ampriaung. hut N
A excited everybody and especially the militar
q by claiming independence, and 1t is doubtf'
whether he had the power TO check or eontr'
U the army at the time hostiitles broke out d.
: plorable as war Is, the one in which we aI
now engaged was unavoidable by us We wer
attacked by a bold, adventurous ana enthusiast
tic army No alternative was left TO US, exceI
!. ignominious retreat II Is not TO be conceive
OF that any American would have sanctione
Q the surrender OF Manila to the insurgents Ou
IS obligations to other nations and to the friendl
q Fllipinos, and TO ourselves and to our nag, d'
mand that force should be met by force. Wha
l. ever the future OF the Philippines may be thel
is no course open 10 us now except the pr0seo'
L ton OF the war until the insurgents are II
\. duced to submission. The commission Is OF u
. opinion that there has been no time since u
- destruction Of the Spanish squadron by Admir-
IS Dewey when It was possible to withdraw o'
J, forces from the islands, either with honor
,s ourselves 0r with safety 10 the Inhabitants
,e The commission then takes up u
conditions OF the country at the tin
of their arrival, comparing it wit
=. the conditions existing at the tin
y they left short time ago. A viy
- =. picture is given of the anarchy existir
:, among the Inhabitants in and abo1
~ ~ Manila during the early spring, II
!. report then speaks of the issuance
% % the commissions proclamation and Il
~ - good effects 1t had on public icsentimen
= The natives, accustomed to Spanii
:, promises, urged upon the commissit
- - that acts instead of promises should
given them. As result native la
courts We're established and this gree