Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-03

scheme or municipal government, similar in
the rough to the cid system to be readily
comprehensive TO the natives, but giving
them liberties which they had never before
enjoyed, This scheme was adopted and gave
general satisfaction. In every instance en-
thuslasm ran high before the commissioners
took their departure and cheers were given
for General Lawton and for the country
which he represented. With a single excep
tion the officials elected proved worthy of
tho trust imposed in them and conditions
very rapidly improved in the newly organ
lied towns Governments were organized
with more satisfactory rjeults In 'Pandacan,
Santa Ana, San Felipe, Meri, San Pedro and
Machei. while slightly different system was
put into effect in Malab-n. Polo, Obando,
Mcycauya, Yang and Maoos,
The commission states that n large amount
Of supervision over the affairs of our new
municipalities proved necessary, as the off,
cials were timid and slow to comprehend
their new duties. At many of the elections
the voters went about asking who they
were expected to vote for" and it was only
with great difficulty that they were per-
suaded to exercise the right of free suffrage.
sum Up the situation.
The commission sums up the situation at
When we left Manila a large volume of
business was being done and the streets
were SO crowded as to be hardly safe. The
native population was quiet and orderly and
all fear of an uprising had long since passed.
An efficient corps OF native policemen was
on duty; system of public schools in which
English was taught had been advocated by
the commission and established by General
Otis; some 5000 scholars were In attendance.
I'm the Tagalog province of LuZon, where
the anti-American feeling had been strong
est, public sentiment had greatly changed,
as evidenced by the fact that the military
governor of Batangas had offered to surren
der his troops and his province If we would
only send a small force there. The Bicos,
in southern Luzon, had risen against their
Tagalog masters. The Macabebes were
clamcring for an opportunity to fight in our
ranks and native soldiers and scouts were
already serving under General Lawton.
Stories of the corruption OF insurgent Off
GERS were becoming daily more common
and the disntegration Of the enemy's forces
was steadily progressing. The hope of as
sistance from outside sources seemed to be
all that held them together"
Having given so much attention to the ISL
and of Luzon, the commission then takes up
In detail the conditions in the other islands.
On this point it stated that the rebellion
Is essentially Tagalog and when it ends in
Luzon it must end throughout the archipel-
ago. The situation elsewhere than in Luzon
Is summed up as follows:
THE only island, apart from Luzon, where
serious trouble threatens is Panay, to which
considerable force of Tagalog soldiers
were sent before the outbreak of hostilities
Many Of the Visayans of this island are
| opposed to the Tagalos, however, and it is
not believed that. the latter can make a
formidable resistance. In Samar, Leyte and
Masbate the Tagalog invaders are numer-
ically few and are disliked by the natives
OF these islands, whom they have oppressed
We are assured that 200 men will suffice
to restore order in Mindoro Bobol was
| asking for troops, the Calamines islanders
had sent word that they would welcome us.
There can be no resistance in Paawan.
Satisfactory relations have already been es-
| tablished with the warlike Moros, whose
sultan had previously been concilated by a
member or the commission and in Mndanao
| this tribe had even taken up our cause and
| attacked the insurgents of whom there are
very few in the island. In Cebu we have
| to reckon with the lawless element, which
has never been very formidable there"
Negros Raise American Flag.
Special attention is given to the island of
Negros, as this seemed field we'll adapted
TO the extension of an American system
It's natives had adopted a local government,
including congress, and had raised the
American flag. They believed themselves
| capable of managing their own affairs and
asked for battalion of troops to hold in
check mountainous band of fanatics. The
battalion was furnished but the people
proved unable to carry out their program,
| owing to ill-feeling among their own off,
clals. The Americans remained popular. At
The request of General Otis new and sim
plified scheme of government for the island,
giving the people a large voice in their
affairs, but placing an American in full con-
troll, was put into operation. 1t brought
about satisfaction and public order is better
| in the island today than at any time during
the last twenty years. Summarizing the
! failure of the native form Of government and
| the success of the American control the
| commission says:
T. The nat failure of this attempt to estab-
| lish an independent native government in
Nesros, conducted as it was under the most
! favorable circumstances. makes it apparent
| that here, as well as in the less favored
| provinces large amount of American con-
| troll Is at present absolutely esential to a
! successful administration of public affairs, -
| The efforts at conciliation with Aguinaldo
and his various commissions are set forth
in detail. These commissioners were as
sured OF the benefcent purposes Of the
United States and OF the readiness to grant
the Filipino people as large a measure of
home rule and as ample liberty as was con-
sistent with the ends of government, sub
ject only to 1.-The recognition OF the soyer-
eighty of the United States''-a point which
not being established, the commission re-
| fused to discuss.
The commission adds that nothing came
OF the negotiations, as Aguinaldo's emissaries
were without power and came again for in
formation. A courteous reception was ac-
corded to the insurgent commissioners and
earnest appeals made to stop further blood
shed, all Witnessing "the spirit of patient
| conciiation," exhibited by the American
commission in endeavoring to reach an
amicable adjustment with the insurgapts q