The evening times., 1899-11-03
FRIDAY. NOVEMBER 8, 1899.
The Truth About the Philippines.

The Truth AbOut the Philippines.
While the preliminary report Of the
Philippine Commission does not add much
to the sum of knowledge concerning con-
ditions in the archipelago, it will prove
useful in settling. officially. a number Of
,untruths which have been persistently re-
iterated by the friends Of the Malay rebels
in this country during the past year. For
example, it gives the deathblow to the
ridiculous story, to which George F. Hoar,
and the Filipino junta in Boston, have at
tached so much Importance, that Admiral
Dewey made specific promises OF inde-
pendence to Aguinaldo as the price of that
adventurer's assistance in fighting the
Spaniards. AS the denial of this canard
rests upon a separate memorandum signed
by Admiral Dewey, and made part of the
report, its entire suficiency will not be
questioned by any honest American
The document disposes finally of other
falsifications of fact and history. In re-
viewing the frequent outbreaks and dis
turbanees in the Island of Luzon, under
Spanish rule, it shows that none Of them
ever amounted to a serious insurrection be-
fore the rebellion OF 1896; nor, including
the last were they or any one of them
inspired by any aspiration to independence,
or accompanied with the remotest demand
for it. The great insurrection was inspired
by a general native determination to throw
off the yoke of the Spanish friars. who, ac-
cording TO the Tagals, had. with the conni-
vance of the colonial government, appro-
priated their property and reduced their
people to serfdom. The rebellion of 1896
had for its principal objects, the expulsion
of the friars, the restoration of the looted
property, and equal rights before the law
for Filipinos and Spaniards. We do not
find it stated in the report but it is only
necessary to consult the insurgent Iitera-
ture issued from Hongkong to learn that
one of the chief causes of Tagal unwilling
ness to accept American sovereignty is the
belief, which appears to be universal among
the tribesmen, that the United States is
committed to perpetuate the evils and
abuses alleged to be due to the religious
orders. and to protect them in the posses
sion of the vast property interests which.
the natives declare, they have acquired
through fraud and robbery
AS We have more than once remarked
the rebeIlious Tagals may be all wrong in
laying their grievances at the door of the
friars; and they may be not justified in the
assumption that our Government is bound
by treaty or private undertakings to con-
slider the whole matter of the charges
against the orders as res judicata, and to
continue them in the possession of the |
holdings, privileges, and immunities they |
enjoyed under the Spanish governors These |
are matters for sober and unbiased discus |
sion and investigation by Congress. They |
cannot be passed over without such action. |
Alleged wrongs which have led a million |
and half of people to open and hopeless re- |
bellion, with the certainty that the atrocities
OF Spanish vengeance would be visited upon
thousands of them. may exist only in the
untutored minds of the poor Malays; but
1t would be impossible, conformabIy to the
American sense OF justice, not to at Ieas,
enquire into all the facts and circum-
stances. and that is what Congress will do.
The Commission corroborates the view
taken in this country. that the
Aguinaldo insurrection is confined to his
own tribe, and to six small provinces in
Luzon When the rebels have been able
to send armed parties to neighboring ISL
ands, trouble has resulted, but not other
wise. Only the TagaIs, forming less than
twelve per cent of the Philippine popula-
ton, are opposed to American soverei- nty.
The important Maccabebe tribe of Luzon
is loyal and unanimously anxious to fight
for the Stars and Stripes, as one battalion
Of its members is doing already.
The report presents the Philippine case
strongly and convincingly. 1t assures US
that surrender of our possession of the
Islands would result in anarchy and saw
agery, would be an act of brutal injustice
10 the loyal natives who form not less than
sighty-eight per cent of the inhabitants,
and, otherwise, would be un-American. ;
lishonorable. and infamous.