The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-11-03
MUST HOLD PHILIPPINES.
pRELfUiNtRf REPDKT nv rms
S'HiHUIN COMMISSION.

Warnnd Sets up Governmental Worse
tyranny Than That of spnin-Tbe Conn
missions Efforts to Conciliate Insurgents
Municipal Governments Formed In srv-
rrai Towns, hut tn. People showed Lack
,f Experience In Sclf-Gov.rnmsnt-hn-
nrciN Would Follow Our Withdrawal
from the Islands-Their Value to u.
| WAsHINuroN. Nov THE preliminary rec
. port ~ TIA" Philippines Commission was CONS
/ pl-tcd to-day and was presented to Pres dcns
. Mckinley late this afternoon by Prof. Schur-
man. President OF the Comm ,sslon. Thr re-
! port follows:
WAsHINuToS. u. c. Nov =. 1879.
/ rain Irssuirpis
! SIR; The undersigned. Cpmmissioner, M
! pointed by YOU to investisat" affairs in the
| Philippine Islands and to report the result ~
: their Investigations. together with such rec"m-
! '"niations IA might. IN their judgment, la
/ ral eel for hy the conditions which should he
. '"unl to exist IN these islands. have the honor
| 10 submit the following ~ eliminary statement
IN compliance with your request.
| Daring all its stny in Manila the Commits
sion was engaged In hearing the statements ~
| leading and prom inent mon. bankor-. LAWYERS.
| railroad men, shipowncrs capitalists. educn.
tor. and in fact men o! all classes ~ TO all
III" topics OF interest in the islands In natou-
atty. these persons were spanish. lngith.
German American. Austrian and natives -
the Islands Almost every subject touching
III" Islands was fully and systematically Rou.
into government. law, currency. the Chinc-n
uues'ton. education. mines railroads. COM
/ m"rc" public lands church property. ugricu-
| fur". forestry. mct"orOlogy. Sc.
The opinions OF the witnesses wore frsclv
taken as to the capability Of the Filipinos for
self gryernmn mt. a. to the form OF govern
mcnt which would best suit them. Us to their
habits. customs condition and intelligence.
I The Commission also assisted in establishing
municipal governments in many towns. ref
"rrnc- TO which will hereafter be- made. In
addition. the Commission received great
number 81 papers and communications on
many pending questions. These inter-
views were taken down in shorthand
and they and the papers above mem
toned will form part OF our final
report. The members Of the Commission
mingled freely with the native and foreign
society at Manila. and at other points which
were visited. and sought in that mode 10
acquire Information. Books and newspapers
wer. freely cons lted Under proper heads.
views OF the Commission. a. derived from these
sources. will BE- hereafter set out in full.
THE REBELLION OF 1885.
Prior to 1898. divers reheions had broken
out against Spanish rule but at this time We
are chiefly concerned with the one which or-
Cured in that year. THIS movement was tn 10
sense an attempt 70 win Independence. hut was
merely an effort to obtain relief rom abuses
which werc rapidly growing intolrrabe. Til"
reforms demanded are set forth Ia n rroclam1-
ton by one Of the insdrEent leaders. They
were as follows.
l. Expulsion OF the friars and restitution .
the townships of the lands which the iriars h"i
approx rated dtSld,ng tn" iHcumbencies h.,d
by them. as well rs the Episcopal Sees equal"
between Peninsu.hr and lnsulhr secular
! priests
! . Spain to concede To the Filipnos rar'.n-
mentary representation. freedom OF the pre-,
liberation ~ all religious sccts. lava common
with hers and Administrative and economic
autonomy.
.. Equality in treatment and ray between
Pcnlnsular and ln-Ular civil servants
1 Tho restitution OF an lands arrroprin'oi
bv the frar- to the townships or to the original
owncr-. or in default u ilndlnG such owners.
to PUT them up at public auction in small !a's
OF u value within The reach Of all and PAYABLE
within four years.
, Abolition oi the Governm"ntsnuthortt,. -
hanish citizens aS well ~ all u"lu~t m"aS..0>
, against Filp,uoS: legal "Gur Otvior all persons,
whether reniuSI.ar or lnsu'a". under the '..t
= ~ well "a the penal code.
II must he admitted tina there We're = I
grounds COR demanding these reforms, -
paper the Spanish system 10. government ;
,olerable hut in practice every spanish r"'-
rruor dill what hc saw III, r"Guri.e-- o. p. =
, ! law The SpRuRris themselves arkuow." .g".
the existence Of wrongs. hu; th"y woe
powerr,s to correct them Sri'n 1
nothing 10 quiet the Filipino r..n.'. -
granted nothing which ju''ir' dow n' =
i The moss Wa nm her strict rrn-ur.a "
4 ,.,H. .f...l ,,.i,f Fl. ,