Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-12-08


gress The treaty was ratified by the SEN
ate on the 9th of February, 1899, and by
the government of Spain on the 10Th of
March following. The ratihcations were
exchanged on tho 1lth of April and the
treaty publicly proclaimed. On the I'd of
March, the congress voted the sum con-
templatcd by the treaty, and the amount
was paid over to the Spanish government
on the 1st of May.
Not Invaders or Conquerors.
On the 21st of December after the treaty
was signed the commander of the forces
of occupation was instructed 'to an
nounce and proclaim in the most public
manner that we come not as invaders and
conquerors but rs friends to protect the
natives in their homes, in their employ
ments and in their personal and religious
rights" On the same day while order
ing Gen. Otis to see that the peace should
be preserved in Iloio he was admonishcd
that: ut is most important that there
should be no conflict with the insur-
gents" On the 1st day of Jaduary, 1899,
urgent orders were reiterated that the
kindly instructions of this government
should in every possible way be COM
municated to the insurgents.
On tho 2lst of January I announced my
intention of dispatching to Manila u COM
mission composed of three gentlemen of
tho highest character and distinction,
thoroughly acquainted with the Orient,
who, in association with Admiral Dewey
and Major General Otis, were instructed
to facilitate the most humane and effec-
tive extension Of authority throughout
the islands and to secure with the least
possible delay, the benefits o. u wise and
generous protection of life and property
to the inhabitants"
Ambition Created q Situation.
The character of the gentlemen compos-
ing this commission was sufficient guar
anty of the beneficent purpose for which
they were sent, even if they had not borne
the positive instructions of this govern
ment which made their errand pre-
eminently one of peace and friendship
But before their arrival at Manila the
sinister ambition of u few leaders of the
PHILIPPINES had created q situation full of
emburrassmentsf for us and most grievous
in its consequences to themselves. The
clear and impartial preliminary report of
the commissioners. which I transmit
herewith gives SO lucid and comprehen-
sive history of the present insurrection-
ary movement that the story need not
be here repeated. It is enough to say
that the claim of tho rebel leader that he
was promised independence by any officer
of the United States in return for his as
sistance, has no foundation in fact, and
is categorically denied by the very wit
nesses who were called to prove it. The
most the insurgent lea Ter hoped for when
he came back to Manila was the liber-
alton of the islands from the Spanish
control, which they had been laboring for
years without success to throw off.
The prompt accomplishment Of this
work by the American army and navy
gave him other ideas and ambitions and
insidious suggestions from various quar-
ters perverted the purposes and intentions
with which he had taken up arms. No
sooner had our army captured Manila
than the Filipino forces began to assume
an attitude of suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts of our officers
and troops were unable to disarm or
modify. Their kindness and forbearance
were taken as proof of cowardice. The
aggressions of the Filipinos continually
Increased until finally just before the time
set by the senate of the United States for
vote upon the treaty an attack evidently
prepared in advance, was made all along
the American lines, which resulted in Il
temporary destructive and sanguinary re-
pulse If the Insurgents.
An infamous Proclamation.
Ten days later an order of the insur-
gent government was issued to it's adher-
ents who had remained in Manila, of
which General Otis justly observes that
for barbarous intent it is unequalled in
modern times" 1t directs that at s
o'clock on the nj ght of the 18th of Feb
ruary the territorial militia shall come
together in the streets of San Pedro armed
with their bolos, with guns and ammu-
milton, where convenient, that Filipino
families alone shall be respected; but that
all other individuals of whatever racc
they may be, shall be cxterminated with
out any compassion, after tn" extermina-
tion of the army of occupation" and adds:
brothers, we must avenge ourselves on
the Americans and exterminate them,
that we may take our revenge for the in
famies and treacheries which they have
committed upon us. Have no compassion
upon them; attack with vigor."
A copy of this fell, by good fortune,
into the hands of our officers, and they
sSDAS
rising which was actually attempted on
the night of Feb. %, a week later than
was originally contemplated. Consider
able number Of armed insurgents entered
the city by waterways and swamps and
In concert with confederates inside
Attempted to Destroy Manila by Fire.
They were kept in check during the
night and the next day driven out of the
city with heavy loss.
This was the unhappy condition of
affairs which confronted our commission
ers on their arrival in Manila. They had
come with the hope and intention CT CO.
operating with Admiral Dewey and Major
General Otis in establishing peace and
order in the archipelago and the largest
measure of self government compatible
with the true welfare of the people.
What they actually found can best be
set forth in their own words: "Deplor-
able as war is, the one in which we are
now engaged was unavoidable by us.
We were attacked by bold, adventure
GUS and enthusiastic army. No alterna-
tive was left to US, except ignominous