The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-06

9Th of February, 1899, and by the gov
eminent of Spain on the 18th of March,
following. The notifications were ex-
changed on the 11th of April and the
treaty publicly proclaimed. On the End
of March the congress voted the sum
contemplated by the treaty and the
amount was paid over to the Spanish
government on the LIST of May.
In this manner the Philippines came
to the United States. The islands were
coded by the government of Spain,
which had been in undisputed possess
sion of them for centuries. They were
accepted not merely by our authorized
commissioners in Paris. under the di-
rection of the executive, but by the
constitutional and well-considered ac-
ton of the repre- senta tives of the peo-
pie of the United States in both houses
of congress. / had every reason to be-
lieve and still believe that this transfer
of sovereignty was in accordance with
the wishes and the aspirations of the
great mass of the Filipino people. From
the earliest moment no opportunity
was lost of assuring the people of the
islands of our ardent desire for their
welfare and of the intention of this
government to do everything possible
to advance their interests. In my order
of the 18th of May, 1898, the commander
of the military expedition dispatched
to the Philippines was instructed to de-
clare that we came not to make war
upon the people of the country nor up
on any part or faction of them, but to
protect them in their homes, in their
employments and in their personal and
religious rights"
Paramount Authority.
That there should be no doubt as to
the paramount authority there on the
18th of August it was directed that
there must be no joint occupation
with the insurgents" that the United
States must preserve the peace and
protect persons and property within the
territory occupied by their military and
naval forces, that the insurgents and
all others must recognize the military
occupation and authority of the United
States AS early as Dec. 4, before the
cessiOn, and in anticipation of that
event the commander in Manila was
urged to restore peace and tranquility
and to undertake the establishment Of
beneficent government which should
afford the fullest security for life and
property.
On the 21st of December, after TIE
treaty was signed, the commander of
the forces of occupation was instructed
''to announce and proclaim in the most
public manner that we come, not as in
to protect the natives in their homes,
in their employments and in their per-
sonal and religious rights"
The same day, while ordering General
Otis to see that peace should be pre-
served in Iloilo, he was admonished
that sit is most important that there
should be no conflict with the insurg-
ents," On the first day of January,
1899, these general orders were reiter-
ated that the kindly intentions of this
government should be in every possible
way communicated to the insurgents.
On the 21st day Of January 1 an
nounced my intention of dispatching to
Manila a commission composed of three
gentlemen of the 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 effective extension of
authority throughout the islands and
to secure with the least possible delay
the benefit of a wise and generous pro-
lection of life and property to the in
habitants."
These gentlemen were DR.. Jacob
Gould Schurman, president of Cornell
university, the Hon. Charles DENLY, for
many years minister to China, and
Professor Dean G. Worcester of the
university Of Michigan, who had made
most careful study OF life in the
Philippines. While the treaty of peace
was under consideration in the senate
these commissioners set out upon their
mission Of good will and liberation. Their
character was a sufficient guarantee of
the beneficent purpose with which they
went, even if they had not borne the
positive Instructions of this govern
ment which made their errand pre-emi-
nently one of peace and friendship.
Sinister Ambitions.
But before their arrival at Manila the
sinister ambition of a few leaders of
the Filipinos had created a situation
full of embarrassments for us and most
grievous in it's consequences to them
selves. The clear and impartial prelimi-
nary report of the commissioners, which
l transmit herewith, gives so lucid and
comprehensive a history of the present
insurrectionary movement that the
story need not be here repeated. 1t is
enough to say that the claim of the re-
bel leader that he was promised indie
pendence by any officer of the United
States in return for his assistance has
no foundation in fact and is categori-
cally denied by the very witnesses who
were called to prove it. The most the
insurgent leader hoped for when he
came back to Manila was the liberation
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
quarters perverted the purposes and in
tention with which he had taken up
arms. No sooner had our army cap
tured Manila than the Filipino forces
began to assume an attitude of sus-
picion and hostility which the utmost
efforts of our officers and troops were
unable to disarm or modify. Their kind
ness and forbearance was taken as a
proof of cowardice. The aggression of
the Filipinos continually increased until
finally, just before the time set for the
senate of the United States to vote upon
the treaty, an attack, evidently pre-
pared in advance, was made all along
the American lines, which resulted in
terribly destructive and sanguinary re-
pulse of the insurgents. Ten days later
an order of the insurgent government
was issued to it's adherents who had re-
manned in Manila, of which General Otis
justly observes that for barbarous in
tent it is unequaled in modern times.