Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1899-11-09
REPORT SUBMITTED.
Philippine commissioners Give a
Detailed Account of Affairs.

Dewey, Schurman, DENLY and Worcester
Say Our Only Course Is to Hold the PHIL
ippines-Anarchy, the Men Say,
Would Follow Abandonment.
( Washi ngton, Nov. 3.-In accordance
with the understanding reached at the
conference at the white house Wednes-
day the Philippine commission yester-
day submitted to the president the pre-
Eminary report which it had promised
to prepare. The report appears to be
a campact summary of conditions on
the islands as the commission left them;
of the historical events which preceded
the Spanish war and led to the original
Filipino insurrection; of the exchanges
between Admiral Dewey and the other
American commanders and the insur-
gents; the breaking out and progress
of the present insurrection and, finally,
a statement of the capacity of the Fill
pinos for self government A notable
feature of the report is a memorandum
by Admiral Dewey explanatory of his
relations with Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how it
conducted the task entrusted to it,
hearing statements from all classes of
people in Manila as to the capa bilities
of the Fi1ipinos for self-government,
the habits and customs of the people
and also the eSta bliShment of munich
pal governments in many towns. All
this matter is to be included in the
final report. Turning to the history
of the islands the comm iSSion attaches
little Importance to the divers rebel
lions which had preceded that of 1896.
As to this movement they declare that
it was in no sense an attempt to win
independence, but solely to obtain re-
| lief from intolerable abuses. The re-
port then rapidly sketches events now
historical. 1t tells in substance how
the Filipinos attacked the Spanish and
how Gen. Anderson arrived and Agui-
naldo, at his request, removed from
Cavite to Baccoor.
A brief chapter then tells of the lack
of success attending the effort made
at this time by Gen, Merritt through
| commission to arrive at mutual under
standing with Aguinaldo as to the in
| tentiOns, purposes and desires of the
Filipino people. This brings the story
up to the evening of February 4, with
the attack upon the American troops
following the action of the Nebraskan
sentinel. The commission, in con-
Guiding this chapter, says:
After the landing of our troops Aguinaldo
made up his mind that it would be necessary to
| fight the Americans and after the making of
| the treaty of peace at Paris this determination
| was strengthened. He did not openly declare
| that he intended to fight the Americans, but he
excited everybody and especially the military
| by claiming independence, and it is doubtful
! whether he had the power to check or control
the army at the time hoStilities broke out. De-
plorable as war is, the one in which we are
now engaged was unavoidable by US. We were
attacked by bold, adventurous and enthusiast
| tic army. No alternative was left to US, except
| ignominiouS retreat. 1t is not to be conceived
| of that any American would have sanctioned
the surrender of Manila to the insurgents. Our
obligations to other nations and to the friendly
Fflipinos, ana to ourselves and to our flag, de-
mand that force should be met by force. What
ever the future of the Philippines may be there
is no course open to us now except the prosecu-
! ton of the war until the insurgents are re-
duced to submission. The commission is of the
| opinion that there has been no time since the
| destruction of the Spanish squadron by Admiral
Dewey when it possible to withdraw our
| forces from the islands. either with honor to
ourselves or with safety to the inhabitants
The commission then takes up the
conditions of the country at the time
of their arrival, comparing it with
the conditions existing at the time
they left short time ago. A vivid
picture is given of the anarchy existing
among the inhabitants in and about
Manila during the early spring. The
report then speaks of the issuance of
the commissions proclamation and the
good effects it had on public sentiment.
The natives, accustomed to Spanish
promises, urged upon the commission
| that acts instead of promises should be
! given them AS a result native law
courts were established and this great
| ly aided in the restoration of public
confidence. The flow of population
soon began to set toward the city.
! Natives who had fed from their homes
returned.
| The report concludes:
| Our control means to the inhabitants of the
| Philippines internal peace and order, a guaran-
tee against foreign aggression and against the
! ACKNOWLEDGMENT of their country, commercial
and industrial prosperity and as large share
! of the affairs of government as they shall prove
| fit to take. When peace and prosperity shall
! have been established throughout the archipel-
| ago, when education shall have become general,
| then. in the language of a leading Filipino, his
| people will, under our guidance, become more
| American than the Americans themselves
The report is signed by j. 6. Schur-
man, George Dewey, Charles DENLY
and Dean c. Worcester.
Christened by Mrs. Chamberlain.
! hot o he 10 h