Omaha daily bee., 1899-11-03

has been no time since the destruction of
the Spanish squadron by Admiral Dewey
when it was possible to withdraw our forces
from the islands either with honor to our
selves or safety to the inhabitants"
Conditions of the Country.
The commission then takes up the con-
ditions of the country at the time OF their
arrival, comparing 1t with conditions exist
ing at the time they left. short time ago.
A vivid picture is given of the anarchy
existing among the inha bitants in and about
Manila during the early spring.
THE situation in the CITY," says the COM
mission, was bad. Incendiary fires oc-
CURED daily The streets were almost de-
serted Half of the native population had
fed and most of the remainder were shut
In their houses. Business was at stand
still. Insurgent troops everywhere faced
our lines and the sound of rifle fire was
frequently audible in our house. reign
of terror prevailed. Filipinos who had
favored Americans feared assassination and
few had the courage to come out openly
for us. Fortunately there were among this
number some of the best men of the city"
The report then speaks of the issuance OF
the commissions proclamation and the good
effects it had on public sentiment. The ma
tives, 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
greatly aided in the restoration of public
confidence. The flow of population soon be-
gan to set toward the city. Natives who
had fed from their homes returned. AS
showing the limited scope of the rebellion,
the commission states:
Wa Ion md thot
ing was confined to the Tagalog provinces,
namely, Manila, Cavite Laguna, Batangas,
Morong, Buacan, Mueva Ecija, Principe
lnfanta and Zambates. 1t was strongest in
the first six named and hardly existed in
the last four The population of these prov
inces is estimated at about 1900 OO0 but II
should not be supposed that even in the
six provinces immediately adjacent to Ma
Mia the people were united in their opposi-
ton to us. Even here there was strong
conservative element, consisting OF people
of wealth and intelligence, opposed to the
war"
Not National Movement.
Under the head of THE Rebellion Not a
National Movement" the report treats OF
the rebellion outside of the provinces of
Luzon. where, it is stated, the uprising
was received at first with Indifference and
later with fear. Throughout the archipel-
ago at large there was trouble only at
those points to which armed Tagalos had
been sent in considerable numbers The
machinery Of nsurgent government served
only for plundering the people under the
| pretext of levying war contributions. while
many or the insurgent officials were rapidly
accumulating wealth" 1t is stated that the
insurgent administration throughout the in
! terior was worse than in the days OF Span
ish misrule; in many provinces there was
absolute anarchy and from all sides came
petitions for protection and help.
| In speaking Of General MacArthur's move
ment northward the report tells OF the in
| surgent method of intimidating the natives
by telling them fearful tales concerning the
American soldiers This method of proceed
ure, emnently successful at first in the end
recoied on its authors. As to the state of
| affairs when the commission left the re-
port says:
| Before the commission left the Philip
pines nearly all tho inhabitants had re-
turned to these ruined villages. Many OF
the houses had been rebuilt. Fields that had
lain fallow for three years were green with
growing crops. Municipal governments had
| been established and the people, protecte ed
by our troops, were enjoying peace, security
and degree of participation, in their own
| government previously IN tne MS
tory of the Philippines. Attempts of the
insurgents to raise recruits and money In
the province of Bulacan were proving abort
i've, except where backed by bayonets and
bullets and oven in such, cases the natives
were applying to lis for help TO resist them
Municipal Governments.
The chapter devoted to Establishment .o
| Municipal Governments" gives In detail tn,
| efforts in that direction. There were many
difficulties encountered, The condition of tn
people wac found to be most pitiable. The
had been plundered by the insurgent troops
who had robbed them Of jewels, money
clothing and even food, SO that they wer,
literally starving. Peaceful citizens haC
been fired en-, women had been maltreatsd
There was general satisfaction that thu
| Americans had come at last and condition!
seemed favorable for an American propa
| ganda. The towns of Bacoor and linus Were
selected for the purpose of experiment ant
| after talks with the local "heldmen" a loca
| form Of government was established, En-
! couragea BY the reeut the work was con
| tiaued at Paranaque and Las Pnas with
similar good results.
| At tho request of General Lawton, who
| had been assigned to this work by Genera
Otis, the commission prepared a simple