The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-04

Washington, Nov. 2.-In accordance
with the understanding reached at the
conference at the White House yester-
day the Philippine commission submit
ted to the president the preliminary re-
port which it had promised TO prepare.
The report appears to be a compact
summary of conditions on the islands
as the commission left them; of the
historical events which preceded the
Spanish war and led 10 the original
Filipino Instruction; of the exchanges
between Admiral Dewey and the other
American commanders and the lnsur-
gents: the breaking out and progress
of the present Instruction, and finally
statement Of the capacity of the Fill
pinos for self government. A notable
feature of the report is memoran-
dun by Admiral Dewey, explanatory of
his rela tions with Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how 1t
conducted the task entrusted to 1t,
hearing statements from all classes of
people i'm Manila as to the Capability of
the Filipinos for self-g government the
habits and customs OF the people, and
also the establishment of municipal
governments in many towns. All this
matter is to be included in the final re-
port.
History OF the Islands.
Turning TO the history Of the islands,
the commission attaches little impor-
lance to the divers rebellions which had
preceded that of 1896. AS to this move
ment they declare it was in no sense
an attempt to win independence, but
solely to obtain relief from intolerable
abuses To sustain this statement they
quote from an insurgent proclamation
showing that what was demanded was
the expulsion OF the friars and the res
titution TO the people of their lands,
with division of the episcopal sees
between Spanish and native priests
IT was also demanded that the Fill
pinos have parliamentary representa-
ton. freedom of the press, religious
liberation, economic autonomy and laws
similar to those of Spain. The abolition
of the power of Punishment was de-
manded with a legal equality for all
persons in law and equality in pay be-
tween Spanish and native civil ser
wants.
The commission declares that these
demands had good ground; that on pa
per the Spanish system of government
was tolerable. but in practice every
Spanish governor did what he saw fit,
and the evil deeds of men in the gov
eminent were hidden from Spain by
strict press censorship. Allusion is
made to the powerful Katipunan So
ciety patterned on the Masonic order,
and mainly made up of Tagalos, as
powerful revolutionary force.
The War of 1896.
The war begun in 1896 was terminated
by the treaty of Biac-Na-Bate. The
Filipinos were numerous, but possessed
about only 500 small arms. The Span
ish felt that it would require 100000
men to capture their stronghold, and
concluded to resort to the use of money.
Certain concessions were also decided
upon including representation of the
Filipinos in the cOrtes, the deportation
of the friars which was the principal
question; the grant of the right Of as
sociation and a free press.
Governor General Rivera was willing
to pay 81, 600, 600, Mexican, when Aguin-
aldo and his cabinet and .clding Off
GERS arrived in Hongkong. 1t appears, /
however, that Palermo only offered the
latter $780, 600, 100000 to be paid when
Aguinaldo arrived at HongkOng and the
balance when the Filipinos had deliv-
cred up their arms The arrangement
was not acceptable to the people.
The promises were never carried out, /
and Spanish abuses began afresh, in
Manila alone more than 200 men being |
executed. Hence sporadic revolutions |
occurred, though they possessed moth /
ing like the strength of the original |
movement.
Filipinos UnPrepa-ed For War,
The insurgents lacked arms, ammuni- !
ton and leaders. The treaty had ended /
the war, which, with the exception of
an unimpOrtant outbreak in Cebu, had
been confined to Luzon, Spain's soyer- /
eighty in the islands never having been
questioned and the thought Of inde- /
pendence never having been enter
tanned.
Tho v,o,,or+ +lor 4olI- l,o,,- y,1,,o,--1
Augustine came to Manila as governor
general at this juncture and war broke |
out between Spain and the United /
States Augustine sought to secure the /
support OF the FilipinOs to defend Spain
against America. promising them au-
tonomy, but the Filipinos did not trust
him. Then came the LIST Of May and /
the destruction of the Spanish fleet by
Dewey, with the result of the loss of
prestige to Spain. Then in June Aguin-
aldo came. on this point the commits
sion says:
The following memorandum on this
subject has been furnished the commits
sion by Admiral Dewey:
Relations With Aguinaldo.
Memorandum of relations with
Aguinaldo: On April "a 1898. the fol-
lowing cipher dispatch was received at
HOngkong from +. Spencer Pratt
4
'Aguinaldo, insurgent leader. here
VIII come to Hongkong and arrange
with commodore for general co-opera-
ton Of insurgents at Manila if desired.
Telegraph. PRATT
"On the same day Commodore Dewey
telegraphed Mr.. Pratt: Tell Aguinaldo
to come as soon as possible the neces-
sity FOR haste being due to the fact that
the squadron had been notified by the
HOngkOng government TO leave those
waters by the following day.
The squadron left Hongkong on the
morning Of the 25th and Mrs Bay on
the 9th. Agunaldo did not leave Sing
apCre until the 26th and so did not ar
rive in Hongkong in time TO have a
conference with the admiral.
1T had been reported to the commo-
d0re as early as March ] by the United
States consul at Manila and others that
the Filipinos had broken out in insur-
rection against the Spanish authority
in -he vicinity of Manila. and on March
80 Mr. Williams had telegraphed: Five
thousand rebels. armed in camp near
city. Loyal TO US in case OF war
Aguinaldo Calls On Dewey.
Upon the arrival Of the squadron at
Manila ii was found this was no insur-
rection to speak Of, and it was accord
insly decided TO allow AguinaldO TO
come to Cavite on board the McCul-
loch. He arrived with thirteen of his
staff on May 10. and Immediately came !
on board the Olympia to call on the
commander-in-chief after which he
was allowed to land at Cavite and or
GaniZe an army.
This was done with the purpose Of 1
Strengthening the United States forces
and weakening those of the enemy. No ]
~.1ns 20