The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1899-11-04
FILI7INOS INCAPABLEOF GOVEKYflEYT

pinoS and our officers with a view to
operating against the Spaniards. nor
was there cooperation of any kind.
There never was any preconcert-
ed operations or any combined move
ment by the United States and Fill
pinos against the Spaniards."
Wanted to Loot Manila
Reference is made to Aguinaldo's de-
mand that he be allowed 10 loot Manila
and take the arms of the SDaniards.
The latter demand is said to confirm
the statement that he intended to get
possession of the arms to attack the
Americans. Further evidence of the
hostile intentions Of the Filipinos was
found in the organization of d ''pOpu-
lar club, which later on furnished
local militia to attack the Americans.
The DEGREES of the Filipino congress
are also cited, as well as the making
Of bolts (knives) in every shop in Ma
Mia. 1t is shown that a considerable
element in the Filipino congress wished
to address President Mckinley a re-
quest not to abandon the Philippines
Cat this stage the Paris conference was
discussing the future of the Philip
pines). The president was also to be
asked his desire as to the form of gov
eminent he wished to establish.
But all this time Aguinaldo' was pre-
pairing for war and delaying these mes
sages, and it was understood the at
tack would come when the first act by
the American forces which would af-
ferd ? preteXt.
A brief chapter tells Of the lack of
successes attending the effort made at
this time by General Merritt through
commission to arrive at mutual un-
derstanding with Aguinaldo as to the |
intentions. purposes and desires of the !
Filipino people.
This
break ON the evening of the 4th of Feb
ruary, with the attack upon the Amer |
lean troops following the action of the !
Nebraska sentinel.
Fight the Americans.
The commission. in concluding this
chapter saws:
After the landing of our troops
Aguinaldo made up his mind that it |
would be necessary to fight the Ameri-
cans, and after the making of the |
treaty of peace at Paris this determi-
nation was strengthened. He did not |
only openly declare that'h intended to |
fight the Americans, but he excited |
everybody and especially the military,
by claiming independence, and it is
doubtful whether nc lad the power to
check or control the army at the time
hostilities broke out
"Deplorable as war is. the one in
which we are now enga ged was un-
avoidable. No alternative was left\to
us, except iglOminiOus retreat II is
not to be conceived that any American
would sanction the surrender of Manila
to the insurgents. Our obligations to
other nations and to the friendly Fill
pinoS and to ourselves and our flag
demand that force should be met with
force. Whatever the future of the Phil
ippines may be. there is no course open
-
war until the insurgents are reduced to
submission.
Could Not Withdraw Forces.
"The commission is of the opinion
that there 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 ourselves
or with safety to the inhabitants"
The commission then takes uD the
conditions of the country at the time
OF their arrival, comparing it with con-
ditions at the time they left a short
time ago. A vivid picture is given of
the anarchy existing among the inhab-
itants in and about Manila during the
early spring.
THE situation in the city, says the
commission. was bad. InCendiary fires
occurred daily. The streets We're al
most deserted. Half the native popu-
lation had fled. and most of the re-
mainder were shut III uneir houses.
Business was at a standStill. Insur-
gent troops everywhere faced our lines,
and the sound of rifle fire was frequently |
audible in our house. A 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 Commissions Proclamation.
The report then speaks of the issu-
ance of the commissions proclamation
and the good effects it had on public
sentiment. The natives. accustomed to
Spanish promises. urged the commits
sion that acts instead of promises
should be given them. As a result, ma
tive law courts We're established, and
this greatly aided in the restoration of
public confidence. The flow of popula-
ton soon began to set toward the city
Natives who had fed from their homes
As showing the limited scope
Of the rebellion, the commission states:
we learned that the strong anti
American feeling was confined to the
Tagalos provinces, namely, Manila, Ca
vite La Guna, Batangas. Morong Blu
Iucan. Nueva Ecija, Principe, Infanta
and Zambales 1t was strongest in the
first six named and hardly existed in
the last four. The population of these
provinces is estimated to be about H.
500 600. but it should not be supposed
that even in the six provinces lmme-
liately adjacent to Manila. the people
were united in their opposition to us.
Even here there was strong conserva.
tive element, consisting of people of
wealth and intelligence, opposed to the
war"
Outside of Luzon.
Under the heading, THE Rebellion
Not a National Movement" the report .
reats of the rebellion out of the prov
noes of LuZon, where it IS stated the
Uprising was viewed at first with IN ,
Inference and later with fear. through
Dut the archipelago at large, there was
rouble only at those points to Whlch
Tagalos had been sent in considerable {
numbers. The machinery of insurgent
government served only for plumber
ng the people under the preteXt OF
ewing war contributions, while many
IF the insurgent officials were rapidly ;
accommodating wealth.
As to the state of affairs when the I
left, the report says: Be
fore the commission left the Philip
pines, nearly all the inhabitants had {
to these ruined villages. Many
IF the houses had been rebuilt. Fields :
hat had lain fallow for three years !
we're green with growing crops NUM-
,ipal governments had been established,
md the people, protected by our troops, +
we're enjoying peace, security and a :
iegree of participation in their own
government previously unknown in the ,
history of the Philippines. Attempts of
he insurgents to raise recruits and :
money in the province of Bulucan were I
proving abortiVe, except when backed :
- I,nr-nrnn+c and ln,,llot- l,r-n,, in :