Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-12-14

Inc TatluCatlOnS Wer6 eXCnanReu on ADrl n
and the treaty publicly proclaimed. On March
congress voted the sum contemplated by the
treaty, and the amount was paid over to the
Spanish government on May l.
In this manner the Philippines came to the
United States, The islands were ceded by the
government OF Spain, which had been in un-
disputed possession Of them for centuries.
They were accepted not merely by our author
iZed commissioners in Paris under the dlrec-
tion OF the executive. but by the constitutional
and well-considered action OF the representa-
tiyes of the people Of the United states In Doth
houses of congress. / had every reason TO
believe and still believe, that this transfer
OF sovereignty 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 every
| thing possible to advance their interests, In
my order OF May 10, 1898, the commander OF
the military expedition dispatched to the
Philippines was instructed to declare that we
came not to make war upon the people of that
country, nor upon any party or faction among
! them, but to protect them in their homes, in
| their employmentS, and in their personal and
| religious rights" That there should be no
| doubt as to the paramount authority there, on
the 18th of March 1t was directed that there
must be no joint occupation with the iusur-
| gents" 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
ana authority Of the United States. As early
| \.
| tiCipation OF that event. the commander in
| Manila was urged to restore peace and tran
guilty and to undertake the establishment OF
Il beneicent government, which should anord
| the fullest security for life and property.
On the 2lst Of December, after the treaty
| was signed, the commander of the forces OF
| occupation was instructed ITO announce and
| proclaim in the most public manner that we
| come. not as Invaders and conquerors, but as
| friends to protect the natives in their homes
| in their employments, and in their personal
| and religious rights" On the same day, while
| ordering General Otis to see that peace should
| be preserved in lloilo, he was admonShed that:
| at is most important that there should be nc
| conflict with the insurgents. " On January
| 1899, urgent orders were reiterated that the
| kindly intentions Of this government should be
| IN every possible way communicated to the
| insurgents
On January 81 announced my intention OF
| dispatching TO Manila a commission composed
| of three gentlemen of the highest characteI
| and distinction, thoroughly acquainted with
| the Orient, VINO, in association with Adm1ra
| Dewey and Maj. Gen. OTIS, were instructed tC
| facilitate the most humane and effective ex.
| tension of authority throughout the islands
| and to secure with the least possible delay the
| benefits Of "a wise and generous protection Of
| life and property to the inhabitants" THESE
| gentlemen were DIR. Jacob SChurman, preSi.
| dent of Cornell university; Hon. Charles Den
| by, for many years minister to ,hina, anC
| Prof Dean C. Worcester, of the University OF
Michigan, who had made careful study o
| life in the Philippines. While the treaty o.
peace was under consideration in the senate
| these commissioners set out on their mission
of good will and Liberation.
But before their arrival at Manila the SIMS
ter ambition of few leaders of the Filipino
| had created situation full OF embarrassment
for us and most grievous in its consequences
to themselves. The clear and impartial pre-
iiminary report of the commissioners, which
transmit herewith, gives so comprehensive
history OF the present insurrectionary move
ment that the story need not be here repeated
1t is enough to say that the claim Of the rebe
| leader that he was promised independence by
| independence by any officer of the United
States in return for his assistance has no foun
| dation in fact, and is denied by the very wit
| nesses who were called to prove 1t. The mos
| the insurgent leader hoped for when he came
back to Manila was the liberation of the islands
| from the Spanish control, which they had beer
| aboring for years without success to throw of
The prompt accomplishment Of this work BY
the American army and navy gave him c. .he
| ideas and ambitions and insidious suggestions
| from various quarters perverted the purpose
and intentions with which he had taken NJ
arms. NO sooner nad our army captured Ma
ntla than the Filipino forces began to aSSIm
an attitude of suspicion and hostility which tn
utmost efforts OF our officers and troops wer
unable to dlsarm or modify. Their kindness
and forbearance were taken proof of cow
ardice. The aggreSslonS of the FilipinoS con
tinualy increased until finally just before tn
time set by the senate Of the United States TO
vote upon the treaty, an attack, evidcntl.
prepared in advance, was made all along tn
American lines which resulted in a terribl
destructive and Sangulnary repulse OF the III
SurgentS.
Ten days later an order of the insurgent gov
ernment was issued to its adherentS who ha
remained in Manila, OF which Gen. Otis justi,
observes that for barbarous intent it is un
equalled in modern times" 1t directs that a
O'Clock on the night OF the 10Th Of Februar
the territorial militia shall come to@ethe
in the streets of san Pedro, armed with bolos
with guns and ammunition where convenient
that Filipino families only shall be respected
but that all other individuals, of whatever rae
they may be, shall be eXterminatcd withou
any compassion, after the determination of tn
army of occupation, and adds Brothers
We must avcnge ourselves on the American
and exterminate them, that We may take on
r4N fnR N lpG alta1.1 a
which they have comm tied upon us Hav
no compassion on them attack with vigor"
A copy of this fell into the hands Of ou
officers and they were able to take measure
to control the rising, which was actually at
tempted on the night of February -, wee
later than was originally contemplated. Goa
siderable numbers of armed insurgents entera
the city and in concert with confederates in
side attempted TO destroy Manila by fire
They were kept in check during the night an
the next day driven out OF the city with heaV
loss.
This was the unhappy condition of affair
which confronted our commissioners on thcl
arrival in Manila. They had come with tn
hope and intention of cooperating with Ad
miral Dewey and Maj Gen. Otis in establish
ing peace and order in the archipelago and tn
largest measure OF self-goyernment conn ati
BILE with the true welfare of tAe people. Wha
they actually found can best be set forth i
their own words:
"Deplorable as war is, the one in which W
are now engaged was unavoidable by us w
, were attacked by bold, adventurous. and en-
| thuSaStic army. No alternative was left TO u
except ignom nous retreat.
| 1t is not to be conceived of that any Ameri
can would nave sanctioned the surrender &
Manila to the insurgents. Our obi cations I
other nations and TO the friendly Fi!ipinos an
to ourselves ana our hdg demanded that fore
should be met by force. Whatever the futur
OF the Philippines may be, there is no cours
| open to US now except the prosecution OF til
war until the insurgents are reduced to sub
, mission. The commission Is OF the Opiuio
taat there has been no time since the deStruC
!, | tion of the Spanish squadron by Admira
!. Dewey when twas possible to withdraw ou
forces from the islands either with homer I
, ourselves or with safety to the inhabitants" "
| The course thus clearly indicated has bee
, unflinchingly pursued. The rebellion must b
/ put down. Civil government cannot be thor
oughy established until order is restored
With Il devo Ion and gallantry worthy of it
most brilliant history, the army, ably assiste
Ly the navy, has carried on this unwt leone bu
most righteous campaign with richly deserve
success The noble Sclf-Sacriice with whic
our soldiers and sailors whose terms of SerVic
had expired refused to avail themselves
their right to return home as long as they wer
needed at the front forms one of the brightes
pages in our annals. Although their opera
tionS have been some what interrupted an
checked by Il rainy season of unusual yiolenc
and duration they have gained ground Stcadil
in every direction, and now look forward cont
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