The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-11-03

Washington, Nov. I'm accordance
with the understanding reached at the
conference at the White house yester-
day, the Philippine commission SUBJ
mitted to the president it's preliminary
report. which it had promised to pre-
pare.
| The report appears to be a compact
summary OF the conditions in the ISL
ands as the commission left them; of
the historic events which preceded the
Spanish war and led to the original
Filipino insurrection; of the exchange
between Admiral Dewey and the other
American commanders and the insurg-
ents, 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 capability
Of the Filipinos for elf-government,
the. habits and customs of the people,
and also the establishment of muni-
clpal governments in many towns. All
| this matter is to be included in the
| final report,
Turning to the history of the islands
the commission attaches little import
ance 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 intolerabi
abuses. 10 sustain this statement
they quote from an insurgent procla-
nation showing that what was de-
manded was the expulsion of the friara
and the restitution to the people Of
their lands, with division of the epis-
| copal sees between Spanish and native
priests. 1t was also demanded that
the F'ilipinos have parliamentary rep
resentation. freedom of the press and
religious rights. The commission de-
clares that these demands had good
ground; that on paper the Spanish gov
ernment was tolerable, but in prac-
tice every Spanish governor did what
he saw fit. and the evil deeds Of men
in the government were hidden from
Spain by strict press censorship. AL
fusion is made to the powerful Katihu-
nan society, patterned on the Masonic
-,
| as powerful revolutionary force.
| a. "1 A"""'
The war begun in 1886 was termi-
mated by the treaty of Bac-Na- Bate.
The Filipinos were numerous, but Dos
sessed only about 800 small arms. The
Spanish felt that it would REQUIRE 100 :
oVo men to capture their stronghold.
money. Certain concession. were also
decided upon, including renresentstive
Filipines in the cortes the deporta-
ton of the friars. which were the prin-
cipal Questions. The grant Of tbe right
of association and of a free press.
Governor General Rivera was will
ing to pay $4,000. 900 in Mexican
money when AelIinaIJ1o and his cabinet
and leading officers arrived in Hong
Kong It appears, however. that he
only offered the latter s4oO. 900. 5000, 900
to be paid when Aglinaldo arrived at
Hong Kong and the balance when the
Filipinos had delivered Mn their arms
The arrangement was not acceptable
to the people
The promises were never carried out
Spanish abuses began afresh, In Ma
Mia alone more than 900 men were
executed Hence sporadic revolutions
occurred, though they possessed moth
ing like the strength of the original
movement The insurgents lacked
arms, ammunition and leaders. The
treaty had ended the war which. with
the exception of an unimportant ont
break in Cebu, had been confined 10
Luzon Spain's sovereignty in the ISL
ands never having been questioned.
and the thought of indenendano. ,,a,,a,
having been entertained
n.,.v E,r,is,,. ,,
'r""aa'
The report then tells how General
Augustine came to Manila as governor.
general at this juncture and war broke
out between Spain and the United