The Independent. [volume] (Honolulu, H.I.) 1895-1905, 1899-12-01
(Comtinled from Ist poge.)

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Ayuinaldo's demand Tor tho right
to loot Manila is regarded by the
commission as having been scheme
to obtain arms for attacking Ameri-
cans Popular clubs" became
numerous, and we're quickly turned
into militia. An element in the
Filipino congress wished to ask
Mckinley not to abandon the Philip
pines, but Aguinaldo delayed the
messages and continued to prepare
for war. Next in the report follows
a recital OF events already familiar,
eliminating in the outbreak OF
February 4th. Here there is con-
clusion projected into the midst OF
the report, as follows:
"Deplorable as war is, the one in
which we are now engaged was un-
avoidable We were attacked by
bold, adventurous, and enthusiastic
army. No alternative was left to us
except ignomiuious retreat. 1t is
not to be conceived that any Ameri-
can could have sanctioned the sur
render OF Manila to the insurgents.
Our obligations to other nations,
and to the friendly Filipinos, aud to
ourselves and our flag, demand that
force should be met with force.
Whatever the future OF the Philip
pines may be, there is no course
open to us now except the prosecu-
ton OF the war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission. 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"
Among others, these points are
made: That Manila was in state
OF anarchy until policed by Ameri-
cans; that the issuance OF the com.
MISSIONS proclamation had good
effect; that anti. American feeling is
confined to Tagalo provinces of Ma
Mia, Cavite, Laguna, Morong, and six
others OF less Importance: that Fill
pinos OF wealth and intelligence are
opposed to the war; that the insur-
rection is not national movement;
that the trouble is almost wholly
confined to Luzou, appearing else
where only at the instigstion of Ia
galos; that Aguinaldo secures re-
cruits at the point of the bayonet,
and his "war contributions" are in
reality plumber.
Considerable space is devoted to
an account OF municipal govern
ments set up at Bacoor, linus, Para.
naque, and Las Pinos, and the re-
suits pronounced satisfactory, al
though the natives fail to grasp the
plan OF free suffrage. The situation
at the time the commission left is
summed up as showing great im.
prvoement, with business increasing,
schools fourishing, the anti-Ameri.
can sentiment on the wane, and the
enemy's forces steadily disintegrat-
ing. Many islands we're asking for
American troops. In Negroes the
purely native government had been
a failure, but under American direc-
ton, a success. The commission
describes futile efforts at concilia-
ton, and speaks of the difficulty
due to the people not being ma
ton, but collection OF tribes, while
those in revolt are "not seeking
liberty, but arbitrary power" Their
intellectual capacity is rated high,
and their incapacity for practical
affairs ascribed to the Spanish re-
gime of subsection. The most to be
expected Of them is cooperation,
with Manila as a centre, and Ameri-
can authority in control. At the
end, the report says:
"Only through American occupa-
t:oo tba.ofo.a 20 tha ;Jo. ~ N f.o.