The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-02-16
MAIL ADVICES
FROM MANILA
Trouble Hith the Natives Vas Expected
all tae Time.
AMERICANS HAD TO FIGHT
And Sdbdus the Rebels, or Withdraw
From the Archipelago.
THE FILIPINos WERE RECOGNIZED
In Official Way in Order to Avoid
Bloodshed-T Position of Gen
eral Otis Was an Extremely
Difficult One.

San Francisco, February 15.-Advices from
Manila dated January IL say:
A more difficult problem than that with
which the governor general of the Philip
pines is confronted at the present moment
1t would be difficult to imagine. for unless
the Filipinos recede from their position,
tho situation in nutshell amounts to this:
The Americans must either fight and SUBJ
due the rebels, or withdraw from the archi-
pelago.
As a matter of fact the Fillpinos have
been and are being recognized officially all
the time because, in order to avoid unneces-
sary bloodshed, tho American authorities
have been compelled to treat with them.
striking illustration of this point oc-
CURED on December 21 last, when the two
forces were probably nearer conflict than
at any other period since the occupation of
Manila. Up to that date the sentries of
the two forces had guarded opposite ends
of the Pacol bridge, a stone structure across
a ten-foot creek on the outskirts of the
city, but in accordance with instructions,
the American officer of the day essayed to
post his sentry in the center of the bridge.
when O protest was made, informed the
Americans that at o'clock next morning
they would fire upon the American line un-
less the sentry was withdrawn. At tho ap-
pointed hour Major General Anderson and
some 1900 men were on hand, but, after q
conference, the Fiipinos were recognized to
the extent that the sentry was withdrawn
to his former place without his comrades
firing single shot.
Concentrated Their Forces
The insurgents have concentrated their
forces on the outskirts of the city, and are
strengthening their position every day.
Orders have been issued, however, that they
shall act onry on the defensive, which indi-
Gates disposition to avoid trouble If pos
sible An accident may precipitate q con-
fiict, however, and that at any moment
In his proclamation to the natives of the
Philippines, issued on January 4, Major
General e. s. Otis says that 'in the war
against Spain the United States forces came
here to destroy the power of that nation
and to give the blessings of peace and in
dividual freedom to the Fflipnos, that We
are here as friends of the Fflipinos to pro-
tect them in their homes, their employ
ments. their Individual and religious liberty;
that all persons, who, either by active aid
or honest endeavor to cooperate with the
government of the United States to give ef-
feet to these beneficent purposes will re-
ceive the reward of its support and pro-
lection. The president of the United States
has assumed that the municipal laws Gf
the country in respect of private rights and
property. and the suppression of crime are
to be continued in force in SO far as they
may be applicable to a free people, and
should be administered by the ordinary tri-
bunals of justice, presided over by the rep
resentatives of the people and those in
thorough sympathy with them in their de-
npt hnf
tons and duties connected with civil and
municipal administration are to be per-
formed by such officers as wish to accept
the assistance of the United States, CHOSEN
In SO far as it Is possible from the inhabi-
tants of the islands; that while the man
agement of public property and revenues
and the use of all public means OF trans
portation are to be conducted under the
military authorities until such authorities
can be replaced by civil administration, all
private property, whether of individuals or
corporations, must be respected and pro-
tected.
Property to be Paid For
If private property be taken for military
uses it shall be paid for at fair Yalua-
ton in cash If possible, and If cash is not
practicable at the time, receipts there1or
will be given to be taken up and liqudated
as soon as cash becomes available. The
to the commerce of all foreign nations, and
goods and merchandise not prohibited for
military reasons by the military authorities
shall be admitted upon payment OF such
duties and charges as shall be in force at
the time of importation"
After quoting President Mckinley's in
structions, General Otis says:
"J am fully of the opinion that 1t is the
intention of the United States government,
while directing affairs generally, TO appoint
the representative men now forming the
controlling element of the F1lipinos to civil
positions of trust and responsibility, and
it will be my aim to appoint these to such
positions as may be acceptable to the su-
nreme authorities at Washington. 1t is
also my belief that 1t is intended by the
limited States government to draw from
the Filipino people so much of the military
force of the islands as possible and consis-
tent with free and well constituted gov
ernment of the country, and 1t is my de-
sire to inaugurate policy of that charac-
ter. I am also convinced that 1t is the in
tention to seek the establishment of a most
liberal government of the island In which
the people themselves shall have as full
representation as the maintenance OF law
and order will permit and which shall be
susceptible along lines of increased repre-
sentation and the bestowal of increased
powers into a government as free and i'm
portant as is enjoyed by the most favored
provinces of the world.
Invited Confidence of Natives
'It will be my constant endeavor to CO.
operate with the Filipino people, seeking
the good of the country, and 1 invite their
full confidence and aid"
In response to this conciliatory procla-
nation of Major General Otis, Aguinaldo
issued an official manifesto in which he
said:
General Otis calls himself in the proc
lamation referred to military governor of
the Philippine islands, and protest once
for this and for all time and with all the
energy of my SOUL against this. 1 solemnly
proclaim that l never had. neither in Sim