Bryan morning eagle. [volume] (Bryan, Tex.) 1898-1909, 1899-11-04
COMMISSION REPORT
Facts Found by the Investigation
in the Philippines.
TROUBLE REVIEWED.
II Tells Of Spins Promises 10 the
People and Their Failures and
the Trouble Existing There
at the Present.

with the understanding reached at the
conference az the White House Wednes.
day the Philippine commission submit.
ted TO the president the preliminary re-
port which II had promised 10 prepare.
The report is summary Of conditions
IN the islands as the commission left
them, Of the historical events which pre-
coded the Spanish war aud led to the
original Philippine insurrection; Of the
exchanges between Admiral Dewey and
the other American commanders and
the insurgents; the breaking out and
progress Of the present instruction and
finally statement Of the capacity o
the Filipinos for selfgoyernment A
notable feature Of the report is memo.
randum by Admiral Dewey. explanatory
Of his relations with Aguinaldo.
The report tells briefly how is con.
Quoted the task entrusted b. II Of hear.
ing statements from all classes Of peo-
pie IN Manila as 10 the capabilities Of
the Filipinos for selfgoyernment. the
habits and customs Of the people and
also the establishment Of municipal gov.
ernmenis IN many towns All the mat.
ter is 10 be included in the final report
Turning 10 the history Of the islands
the commission attaches little impor.
lance 10 divers rebellions which had
preceded thatof 1896 As 10 this move.
ment they declare that IL war in no
sense an attempt to win independence.
but solely TO obtain relief from intoler.
able abuse. To sustain this statement
they quote from an insurgent proclama.
ton. showing that what was demanded
was the expulsion Of the friars and the
restitution TO the people Of their Lands,
with a division Of the episcopal sees be-.
tween Spanish and native priests.
II was also demanded that the Flip.
mos have parliamentary representation,
freedom Of the press, religious tolera,
ton, economic autonomy and laws sim.
liar 10 those Of Spain. Tho abolition Of
the power Of Punishment was demanded
with a legal equality for all persons IN
law and equality in pay between Span.
ish and native civil servants The com.
mission declares that these deman..
had good grounds. that on paper the
Spanish system Of government was toll.
cradle but in practice the Spanish gov.
ernor did what he saw tic. and the evil
deeds were hidden from Spain by strict
press censorship
Allusion is made 10 the powerful Kat.
apunan society. mainly made Of Tagalos,
as powerful revolutionary force
The war begun in 1895 was 10 be ter.
minated 10y tho treaty Of Biac.na-Bate.
The Filipinos were numerous but pos
sessed only about $40 small arms The
Spanish thought IL would take 100. OOt
men TO capture their stronghold and
concluded 10 resort 10 money. Certain
concessions were also decided upon, In
Guiding representatives Of the Filipino,
In the Cortes. the deportation Of the
friars which was the principal question
the grant Of the right Of association and
of free presa Governor General
Rivera was willing 10 pay g.. 900. 600
Mexican money, when Aguinaldo and
his cabinet and leading officers arrived
In Hong Kong
II appears, however, that Palermo on
ly offered the latter 800 900, 5000. OOt
TO DO paid when Aguinaldo arrived al
Hong Kong and tho balance when Oh,
Filipinos had delivered up their guns.
The arrangement was not acceptable e
the people The promises were never
carried out, Spanish abuses began
afresh. 10 Manila alone more than 2O
men being executed Hence sporadic
risings occurred, though they possessed
nothing like the strength Of the original
movement The insurgents lacked
arms, ammunition aud leaders The
treaty had ended the war which. with
the exception Of an important outbreak
In Cebu had been confined 10 Luzon.
SPANS sovereignty In the other island,
never having been questioned and IN,
thought Of independence never having
been entertained
The report then tells how General Au.
gustin came 10 Manila as governor gen
eral At this iuncturo and war broke oui
between Spain and the United States
Augustin sought 10 secure tho support
Of the Filipinos 10 dsNend Spain against
America, promising them autonomy. but
the FilipinOs did not trust him. Then
came the first Of May and the destruc
ton Of the Spanish fleet by Dewey witt
the resulting loss Of prestige 10 Spain
Then Aguinaldo came
AguinFldo came 30 Cayito on board
the McCulloch He arrived with % OF
his stnn on May 10 and immediatel,
came ON b0aid tho Olympia 10 call ~
the mmauder-in-chief, after which b,
was allowed 20 land al Cavito and or
ganize an army This was done with
the purpose Of strengthening the Unitec
States and weakening those Of III,
enemy. No alliance OF any kind wa
entered into with Aguinaldo nor wa
any t,rntutaa 81 fudauaudenco 10 him