Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-11-03

No alternative was left. to US. except igno-
minious retreat. i is not to be conceived
of that any American twould have sane
toned the surrerser off Manila to the in
surgents. + Our obligatiots to other nations,
and to the friendly Filpinos, and to our
selves and our fig, demanded that force
should be met by force. Whatever the flu
ture of the Philippines may be there is no
course open to us except the prosecution
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 1t was possible
TO Withdraw our. forces from the islands,
either with honor to ourselves or with safe
ty to the inhabitants'tt'
Reign of Terror in Manila.
The commission then takes up the condi-
tons OF the country at the time of its ar
rival, comparing IT with conditions existing
at the time 1t left short time ago. A
vivid picture is given of the anarchy ex-
listing among the inhabitants, in and about
Manila, during the early spring. The sit
uatfon in the city" says the commission
was pad. lncendiary fires occurred daily
The streets were almost deserted. Half of
the native population had fed, and most
OF the remainder were shut in their houses
ousihess was at StandStill. 1nSurgent
troops everywhere faced our lines, and the
sound of rifle fire was frequently audible
at our house. A reign of terror prevailed
Fllpinos who had favored Americans feared
ASSASSINATION, and few had the courage to
come out openly for us. Fortunately, there
were among this number some of the best
men of the city"
ihe report then speaks of the issuance Of
the commissions proclama ton and the good
euects 1t had on public sentiment. The ma
yves, accustomed to Spanish promises,
urged upon the commission that acts in
stead or promises should be given them.
AS result native law courts were estab
lished and this greatly aided in the restora-
Ton OF public confidence. The flow of pop
Natives who had fled from their homes re-
turned. As showing the limited scope OF
the rebellion the commission states:
we learned that the strong anti-Ameri-
can feeling was confined to the Tagalog
provinces, namely, Manila, Cavite, Laguna,
Batangas, Morong, Bulacan, Nueva Ecija,
Principe, 1nfanta and Zambales. 1t was
strongest in the first six named and hardly
existed in the last four. The population of
these provinces is estimated to be about
100000, but it should not be supposed that
even in the six provinces Immediately adj
Jacent to Manila the people were united
IN their opposition to US. Even here there
was strong conservative element, con-
sisttng of people of wealth and intelligence,
opposed to the war;
Not National Movement.
Under the head "the rebellion not a ma
tional movement" the report treats of the
rebellion outside of the provinces of Luzon,
where, it is stated. the uprising was viewed
at first with Indifference and later with
fear. Throughout the archipelago at large
there was trouble only at those points to
which armed Tagalogs had been sent in
considerable numbers. The machinery of
insurgent government served only for
plundering the people under the preteXt of
levying war contributions, while many OF
the insurgent officials were rapidly accu-
mulating wealth" 1t is stated that the
insurgent administration throughout the
interior was worse than in the days Of
Spanish misrule. In many provinces there
was absolute anarchy, and from all sides
came petitions for protection and help.
In speaking Of General Macarthur move
ment northward the report tells of the in
surgent method Of intmidating the natives
by telling them fearful tales concerning the
American soldiers. This method of proceed
ure emnently successful at first, in the
end recoiled on its authors.
Improved Conditions.
AS to the state Of affairs when the COM
mission left the report says:
Before the commission left the Philip
pines nearly all the inhabitants had re-
turned to these ruined villages. Many of
the houses had been rebuilt. Fields that had
lain faIlow for three years were green with
growing crops. Municipal governments had
by our troops We're enjoying peace, security
and a degree of participation in their own
government previously unknown in the MIS-
tory of the Philippines. Attempts OF the
Insurgents to raise recruits and money in
the province of Bulacan were proving abor-
tive except when backed by bayOnets and
bullets, and even in such cases the natives
were applying to us for help to resist
them
Capacity for Local Government
The chapter devoted to establishment of
municipal governments" gives in detail the
efforts in that direction.
There were many difficulties encountered.
The condition of the people was found to
be most pltiable. They had been plundered
by the insurgent troops, who had robbed
them Of Jewels. money, clothing and even
food so that they were literally starving.
Peaceful citizens had been fired on; women
had been maltreated. There was general
satisfaction that the Americans had come
at last, and conditions seemed favorable
for an American propaganda.
The towns of Bacoor and linus were Sc
lected for the purpose of experiment, and
after talks with the local head men
form of local government was established.
Encouraged by the result, the work was
continued at Paranaque and Las Pinas,
with similar good results. AT the request
of Gen. Lawton, who had been assigned to
this work by Gen. OTIS, the commission
prepared a simple scheme of municipal gov
eminent, similar enough to the old system
to be readily comprehensive to the natives,
but giving them liberties which they had
never before enjoyed This scheme was
adopted and gave general satisfaction.
In every instance enthusiasm ran high
before the commissioners took their depar-
ture, and cheers were raised for Gen. Law
ton and for the country which he repre-
scented. With single exception, the Off
ciais elected proved worthy Of the trust
imposed in them, and conditions were rap
TN. t1a NOD
towns. Governments were organized. with
more satisfactory results, in Pandacan,
Santa Ana, San Felipe, Meri, San Pedro and
Machei. while a slightly different system
was put into effect in Malabon Polo, Oban-
do Meycauya, Yang and Malolos.
The commission states that large