The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1899-11-03
THE PHILIPPINES
AS Viewed by President McKiR-
ley's Special Commissioners.
THE PEOPLE INTELLIGENT,
But as Yet They Are Incapable of Self
Government
HE PEOPLE INTELLIGENT,
THE DEALINGS WITH AGUINALDO.


in Establishing the Independence of the
Islands, Though He Took the Responsi-
bility of Promising 1t on Behalf of the
United States.
Washington, Nov. 3-The Philippine
commission yesterday submitted to the
president the preliminary report which
It had promised to prepare. The com
mission tells briefly how it conducted
the task entrusted to it, hearing state
ments from all classes of people In
Manila,
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 that it was in no
sense an attempt to win independence,
but solely to obtain relief from intoler-
able abuses. The commission declares
that the demands had good grounds.
The war begun in 1896 was termin-
ated by the treaty of Biac-Na-Bate.
The Filipinos were numerous, but pos
sessed only about 500 small arms. The
Spanish felt that it would require 100,-
600 men to capture their stronghold
and concluded to resort to the use of
money. Certain concessions were also
decided upon. The arrangement was
not acceptable to the people, the prom
ises were never carried out, and Span
ish abuses began afresh, in Manila
alone more than 200 men being eXecut-
ed. Hence sporadic risings occurred.
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
States. Augustine sought to secure the
support of the Filipinos to defend
Spain against America, promising
them autonomy, but the Filipinos did
not trust him. Then came the first
of May and the destruction of the
Spanish fleet by Dewey, with the re-
sulting loss of prestige to Spain.
No Promise to Aguinaldo,
Then follows Admiral Dewey's COM
munications with e. Spencer Pratt,
our consul general at Singapore, pre-
vious to the fall of Manila, regarding
a proposed conference with Aguinaldo,
the story of the departure of the squad
ron from Singapore and arrival at Ma
Mia. The report says:
Upon the arrival of the squadron
at Manila it was found that there was
no insurrection to speak of, and it was
accordingly decided to allow Aguinaldo
to come to Cavite on board the McCul-
loch He arrived with 13 of his staff
on May 19 and Immediately came on
board the Olympia to call on the COM
mander-in-chief, after which he was
allowed to land at Cavite and organize
an army. No alliance of any kind
was entered into with Aguinaldo, nor
was any promise of independence made
to him. then or at any other time"
The commissions report then rapid
ly sketches events now historical. 1t
tells in substance how the Filipinos at
tackled the Spanish and how General
Anderson arrived, and Aguinaldo, at
his request, moved from Cavite to
Bacoor. Says the commission:
Now for the first time arose the idea
of national independence. Aguinaldo
issued a proclamation, in which he
took the responsibility of promising it
to his people on behalf of the Ameri-
can government, although he admitted
freely in private conversation with
members of his cabinet that neither
Admiral Dewey nor any other Ameri-
can had made him any such promise"
The report states that Aguinaldo
wished to attack the Americans when
they landed at Paranaque, but was de-
tered by lack of arms and ammuni-
tion. From that point on there was a
growing friction between the Filiplnos
and the American troops. There never
was any preconcerted operations or
any combined movement by the Uni
ted States and Filipinos against the
Spaniards.
A brief chapter then tells of the lack
of success attending the effort made at
this time by General Merritt, through
a commission, to arrive at a mutual
understanding with Aguinaldo as to
bis intentions, purposes and desires of
the Filipino people. This brings the
story up to the outbreak on the even
ing of the 4th of February, with the
attack upon the American troops fol-
lowing the action of the Nebraska SEN
tinel The commission, in concluding
this chapter. says:
The War Unavoidable.
after the landing of our troops
Aguinaldo made up his mind that it
leans, and after the making of the
treaty of peace at Paris this determina-
tion was strengthened. Deplorable
as war is, the one in which we are now
engaged was unavoidable by us. 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 with
draw our forces from the islands either
with honor to ourselves or with safety
to the inhabitants
The commission then takes up the
conditions of the country at the time
of their arrival, comparing it with con-
ditions existing at the time they left
a short time ago. A vivid picture is
given of the anarchy existing among
The inhabitants in and about Manila
during the early spring. The report
then speaks Of the issuance of the
commissions proclamation and the
good effects it had on public sentiment.
The natives. accustomed to Spanish
promises, urged upon the commission
that acts instead of promises should
be given them. AS a result native law
courts were established, and this
greatly aided in the restoration of pub
lie confidence. AS showing the linz
tied scope Of the rebellion the COM
mission states:
I'VE learned that the strong anti
American feeling was confined TO the
TagalOg provinces, but it should not
bq aunDogpd that pyau in the sly nrOW-