The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-12-07


than the Filipino forces began to assume
an attitude of suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts of our officers
and troops were unable to disarm OF
modify. Their kindness and forbearance
were taken as proof of cowardice. The
aggressions of the Filipinos continually
increased until finally just before the time
set by the senate of the United States fo1
vote upon the treaty an attack evidently
prepared in advance, was made all along
the American lines, which resulted in
temporary destructive and sanguinary re
pulse of the insurgents.
An Infamous Proclamation.
Ten days later an order of the insur.
gent government was issued to its adher
ents who had remained in Manila, OF
which General Otis justly observes that
for barbarous intent it is unequalled in
modern Iimes." 1t directs that at 6
o'clock on the nj ght of the 18th of Feb
ruary the territorial militia shall come
together in the streets of San Pedro armed
with their bolos, with guns and ammu
milton, where convenient, that Filipino
families alone shall be respected; but that
all other individuals, of whatever race
they may be, shall be exterminated with
out any compassion, after the extermina-
ton of the army of occupation" and adds:
Brothers, we must avenge ourselves on
the Americans and exterminate them,
that we may take our revenge for the in
famies and treacheries which they have
committed upon us. Have no compassion
upon them; attack with vigor."
A copy of this fell, by good fortune,
into the hands of our officers, and they
were able to take measures to control the
rising which was actually attempted on
the night of Feb. %, week later than
was originally contemplated. Consider
able number of armed insurgents entered
the city by waterways and swamps, and
in concert with confederates inside
Attempted to Destroy Manila by Fire.
They were kept in check during the
night and the next day driven out of the
city with heavy loss.
This was the unhappy condition of
affairs which confronted our commission
ers on their arrival in Manila. They had
come with the hope and intention Of Co
operating with Admiral Dewey and Major
General Otis in establishing peace and
order in the archipelago and the largest
measure of self government compatible
with the true welfare of the people.
What they actually found can best be
set forth in their own words: "Deplor-
able as war is, the one in which we are
now engaged was unavoidable by us.
We were attacked by bold, adventure
Gus and enthusiastic army. No alterna-
tive was left to us, except ignominous
retreat.
sit is not to be conceived of that any
American would have sanctioned the sur
render of Manila to the insurgents. Our
oh TO 0th matt nd n
friendly Filipinos and to ourselves and
to our flag demanded that force should
be met by force Whatever the future
of the PHILIPPINES may be there is no
course open to us now except the prose-
cution 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"
la.. Rebellion Must BE Rut Down..
The course thus clearly indicated has
been unflinchingly pursued. The rebellion
must be put down. Civil government
cannot be thoroughly established until
order is restored. With devotion and
tory the army, ably and loyalty assisted
by the navy, has carried on this unwel-
come but most righteous campaign, which
richly deserve success. The noble self
sacrifice with. which our soldiers and
sailors whose term of service had expired
refused to avail themselves of their right
to return home so long as they were
needed at the front, forms one of the
brightest pages in our annals. Although
their operations have been somewhat in
terrupted and checked by a rainy season
of unusual violence and duration, they
have gained ground steadily in every
direction and now look forward conf
IDENTIFY to speedy completion of their
task.
Government for Negros.
The unfavorable circumstances con
nected with an active campaign have not
been permitted to interfere with the
equally important work of construction
Again 1 invite your attention of the report
of the commissioners, interesting and en-
couraging details Of the work already ac-
complished in the establishment of peace
and order and the inauguration of self
governing municipal life in many por-
lions of the archipelago. A notable be-
ginning has been made in the establish
ment of a government in the island OF
Negros, which is deserving of special con-
sideration. This was the first island
to accept American sovereignty.
Its people unreservedly proclaimed allie
glance to tho United States and adopted a
constitution looking to the establishment
of a popular government. 1t was impossi-
BILE to guarantee to the people of Negros
that the constitution so adopted should
be the ultimate form of government.
Such a question under the treaty with
Spain and in accordance with our own
constitution and laws came exclusively
within the jurisdiction of congress The
government actually set up by the inhab-
itants of Negroes eventually proved I'M
satisfactory to the natives themselves. A
new system was put into force by order
of the major general commanding the
department., which is partly military and
partly civil.
Executive Onicsr the Military Governor.
The civil governor advises the military
governor on all public civil questions and
presides over the advisory council. He,
in general, performs the duties which are
performed by secretaries of state in our
own system of government
The advisory council consists of eight
..,,,hers oloctod nv the people within the