The true northerner., 1899-11-08
The Philippine Commis.iap Unani-
nous for National Retention
of the Islands.
PRELIMINARY REPORT TO The PRESIDENT
Government by United states Held
TO he the ArchipeIago's Only saliva
uon-FiIipinos Unfit for seif-Gov-
ernment-Aguinaldo Seeks Only
Selfish Ends.

the preliminary report which IL had
promised 10 prepare. The report APP
pears to be a compact summary of con-
ditions on the islands as the commits
sion left them; of the historical events
which preceded the Spanish war and led
10 the original Filipino insurrection;
of the exchanges between admiral
Dewey and the other American com
manders and the insurgents; the break
ing out and progress of the present IN
surrection, and, finally, a statement OF
the capacity of the Filipinos for self
government. A notable feature of the
report is a memorandum by Admiral
Dewey explanatory of his relations
with Aguinaldo.
No Promise of Independence.
In this it is stated that in all of
Deweys negotiations with Aguinaldo
no alliance of any kind was entered in
to, nor was any promise of independ-
ence made to him.
Efforts at Cancellation.
The efforts at conciliation with
Aguinaldo and his various commissions
are set forth in detail, and the report
sums up the result of these fruitless
exchanges as follows:
mo better proof could be furnished that
the primary object of his struggle is not
as is pretended, the liberty of the Filipino
peoples. but the continuance of his own
arbitrary and despotic power. In any
event, the American people may feel con-
fident that no effort was omitted by the
commission to secure peaceful end OF the
struggle, but the opportunities they offered
and urged were all neglected, If not in
deed spurned"
Idea of Independence.
The commissions report then rapidly
sketches events now historical. 1t tells
in substance how the Filipinos attacked
the Spanish and how Gen. Anderson ar
rived and Aguinaldo at his request re-
moved from Cavite to Baccoor. Says
the commissions
Now for the first time rose the idea
of national independence Aguinaldo is
sued a proclamat ton, in which he took the
responsibility Of promising it to his people
on behalf of the American government
although he admitted freely in private con-
versation with members Of his cabinet that
neither Admiral Dewey nor any other
American had made him any such prom
ise."
MUST Continue the War.
The commission says:
'Deplorable as war is the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable by
us We were attacked by bold, adventur-
Gus and enthusiastic army No alternative
was left TO US, except ignominious retreat
Our obligations TO other nations, and TO
the friendly Filipinos, and to ourselves and
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 prosecution Of the
war until the insurgents are reduced to
submission. The commission is OF the opin-
ion that there has been no time since the
destruction Of the Spanish squadron by Ad-
miral Dewey when IL was possible TO with
draw our forces from the islands either
with honor to ourselves or with safety to
the inhabitants"
SeIf-GOvernment.
The chapter devoted to capacity for
self-government' is the result, the re-
port states, of diligent inquiry for sew
eral months, in the course of which a
great number of witnesses were exam
ired, of all shades of political thought
and varieties of occupation, tribe and
locality. The most striking and per-
haps the most significant fact in the
entire situation is the multiplicity of
tribes inhabiting the archipelago, the
diversity of their languages (Which are
mutually unintelligible) and the null
tifarious phases of civilization-rang-
ing all the way from the highest to the
lowest. AS to this the report says:
THE Filipinos are not a nation, but
variegated assemblage of different
tribes and peoples, and their loyalty is
still of the tribal type" Concerning
their intellectual capacities, the COM
mission says:
"As TO the general intellectual capaci-
ties Of the F'ilipinos the commission is dis
posed to rate them high. But excepting in
a limited number OF persons these capaci-
ties have not been developed by education
or experience. The masses Of the people
are uneducated. That intelligent public
opinion on which popular government rests
does not exist I'm the Philippines. And IL
cannot exist until education has elevated
the masses. broadened their intellectual
horizon, and disciplined their faculty Of
judgment. And even then the power Of
self-government cannot be assumed with
out considerable previous training and ex-
perience under the guidance and tutelage
OF an enlightened and liberal foreign poweA
For the bald fact is that the Filpinos
have never had any experience in governing
themselves.
lack OF eOucatlOn ana political
experience, combined with their racial and
linguistic diversities disqualify them, in
spite of their mental gifts and domestic
virtues, to undertake the task of govern
ing the archipelago at the present time
The most that can be expected Of them
is to cooperate with the Americans in the
administration OF general affairs, from
Manila as a center, and TO undertake. SUBJ
ject to American control or guidance (as
may be found necessary the administra-
tion OF provincial and municipal affairs.
Fortunately. there are educated Filipinos.
though they do not constitute large pro-
portion of the entire population, and their
support and services will be Of incalculable
value In inaugurating and maintaining the
new government AS education advances
and experience ripens, the natives may be
lntrusted with a larger and more inde-
pendent share OF government; self-govern-
ment, as the American ideal, being con-
stantly kept In view as the goal. In this
way American sovereignty over the ar
chipelago will prove a great political boon
TO the people.
Would Lapse Into Anarchy.
Should our power by any fatality be
withdrawn, the commission believe that
the government Of the Philippines would
speedily lapse into anarchy, which would
excuse. IL IL did not necessitate, the inter-