Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-12-07

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opportunity was lost OF assuring the people Of
the islands Of our ardent desire for their well
fare and Of the intention Of this government to
do everything possible to advance their inter-
ests In my order Of the 10th Of May. l69s. the
commander Of the military expedition dis
patched to the Philippines was instructed to
declare that we came not TO make war upon the
people Of the country, nor upon any part or
Z faction among them, but to protect them In
their homes In their employments and In their
personal and religious rights.
That there should be no doubt as to the para
mount authority there, on the 18th Of August,
II was directed that there must be no joint &C.
cupation with the insurgents" that the United
States must preserve the peace and protect per-
sons and property within the territory occupied
by their military and naval forces; that the In
surgents and all others must recognize the
military occupation and authority OF the
United States. As early as December I, before
the cession and in anticipation Of that event.
the commander in Manila was urged to restore
peace and tranquility and to undertake the
establishment Of benefcent government
which should afford the fullest security for life
and property
On the 2lst Of December, after the treaty was
signed, the commander Of the forces OF occupa-
ton was instructed ito announce and proclaim
In the most public manner that we come not as
invaders and conquer0rs, but az friends to pro-
tect the natives in their homes, In their employ
ments and in their personal and religious
rights"
The same day, while ordering Gen. Otis to see
that the peace should be preserved in Iloilo, he
was admOnished that: 1T Is most important
that there should be no conflict with the nsur-
gents. On the first day Of January, 1859, your
general orders were reiterated that the kindly
intentions of this government should be in
every possible way communicated to the insur-
gents.
On the 2st Of January announced my in
tentions OF dispatching to Manila commission
composed Of three gentlemen Of the highest
character and distinction, thoroughly acQuant-
ed with the orient who, in association with Ad-
miral Dewey and Maj. Gen. Otis were instruct-
ed to facilitate the most humane and effective
extension OF authority throughout the islands
and to secure, with the least possible delay, the
benefits Of wise and generous protection Of
life and property to the inhabitants"
These gentlemen we~a DR.. Jacob Gould Schur-
man, president cornell University; Hon.
Charles DENLY for many years minister to
China and Prof Dean G. Worcester, of the Uni
versity Of Michigan who had made most care
full study OF life in the Philippines. While the
treaty OF peace was under consideration In the
senate these committees set out on their mis-
sion Of good will and liberation. Their char
acter was sufficient guaranty Of the benehcent |
purpose with which they went even II they had |
not borne the positive instructions Of this gov |
eminent, which made their errand eminent |
ly one of peace and friendship
But before their arrival at Manila the sinis-
ter ambition Of a few leaders Of the Filiplnos |
had created situation full Of embarrassments
for us and most grievous in Its consequences to |
themselves. The clear and impartial prelim- |
nary report Of the commissioners, which trans
NIT herewith, gives SO lucid and comprehensive |
a history Of the present insurrectionary move
ment that the story need not be repeated 1t Is |
enough to say that the claim OF the rebel leader
that he was promised independence by any Of
fCer Of the United States In return for his as
sistanCe has no foundation In fact and Is cate
gorically denied by the very witnesses who were
called to prove It, The most the insurgent lead
er hoped for when he came back to Manila was
the liberation Of the islands from the Spanish
control which they had been laboring for years
without success to throw of.
The prompt accomplishment Of this work by
the American army and navy gave him other
ideas and ambitions, and insidious suggestions
from various quarters perverted the purposes
and intentions with which he had taken up
arms. No sooner had our army captured Ma
Mia 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 or modify. Their kindness
and forbearance were taken as proof Of cow
ardice. The aggressions Of the Filipinos con-
tlnually increased until finally, just before the
time set for the senate Of the United States for
vote upon the treaty, an attack, evidently
prepared in advance, was made all along the
American lines which resulted in q terribly de-
structve and sanguinary repulse Of the nsur-
gents.
Ten days later an order Of the insurgent gov
eminent was issued to its adherents who had
remained in Manila, of which Gen. Otis Justly
observes that for barbarous intent 1t Is un-
equaled in modern times" 1t directs that at
eight o'clock on the night Of the 4th Of Febru-
airy the territorial militia shall come together
In the streets Of San Pedro, armed with their
bolos, with guns and ammunition where con-
venient that Filipino families only shall be re-
spected; but that all other individuals, Of what
ever race they may be, shall be exterminated
without any compassion after the extermina-
ton of the army of occupation, and adds:
Brothers, we must avenge ourselves on the
Americans and extermnate them, that we may
take our revenge for the infames and treach-
cries which they have committed upon u.s.
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 actu-
ally attempted on the night OF February %,
u week later than was originally contem-
plated, Considerable number Of armed insur-
gents entered the city by waterways and
swanps 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 commissioners on their
arrival in Manila. They had come with the
hope and intention of cooperating with Ad-
miral Dewey and Maj. Gen. 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.
"Deplorable as war is, the one In which we
are now engaged was unavoidable by us. We
were attacked by bold, adventurous and en-
thusiastic army. No alternative was left to us,
except ignomnous retreat
ut Is not to be conceived Of that any Ameri-
can would have sanctioned the surrender Of
Manila to the insurgents. Our obligations to
other nations and to the friendly Filipnos 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 to prosecute the war I'M
til the insurgents are reduced to submission.
The commission is Of the opinion that there has
been no time since the destruction Of the Span
ish squadron by Admiral Dewey when 1t was
possible to withdraw our forces from the is
lands, either with honor 10 ourselves or safety
IN the inhabitants ~