The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-07

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house yesterday, the Philippine CON-
mission today submitted 20 The presi-
dent h preliminary reoo-t which It
had promised TO publish.
The commission tells briefly how il
conducted the task to /.
hearing statements from all classes Of
people in Manila as 10 the capabilities
of the F%ilipinos for self-governmeHt,
the habits and customs of the people
and also the establishment of munich
pal governments in many towns. All
this matter is to be included in the
final report.
As to the rebellion of 1896, they de-
tempt to win independence, but solely
to obtain relief from intolerable abuses.
To sustain this statement they quote
from an insurgent proclamation issu-
ed at the time.
The war begun in 1896, was termina
ted by the treaty of Bias-Na-Bate.
The provisions of the treaty were new
er carried out, Spanish abuses be-
gan afreSh, in Manila alone more han
200 men being executed. Hence spO-
radio rising occurred, though they pos
sessed nothing like the strength of the
original movement.
The following memorandum on the
subject has been furnished the cOm-
mission by Admiral Dewey:
MEMORANDUM OF RELATIONS
WITH AGUINALDO.
"On April "A, 1898, the following
CIPHER dispatch was received al Hong
Kong from Mr.. E. Spencer Pratt,
United States consul general ait Singa-
pore: 'Aguinaldo, the in%surgent leader,
is here. He will come to Hong Kong;
arrange with the commodore for gem
era1 cooperation of insurgents of Ma
Mia if desired
0 the anne day Commodore Dewey
telegraphed Mr.. Pratt: Tell AguinaldO
to come as soon as p~Ossible;' the neces-
sity for haste being due to the fact
that the squadron had been notified
by the Hong Kong government to leave
those waters by the following day.
The squadron left Hong Kong or
the morning of the 18th and Mrs bay
on the 27th. AguinaldO did not leave
Singapore until the 26th, and so did
not arrive in Hong Kong in time to
lave a conference with the admiral.
"It had been reported to the commo-
dOre as early as March LIST, by the
United States consul alt Manila and
others, that the Filipinos had broken
out into insurrection against the Span
ish authorities in the vicinity of Ma
Mia, and on March Goth Mr.. Williams
autographed: Five thousand rebels are
armed and in camp near the city. They
are loyal to US in case of war
Upon the arrival of the squadron
ait Manila it was found that there was
no insurrectiOn to speak of, and it was
accordingly, decided to allow Agui,
naldO to come to Cavite on board the
Mccullough. He arrived with rthir-
teen of his staff on May 10Th and i'm
mediately came on board the Olympia
to call on the cOmmander-in-chief
after which he was allowed to land al
Cavite and organize an army. This
was done for the purpose of strength,
ening the United States forces an(
weaken those of the enemy. No al.
lance of any kind was entered into
with Aguinaldo, nor was any promise
Of independence made to him, then OF
at any time"
AGUINALDO'S SCHEME.
The commissions report tells in sub
stance how the F%ilipinos attacked tn
Spanish and how General Anderson ar
rived and Aguinaldo at his reques
moved from Cavite to BANGOR. Say:
the commission:
Nov for the first time rose the ide;
of national independence. Aguinald,
issued a proclamation in which he tool
the responsibility of promising it to hi
people on behalf of the American gov
although he admitted free
ly in private conversation with mem
bers of his cabinet that neither AID
miral Dewey nor any other American
had made him any such promise"
The report then states that Aguinal
do wished to attack the American
when they landed at ranau blu
was dQfprrpH hyr 1oalx nf orroC orl an
munition. From that point ON ther,
was a growing friction between tht
FilipinOs and the American troops
There were no conferences says tn
report, between the officers of III
Fflipinos and our officers with a viev
to operating against the Spaniards, TO
was there cooperation OF any kind.
1t is shown that a considerable ele
ment in the Filipino congress wishe;
to address to President Mckinley
request not to abandon the Filipinos
AT this stage the Paris conference wa
discussing the future Of the Philip
pines; but all this time Aguinaldo wa
preparing for war, and it was under
stood that the attack wo nd com
upon h first act by the America.
forces which could afford a pretext.
WAR FORCED UPON US.
A brief chapter then tells of the lac
of success attending the effort mad
at this time by General Merritt
through & commission, to arrive at
mutual understanding with Aguinald
as ito the intentions, purposes and de
sires of the Filipino people. Thi
brings the story up to the outbreak o
the evening of February 4th. with I'll
attack upon the American troops, TO
lowing the action of the Nebraska ser
tinel.
IMPROVED CONDITIONS.
The commission then takes up tn
condition of the country at the tim
OF their arrival, comparing it with COZ
ditions existing at the time they leI
a short time ago.. A vivid picture
al given of the anarchy existing amor
the inhabitants in and about Manil
during the early spring.
The natives, accustomed to SPANS
II promises, urged upon the commissio
hat acts instead Of promises shout
be given them. AS a result native Ia
courts were established and this grea'
ly aided in the restoration of publ
confidence. The flow of population SOC
began to set toward the city. Native
who had fled from their homes r,
turned. As showing the limited scoI