The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1899-12-08


and In their personal and religious rights
on the 21st OF January | announced my |
intention of dispatchlng to Manila com.
mission composed Of three gentlemen OF |
the highest character and distinction. thor |
oughly acquainted with the Orient, who. In /
association with Admiral Dewey and |
Major General Otis. were Instructed to
facilitate the most humane and effective |
extension of authority throughout the isl
ands. and TO secure. with the least posi-.
BILE delay the benefits of wise and gen
erous protection of life and property to the
Inhabitants"
While the treaty OF peace was under CON
sderation In the Senate. these Commits.
sioners set out on their mission of good
will and liberation.
But before their arrival at Manila. the
sinister ambition OF a few leaders of the
Filiplnos had created a situation full OF
emharrassments for us and most grievous
In its consequences to themselves. The
clear and impartial preliminary report of
the Commissioners. which | transmit here
with. gives so lucid and comprehensive a
history of the political insurrectionary
movement that the story need not be here
repeated. 1t Is enough to say that the
claim OF the rebel leader. that he was
promised independence by any officer Of the
United States in return for his assistance.
has not foundation in fact, and Is categorl-
caly denied by the very witnesses who
were called to prove 1t. The most the in.
sureent leader hoped FOR when he came to
Manila was the liberation of the Islands
from the Spanish control. which they had
hccn aborlng for years without success to
throw Off
The prompt accomplishment of this work
by the American army and navy gave him
other ideas and ambitions, and insidious
suggestions from various quarters pervert-
ed the purposes and intentions with which
he had taken up arms
No sooner had our army captured Man
ia than the Filipino forces began to as
sumo an attitude of suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts Of our officers and
troops were unable to dsarm or modify.
| Their kindness and forbearance were taken
as a proof Of cowardce. The aggvessiOns
| of the FilipinOs continually increased, I'M
| til finally Just before the time set by the
| Senate Of the United States for a vote uDon
| the treaty, an attack evidently prepared In
advance, was made all along the American
| lines, which resulted in terribly destruc
| tive and sangunary repuse of the insur-
! gents.
This was the unhappy condition of affairs
which confronted Our Commissioners on
| their arrival in Manila. They had come
with the hope of establishing peace and
order What they actually found can be
| best set forth in their own words
"Deporable as war is. the one in which
we are now engaged was una voidlble by u.
We We're attacked by bold, adventurous
left to us except ignominious retreat
1T is not to be conceived that any Ameri-
can would have sanctioned the surrender
| of Manila to the insurgents. Our obliga-
| lions TO OInPr DaIlOnS ana TO the friendly
Filipinos and to ourselves and our flag de-
manded 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 opinion that
there has been no time since the destruc
tion 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"
The course thus clearly indicated has
been unfiinchingly pursued.
The rebellion must be put down. Civil
government can not he thoroughly estab
lished until order Is restored With a de
votion and galantry worthy of its most
brilliant history, the army, ably and Loyalty
assisted by the navy, has carried on this
unwelcome but most righteous campaign
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 confidently to
speedy completion Of their task
The unfavOrabe circumstances connect
ed with an active campaign have not beer
permitted to interfere with the equally i'm
, portant work of reconstruction. notable
beginning has been made In the establish
) ment Of government in the Island o
! Negros, which is deserving of special con
sideratiOn. This was the first island to ac
cept American sovereignty. Its people un
t reservedly proclaimed allegiance to the Uni
, ted States, and adopted constitution
looking to the establishment of popula
government. 1t was impossible to guaran
tee to the people Of Negros that the cOnstl
tuition so adopted should be the ultimate
. form of government Such a question, nm
, der the treaty with Spain, and in accord
q ance with our constitution and laws, com
. exclusively within the Jurisdiction of Con
gress. The government actually set up b.
the inhabitants Of Negros eventuall
proved unsatisfactory to the natives them
:, selves. A new system was put into force b
order of the major general cOmmandin
i rhe President gives all details connecte
Z with the new system of government o
e Negros. which was nut In force
: Everything indicates that with the speed
/ suppression of the TagalO rebellion. lf
: in the archinelago will soon resume its OF
= dinaly course upder the protection of on
= ored islands will enjoy prosperity and
= freedom which they have never befor
J, known. Already hundreds of schools ar
i open and filled with children.
The future government Of the Philippine
" rests with the Congress Of the Unite
= States. Few graver responsibilities hay
u ever been cQntded to US. II We acceT
u them In spirit worthy of our race and OU
y traditions, great opportunity comes wit
:, them. The Islands lie under the shelter
:, our flag. They are ours by every. title
le doned. II we desert them. we leave thel
:; at once to anarchy and finally 10 barharlsn
u We fling them. a golden apple Of dscort
y among the rival powers. no one Of while
~ could permit another TO seize them nj
u questioned Their rich plains and valley
would be but a scene Of endless strife an
n hlOndShed. The advent Of Dewey's feet
70 Manila Bay. instead Of being. rs we hope
I- the dawn Of a new day Of freedom an
n- progress. will have been the beginning
'e an era Of misery and violence. worse than an
nt which has darkened their unhappy pas
~ The suggestion has been made that "
es could renOunce eur authority over the I,
OF auds. and, giving them independence. con
n retain pr0tcctoratc over them. Tn
~ proposition will not be found. I am sur
IN worthy 0f your selection. Such an a
ir rap-rncuf would involve at the outset
re cruel breach Of faith. II would place u
lt peaceahie aud loyal majority who ask Z
u nothing better than 10 accept our authorit
nv at the mercy OF the minority Of armed I
he surreuts IL would make MS reSponsih
ll Tor the acts Of the insurgent leaders. m
ne I give Us no power 10 control them.
ld would charge Us with the task Of protcS
lh ing them against each other. and defen
n Ing them a-ainst any foreign power WI
- I which they choose TO quarrel In short.
- would take from the Congress n the u
ne ted States the power Of declaring war ai
re vest that tremendous prerugative ia q
he lagai leader ~ the hour. 10 does not see
~. desirable that I should recommend az on
OF time n specific and final form Il Cover
meut Tor these Islands. When peace sh.
" DO rest v-rd. tf uii lsr fSc fuf~ 20 'a
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