The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1899-12-06

sooner had our army capturcd Manila
than the Filipino forces began to assume
an attitude Of suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts Of u officers
and troops were unable to disarm or
modify. Their kindness and f~orbearanco
were taken ~ q proof Of cowardice. The
apprcssions Of the Tilipinos continually
increased until finally just before the time
set by the senate Of the United States for
a vote upon the treaty an attack evidently
prepared In advance was made all along
the American lines, which resulted IN .
temporary destructive and ~sanguin"ry re-
pulse =; the insurgents.
A. Infamous Proclamation.
Ten days later nm order Of tho insur-
! gent was issued to Its adher-
ents who had remained In Manila, OF
| which General Otis justly observes that
"for %barbarous intent 1t Ia uncqualled In
modern times" 1t directs that at =
| o'clock ON tho nj ght Of tho 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 he cxterminntcd with
out any compassion, after the cxtcrininn-
ton Of the army Of occupation and adds:
Brothers, we must nvenKc ourselves on
| the Americans aud cxtcrminate them,
that We Inay take our revenge Tor the In
famics and ~trcacheries which they hare
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 Fob. -, . week later than
was originally contemplated. Consider
able number VI armed insurgents entered
the city by waterways and swnmps and
In concert with confederates inside
Ate m pied to Destroy Manila by Fire.
They were kept In check during tho
city with heavy loss.
This was the unhappy condition Of
affairs which confronted our commission
crs on their arrival In Manila. They had
come with the hope and intention Cf CO
operating with Admiral Dewey and Major
General Otis In establishing peace and
order In the archipelago and tho 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 Wal 10, the ono In which We nrc
now engaged was unavoidable by us.
We were attacked by u bold. adventure
Gus and enthusiastic army. No altcrna-
tive war left to us, except ignominous
retreat.
1T Ia not to b. conceived Of that any
American would have sanctioned the sur
render of Manila to the insurgents. Our
obligations to other nations and to the
friendly Filipinos and to ourselves n
to our flag demanded hat force should
bc met by force. Whatever the future
Of the PHILIPPINES may be- there il 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 III tho Spanish
squadron by Admiral Dewey when II was
possible To withdraw our forces from the
Islands either with honor To ourselves or
with safety to the Inhabitants"
Rebellion Must He Tut Down.
The course thus clearly indicated has
been unfiinch!ngly pursued. The rebellion
must be put down. Civil government
cannot be thoroughly established until
order Ia restored. With n devotion and
gallantry worthy Of its most brilliant his
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 nobl self.
sacrifice with which our soldiers and
sailors whose term Of service had expired
refused to AfDail themselves Of their right
to return home 40 long as they were
needed ut the front, forms one III the
brightest pages In our annals. Although
their operations have been somewhat in
tcrrupted and checked by IA rainy season
Of unusual violence and duration, they
have gained ground steadily In every
direction and now look forward conf
IDENTIFY To u speedy completion Of their
task.
Govern ment for Ncgros.
The unfavorable circumstan ccs con.
nccted with m active campaign nave not
been permitted to interfere with the
equally important work of construction
Again l invite your attention OF the report
Of the commissioners. interesting and en-.
c%ouraginx details III the work already nc.
complished In the establishment OF peace
and order and the Inauguration OF self.
governing municipal life In many por-
tons Of tho archipelago. A notable be-
ginning has been made In the establish
ment of Il government in the island OF
Negroes, which Ia deserving Of special con
sideration. This was the first islnnd
to accept American Sovereignty.
Its people unreservcdly proclaimed allie
glance to tho United States and adopted a
constitution looking to the establishments
OF a popular government. 1t was impossi.
bic to guarantee to the people Of Negroes
that the constitution so adopted should
be the ultimate form Of government
Such question under the treaty with
Spain and In accordance with our "
constitution and laws came exclusively
within the Jurisdiction Of congress. Tho
government actually set up by the inhab.
itants Of Negroes eventually proved IN.
satisfactory to the natives themselves. A
new system was put into force by order
OF the major general commanding tho
department., which Is partly military and
-.Aa. -e-lH