The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-12-06


quarters perverted the purposes
and Intentions with which hi
had taken up arms. No sooner
had our army captured Manila
than the Filipino forces began TO assunl'
an attitude OF suspicion and hostility
/ which the utmost EFFORTS OF our oitceu
and troops were unable TO dtsarm Of
modify. Their kindness and forbearanCt
were taken az q proof OF cOwnrdice
The RGgreBslons OF the Flllplnoa cOntir
unlly Increased, until finally, Just beforl
tho time sci by the senate OF the UniteC
States for a vote upon the treaty, az
attack, evidently prepared In advance
was made oil along the American lines
which resulted Ia q terribly destructive
and 8angulnary repulse Of the lnsur'
gents.
Ten days later an order OF the In
surgent government was Issued to III
RdherentB who had remained In Ma.
Mia, OF which General Otis justly OBJ
serves thar For harbarous intent II IL
uneQualed In modern times" 1t directs
! that at o'clock on the night Of the 18th
OF February, the territorial militia
shall come together In the streets Ol
San Pedro, armed with their bolOs, with
guns and ammunition where convent
cfit; that Filipino families only shall be
respected; but that all other individuals
Of whatever race they may be, shall be
eXtepminnted without any compassion,
after the determination OF the army of
occupation. and adds: Brothers. we
must Rvenge ourselves on the Ameri-
cans and cXterminate them. that we
may take our revenge for the infamias
and treAeher!es which they have conn
mltted upon us. Have no compassion
upon them; attack With vlgOr." 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 February %, "a week
later than was originally contemplated.
Considerable numbers Of armed lrsur-
gents entered the city by waterways
and swRmps and In concert with con-
federates inside, attempted to destroy
Manila by FIRE. They were kept in
check during the night and the next
day were driven out of the city with
heavy loss.
This was the UNHAPPY condition of
affairs which confronted our commits
siOners on their arrival in hfaGiia.
They had come with the hope and i'm
tention OF cooperating with Admiral
Dewey and Major General Otis In es-
tabIishing peace and order IN the arch
ipelRgo and the largest measure NJ
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 un-
avoidnble by us. We were attacked
by bold, adventurous, and enthusiast
tic army. No alternative was left to us,
except ignominous retreat
at Is not to be conceived that any
American would have sanctioned the
surrender Of Manila to the insurgents.
Our obligations to other nations AMI 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 insur-
gents are reduced to submission. The
commission is OF the opinion that there
has been no time since the destruction
Of the Spanish squadron by Admiral
Dewey when It was possible to with
draw our forces from the islands. either
with honor to ourselves or with safety
to the inhabitants"
Rebellion Must Be Put Down.
The course thus clearly indicated has
been unflnchIngly pursued. The rebel
lion must be put down. Civil govern
ment cannot be thoroughly established
until order is restored. With devo-
ton and gaIIantry worthy Of its most
brilliant history, the army. ably and
loyalty assisted by the navy, has ear
ried on this unwelcome, but most
unrIghteous campaign with richly de-
served success. The noble self-sacri-
flee with which our soldiers and sailors
whose terms OF service had expired re-
fused to avail themselves Of their right
to return home as long as they were
needed Mt the front, forms one Of the
brightest pages in our annals, AL
though their operations have been
somewhat interrupted and checked by
q rainy season OF unusual violence and
duration, they have gained ground
steadily in every direction, and row
look forward confidently to speedy
completion Of their task.
The unfavorable circumstances con
nected with an active campaign nave
not been permitted 10 interfere with
the equally important work OF recon-
struction. Again I invite your nttcn-
for the interesting and encouraging de-
tails Of the work already accomplished
in the establishment Of peace and or
der and the inauguration OF seff-gov-
erning municipal life In many portions
Of the archipelago, A notable begin
ming has been made in the establish
ment Of n government In the island Ut
Negroes, which Is deserving OF special
consideration. This was the first Is
land to accept American sovereignty.
Its people unreservedly proclaimed al
iegiRnce to the United States and
adopted a constitution looking to the
establishment OF a popular government.
1t was impossible 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 accord
ance with our own constitution and
laws, came exclusively within the Juris-
dictlon OF Congress. The government
actually set up by the inhabitants OF
Negros eventually proved unsntisfac-
tory to the natives themselves. new
system was put Into force by order Of
the major general commanding the de-
partment, Of which the following are
the most important elements:
It was ordered that the government
OF the island OF Negroes should consist
Of military governor appointed by tho
United States military governor OF the
Philippines. and civil governor and
an advisory council elected by the
people. The military governor was Nu-
thorized to appoint secretaries OF the
treasury, Interior, agriculture, public
instruction. an attorney general aud an
auditor The seat Of government was
fixed Mt Bacolod, The military govern
ment exercises the supreme executive
power. He is TO see that the laws are
executed. appoint TO Office, and I'LL all