The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-09-06
FILIPINOS WILL BE
LEFT TO GEN. OTIS
sCHURMAN COMMISSIONS DU-
TIES PRACTICALLY ENDED.
Only to Submit Its Report to the
President-opportunjties to Treat
with a Civil Commissioner, Once
Neglected, Not Again to Be offered.
To Push Operations Energetically
Against Aguinaldo's Bands.


tiations with the Filpinos are con-
cerned the Philippines commission has
ceased its labors. The president be-
lieves that the Filipinos, having failed
to meet the commission in the proper
spirit and take advantage of it's pres
ence to come to reasonable terms with
the United States, should be made to
deal entirely with the military force
General Otis will not be hampered in
the fall with civil commissioners.
Neither President Schurman nor Ad-
miral Dewey will return to Manila,
and it is probable that Colonel DENLY
and Prof Worcester will receive in
structions, if they have not had them
already to return home and prepare
a report for submission to congress.
The information which the president
received from President Schurman and
which he laid before the cabinet yes.
terday, but strengthened the belief of
the president and his advisers that
the situation confronting the army in
the Philippines should be left entirely
to the military. While this report Of
the president of the commission was
not all that could be wished for, it
was far from discouraging. Though
not blinded to the difficulties which
confront the administration in the
islands, President Schurman takes a
rather hopeful view of the situation.
He admits that it is a hard problem,
but is confident that with patience and
perseverance, it can be solved to the
advantage both of the Flipinos ana
the United States. After hearing all
President Schurman had to say, the
president concluded that the existing
conditions in the Philippines were not
auspiCious for a continuance of nego-
tiations between the commission and
the FilipinOs, and so informed the
members of his cabinet present at the
meeting of yesterday.
When the Filipinos find they have TO
deal with the military alone, and are
to secure no respite until they surren-
der Internationally they are likely to
lose hope. This at any rate, is the
firm belief of the administration. Cen
eral Otis and his army under instruc-
tions from the president, will allow the
rebels no rest once the fall campaign
has been inaugurated in earnest
When they are forced to give up their
trenches through inability to stand the
fire of the American artillery, they are
treat without pursuit and construct
new trenches at their leisure. After
the artillery and infantry have dis
lodged them and forced them to flee,
the cavalry will pursue them relent-
lessly. To get away they will be forced
to abandon food supplies and arms, and
they are bound to be reduced to a con-
dition where there will be nothing left
for. I,
of surrender will be dictated by GEN
eral Otis, there will be nothing more for
the Schurman commission to do in the
Philippines unless in the unlocked for
contingency that General Otis should
fail to round up Aguinaldo and his
| band.
Rebellion Unpopular.
President Schurman is convinced
that Aguinaldo's rebellion is becoming
more and more unpopular with the ma
! tives of Luzon. BY the time Aguin-
aldo's forces shall have sustained a
| few serious routs the discomfort now
| existing in many of the provinces in
| consequence of the hardshps forced
| upon the inhabitants by the state Of
war will, President Schurman thinks,
| island, and Aguinaldo will find himself
| in desperate straits. President Schur-
man believes that Aguinaldo, even now.
| realizes the hopelessness of his cause,
and is deferred from surrender only
through fear that he will be severely
| dealt with when taken.
All reports of the plans which the
president has decided upon for gov
| bn
! authority is established are without
authority. The president has given
| little thought to the future government
of the Philippines. What he is con-
cerned about is the crushing OF the
rebellion. The future government
of the islands is matter for con-
| gress to decide. 1t is even doubtful
! if the president if the rebellion Is
crushed before the assembling OF con-
| gress. will make any specific recon-
! mendations to congress as to the char.
acter of government he things the Fill
! pinos ought to have. He probably Will
content himself with laying before con-
| gress full information upon the con-
ditions existing in the Philippines and
leave to the law-making branch the
task of providing a government for
|
ions of his own on the subject. lie
| followed this course in the case of Ha ,
waii, and he is not likely to change
it in the case of the Philippines. He
| desires to avoid the slightest basis for
the foolish talk which has been in
dulged in about his assumption of die
| tatorial authority.
The president is not afraid to trust
that congress. when possessed of full
information, will act with wisdom. The
| president has declared his belief that
the Philippines are as much a part of
the United States as Louisiana or
Texas, which became part of the Unit
ed States in similar manner to that
in which the Philippines We're added
to our territory. That congress will
decide TO contract the country's domain
he does not credit. But If congress
should not decide he will interpose no
obstacle, but will carry out the ex-
pressed will Of congress In that, as he
has In all matters growing out of the
war with Spain for Cuban freedom.
As to Resources.
The president and his cabinet have
been particularly pleased with Presi-
dent Schurman's accounts of the pros
poets of Philippine development under
American administration. President
Schurman was emphatic in his declar-
alton that the resources of the islands
and the advantage Of them as a basis
for American trade i'm the Orient would
more than repay the United States for
all the sacrifice necessary 10 establish
| United States authority.