Evening star., 1899-12-05

an attack, evidently prepared in advance.
was made all along the American lines,
which resulted in terribly destructive and
sanguinary repulse of the insurgents,
zen days later an order of the insurgent
government was issued to It's adherents
VINO mad remained in Manila, of which
General OTIS justly observes that for bar
harous intent it Is unequaled in modern
times 1t directs that at o'clock on the
night of the 18th of February the terri
torial militia shall come together in the
streets of San Pedro armed with their
boloss with guns and ammunition where
convenient; that Filipino families only shall
De respected; but that all other individuals.
OF whatever race they may be, shall be ex-
terminated without any compassion, after
the determination of the army of occupa-
ton, and adds: Brothers, we must avenge
ourselves on the Americans and extermi-
nate them, that we may take our revenge
Tor the tnfamtes and treacheries which
they have committed upon us. Haye no
compassion upon them: attack with vtgor.'
A copy of this fell by good fortune into
the hands of our officers and they were
aoie 10 take measures to control the rising,
Wh1ch was actually attempted on the night
or February 22d, week later than was or
lgtnally contemplated. Considerable NUM-
bers or armed insurgents entered the city
oy waterways and swamps and In concert
with confederateS inside attempted to de-
stroy Manila by fire. They were kept In
check during the night and the next day
driven out of the city with heavy loss.
The COmmissioners' Statement.
This was the unhappy condition of af-
fairs which confronted our Commissioners
on their arrival ir Manila. They had come
with the hope and intention of cooperating
with Admiral Dewey and Major-General
Otis IN establishing peace and order In the
archipelago and the 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:
''Deplorable as war Is, the one In which
we are now engaged was unavoidable by
us. We were attacked by bold, adven-
tLrous. and enthusiastic army. No alter
native was left to US except iSnominious
restreat.
''It is not to be 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 ana our
flag demanded that force should be met
by force. Whatever the future OF the Phil-
ippines may be. there Is no course open 10
us now except the prosecution of the war
until the insurgents are reduced TO supnfs-
sion. The Commis sion Is OF the opinloh
that there has been no time since the de-
struction of the Spanish squadron by Ad~
miral Dewey when it was possible 10 WIN
draw forces from the Islands either
with honor to ourselves or with salets 10
the inhabitants"
The course thus clearly indicated has been
unf1inchingly pursued. The rebellion must
be put down. Civil government can not De
thoroughly established until order Is re-
stored. With a devotion and gallantry
worthy of most brilliant history, the Army,
ably and Loyalty assisted by the Navy, has
carried on this unwelcome but most right
eous campaign which richly deserves sue
cess. The noble self-sacrifice with which
our soldiers and sailors whose terms OF
service had expired refused TO avail tneh-
selves of their right to return home as long
as they were needed at the front forms one
of the brightest pages In our annals. Al
though their operations have been some
what Interrupted and checked by rainy
season of unusual violence and duration,
they have gained ground steaGlly IN every
direction, ard now look forward confidently
to a speedy completion of their task.
The unfavOrable circumstances connected
with an active campaign nave not peeh
permitted to interfere with the equally i'm
pOrtant work of reconstruction. Again
invite your attention to the report OF the
Commissioners for the interesting and en-
coura ging details of the work already ac-
complished In the establishment of peace
and order and the Inauguration of self
governing municipal life In many portions
Of the archipelago. A notable beginning
has been made In the establishment of
government in the island Of Negros which
Is deserving Of special consideration. This
was the first island to accept American SOW
erefgnty. Its people unfescrVfqly pro-
adopted a constitution looking to the es-
tablishment of a popular government. 1t
was impossible to guarantee to the people
of NegrOs that the constitution so adopted
should be the ultimate form of government
Such question, under the treaty with
Spain and iE accordance with our own Con-
stitution and laws, came exclusively within
the Jurisdiction Of the Congress. The gov
ernment actually set up by the inhabitants
of Negros eventually proved unsatisfactory
to the natives themselves. new system
was pat into force by order Of the Major
General Commanding the Department, of
which the following are the most important
elements
Government of the Island of NegrOs.
1t was ordered that the government of
the island Of Negros should consist Of a
military governor appointed by the United
States military governor of the Philippines,
and a civil governor and advisory coun-
Gil elected by the people. The military gov
ernor was authorized to appoint secretaries
of the treasury, interior. agriculture, pub
lie instruction, an attorney general, and an
auditor. The seat Of government was fixed
at Bacolod. The military governor exer-
cises the supreme executive power. He Is
TO see that the laws are executed, appoint
to office, and fill all vacancies in office not
otherwise provided for, and may, with the
approval of the military governor of the
fnAlpplueS, remove any oulCer from office.
The civil governor advises the military gov
ernor on all public civil questions and pre-
sides over the advisory council. He In gen
eral. performs the duties which are per
formed by secretaries of state in our own
system of government,
The advisory council consists Of eight
members elected by the people within ter
ritoral limits which are defined in the order
Of the commanding general.
The times and places of holding elections
are to be fixed by the military governor of
the island Of Negros. The qualifications of
voters are follows
% A voter must be a male citizen of the
island Of Negros. % OF the age of n
years 90 He shall be able to speak read.
ard write tho English. Spanish, or Visayan
language or he must own real property
worth $500, or pay rental on real properly
of the value of 81 600. (4) He must have
resided in the island not legs than one wear
preceding, and in the district In which he
offers to register as a voter not :css than
three months Immediately preceding the
time he offers to register. 90 He must
register at a time fixed by law before yot-
ing Co Prior to such regstra ton he shall
have paid all taxes due by him to the Gov
ernment Provided, that no insane Derson
shall be allowed to register or vote