The record-union., 1899-11-03

Spanish promises, urged the commits
sion that acts instead of promises
should be given them. AS result,
native law courts were established, and
this greatly aided in the restoration or
public confidence. The flow of popu-
latione soon began to set toward the
citv Natives who had fed from their
homes returned.
AS showing the limited scope OF the
rebellion the commission states:
1--WE learned that the strong anti
American feeling was confined to- the
Tagalos provinces, namely, Manila, Ca
yite, Laguna, Batangas, Morong, Bulu-
can, Nueva Eicja, Principe, Infanta
and Zambales. 1t was strongest in the
first six named, and hardly existed in
the last four. The population of these
provinces is estimated to be about
j 15O0,0 but it should not be supposed
that even in the six provinces imme-
diately adjacent to Manila the people
were united in their opposition to us.
Even here there was a strong con-
servative element, consisting of peo-
pie of wealth and intelligence, opposed
to the war"
Under the heading 1.-THE rebellion not
a national movement" the report
treats of the rebellion out of the pro-
vinces of Luzon, where it is stated the
uprising was viewed at first with in
difference and later with fear. Through
out the archipelago at large there was
trouble only at those points to which
Tagalos had been sent in consider
able numbers. The machinery of the
insurgent government served only for
ha
text of levying war contributions, while
many of the insurgent officials were
rapidly accommodating wealth
AS to the state of affairs when the
commission left, the report says:
Before the commission left the Phil
ippines nearly all the inhabitants had
returned to these ruined villages. Many
of the houses had been rebuilt. Fields
that had lain fallow for three years
were green with growing crops. NUM-
cipal governments had been established
and the people, protected by our troops,
were enjoying peace, security and a
degree of participation in their own
government previously unknown in the
history of the Philippines. Attempts
of the insurgents to raise recruits and
money in the province of Bulucan
We're proving abortive, except when
backed by bayonets and bullets, and
even in such cases the natives were
applying to us for help to resist them"
The chapter devoted to establish
ment of municipal government" gives
in detail the efforts in that direction.
There were many difficulties encoun-
tered. The condition of the people was
found to be most pitiable. They had
been plundered by the insurgent troops,
who had robbed them of jewels, money,
clothing and even food, so that they
We're literally starving. Peaceful citi-
zens had been fired on; women had
been maltreated. There was general
satisfaction that the Americans had
come at last, and conditions seemed
favorable for American propaganda.
The towns of Bacoor and linus were
selected for the purpose of experiment,
and after talks with the local head
men" a local form of government was
established. Encouraged by the result,
the work was continued at Paranque,
Las Pinas and other towns, with SINH
lar good results.
At the request of General Lawton,
who had been assigned to this work
by General Otis. the commission pre-
pared a simple scheme of municipal
government. similar enough to the old
system to be readily comprehensive to
the natives. but giving them liberties
which they had never before enjoyed.
This scheme was adopted, and gave
general satisfaction. In every instance
enthusiasm ran high before the Com
missioners took their departure, and