The Monticellonian., 1899-12-15
TIE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.
The Story of How They Were Ac- auired Related, and the Part
 AEuinuiIo Hns Played.

should CGde tU the United states the arCh- | ipeIago known as the Philippine islands, that the United States should pay Spain S2O,OOU OOU, and that the civil rights and | political status of the native inhabitants of the territories thus ceded to the United States should be determined by congress "l had every reason to believe" the pres tdent says and l still believe that thls transfer of sovereignty Was Ill accordance with the wishes and the aspirations Of the great mass of the Filipino people, From the earliest moment no opportuni- ty Was lost Of assuring them of our ard dent desire for their welfare. In my order of May 1g 1858, the commander of the mil ttary expedition Was instructed to say that We came not to make War upon tHe people of that country, nor upon the party or faction among them, but to pro tect them in their homes, in their em- ploy ments. and i'll their personal and re- IigiGuS rights That there should be no doubt as 10 the paramount authority there, on the l1th day of August it wds directed that there must be no joint OG- Cupation with the insurgents, that the United States must preserve the peace within the territory occupied by their military and naval forces that the In surgents and all others must recognize the military occupation and authority of the United States.
 On the Fist Of December, after the treaty was signed, the commander of the forces of occupation was instructed To announce and proclaim in the most pup lie manner that welcome, not dS invaders. as cOnquerors, but as friends, to protect the natives in their homes. in their em- pioyments, and in their personal and re HglouS rights. on the same day, while ordering Gen. Otis to See that the peace should be preserved in IloiIo he was ac- mCnIShed that il Is most important that there should be no conflict with the in SurgentS. On the Fist of January l an nounced my intention of dispatehins 10 Manila commission composed of thre= gentlemen Of the highest character and distinction, thoroughly acquainted with the orient who, in association with Ad- miral Dewey and MaJ-Gen. Ous, were ih-
 
 and effective extension of authority throughout the islands, and to secure with the least possible delay the benefits of q wise and generous protection of life and property to the inhabitants.'
 No Promises to ASuI.,aido.
 While the treaty of peace was under consideration in the senate these commiS- sioners set out on their mission of good will and liberation But before their ar rival at Manila the sinister ambition of few leaders of the tilipinos had created a situation full of embarrassmentfo for us and most grieYous in its consequences to themselves. T he claim of the rebel leader that he was promised independence by any officer of the United States in return for his assistance has no foundation in fact and Is cdteSorIcalty denied by the VerN witnesses who were called to prove it The most the insargent leader h0pea for when he came back to Manila was the liberation of the islands from the spanish control which they had been Ia- boring for years without success to throw off. The prompt accomplishment of this work by the American army and navy gave him other Ideas and ambitions and msidious suggestions from various qIar- tets perfected the purposes and intentions with which he had taken ap arms. No seeneI had our army captured Manila than the Filipino forces began to assune ;ti. attitude of suspicion and hostility which the utmost efforts of our officers and troops were unable to 1isarm or modify. Their kindness and forebearance were taken as proof of cowardiCe.
 The Americans Attacked.
 "The aggresslnns of the filpinos con tinullly increased until finally. just be- fore the time set by the senate of the United States Tor q vote upon the treaty. au attack, evidently pfeparted in advance, Was made all along the American lin $, which resulted in terribly destructive and sanGuiEarY repulse of the insurgents Ten days later an order ef the insur- gent government was issued tu it's adher- cuts who had remained lu Manila, ul which Gen otis justly observes that for ba1 1barUaE intent il is uucqusied in modern times. It directs that at < o'clock on the night of the 10th of Feb ruaTX, the Territorial militia shall come together in the streets of San Pedro. armed with their boios, with guns dud amW unitiou where convenient; that f'ilt pinu families only shall be respected. bus that all other individuals, of what aNer race they may be. shall be eNterminatcd without any compassion after the eXterF- nation of the army of occupation, and adds Brothers, We must aVenge our selves on the Americans and eXterminate them, that Vt GldA IHke our revenge Tor the mfamies and treaeheries, which they have committed upon us. Have no com passion Hppn them: attack with Vigor.,
 "A copy of this fell by good fortune in- to the hands of our officers. and they were able to take measures to control the rls ing. which was actually attempted on the night of February 22, d week later chan was originally contemplated. Considera- ble numbers of armed insurgents entered the city by waterways and sWamps, and, in concert with confederates inside at Manila h,y- were kept in check during the night and the next day driven out of the city with heavy loss.
 The CoInmissioners' story.
 "This was the unhappy condition of at- fairs which confronted our commission CTS What they actually found can best be set forth in their own words:
 .Deplorabe as war is, the one in which We are now engaged, Was unavoidable by us We We're attacked by bold adveu- turous and enthusiastic army No al terEatiVe Was left to us except ignpmin- ouS retreat.
 Tt 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 and our flag demanded that force should be met by force. There has been no time since the destruction of the Spanish squadron by Admiral Dewey when il was possible to withdraw our forces from the island, either with honor to ourselves or with safety to the inhabitants
 "The course thus clearly indicated has been untlinchingly pursued. The rebel lion must be put down. Civil government can not be thoroughly established until order is restored.
 ''The unfavorable circumstances oon- nected with an active campaign have not been permitted to interfere with the equally important work of reconstruction A notable beginning has been made in the establishment of government in the is- land of Negros. It's people unreservedly proclaimed allegiance to the United States and adopted constitution looking to the The government actually set up eventual ly proved unsatisfactory to the natives themselves. A new system was put into force.
 Cove crnment for Negros.
 'It was ordered that the government of the island of Negros should consist Of d military governor appointed by the Unit ed States military governor of the Phil ippines, and civil governor and an ad- visory council elected by the people. The seat of government was fixed at Bacolod. The military governor exercises the su- preme executive power The civil gov ernor advises the military governor on all public civil questions, and presides oyer the advisory council. He, in general, per forms the duties which are performed ty secretaries of state"
 The advisory council consists of eight members elected by the people within ter- ritorial limits
 A voter must be male citizen 2l years old
 He shall be able to speak. read and write English. Spanish or Nisayan lan- suage, or he must own real property worth Soup, or pay q rental on real prop erty of the value of $l, GOO.
 He must have resided in the islands not