The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-11-03
AM. .Muste,pal uoyernment..

known in the history Of the Philip
pinss.
Tho Musteipai aovsrnments.
A chapter follows on the establish
ment of municipal governments, saying
that with q single exception the Of
6cials elected proved worthy. In the
Tagal0g province Of Luzon, where the
anti-American feeling had been strong
est, public sentiment had greatly
changed. THE only island apart from
Luzon," says the report. where seri-
GUS trouble threatens is Panay."
Special attention is giren to the
Island of Negros, as this seemed a
field well adapteu to the extension Of
an American system. Here the ma
tives had adopted local form of gov
ernment, including congress, and had
raised the American flag. They be-
lieved themselves capable of managing
their own affairs, and asked for
battalion of troops to hold in check q
mountainous band Of fanatics. The
battalion was furnished, but the peo-
pie proved unable to carry out their
program. Tho commission says:
"The fiat failure of this attempt
to establish an Independent native
government in Negroes, conducted as 1t
was under the most favorable circuni-
stances, makes 1t apparent that here,
as well as In the less favored prov
inces, a large amount of American
control is at present absolutely es-
sential to successful administration
of public affairs"
The efforts at Cancellation with
Aguinaldo and his various commits
sions are set forth In detail. The COM
mission adds that nothing came of ne
gotiations, as Aguinaldos emissaries
we're without power and merely came.
and came again, for information.
Concerning the Filipinos' intellectual
capacities the commission says:
"The commission is disposed to rate
them high. But excepting in limited
number of persons these capacities
have not been developed by education
or experience. The masses of the peo-
pie are uneducated. That intelligent
public opinion on which popular gov
eminent rests does not exist in the
Philippines. And it cannot exist until
education has elevated the masses.
Even then the power of self govern
ment cannot be assumed without con-
siderable previous training and expert
ence.'
Incapable of Self Government.
The report shows that this inability
for self government is due to the old
Spanish regime, which gave the Fill.
pinos little or no part in governing
themselves. After reviewing this
Spanish system the commission says:
"Should our power by any fatality
be withdrawn the commission believes
that the government of the Philippines
would lapse into anarchy, which would
excuse, If it did not necessitate, the in
Prevention of other powers, and the
eventual division of the islands among
them. Only through American occu-
patton, therefore, is the idea Of a free,
self governing and united Philippine
commonwealth at all conceivable. And
the Indispensable need from the Fill
Pine point of view of maintaining
American sovereignty over the archipel-
ago is recognized by all intelligent Fill
ipinos and even by those insurgents
who desire an American protectorate.
The latter. it is true, would take the
revenues and leave us the responsible
tiles. Nevertheless, they recognize
the indubitable fact that the Filipinos
cannot stand alone"
One of the closing chapters Of the
report is devoted to tribute to "our
soldiers and sailors in the war" The
commission says that the presence of
Admiral Dewey as member of this
body makes it uniting to dwell on
its personal achievements, but he joins
in the eulogy of his comrades.
Tho War Humanely Conducted.
The commission dismisses the re-
ports of the desecrating of churches,
the numbering Of prisoners and the
committing of uncomfortable crimes,
and says it is glad to express the be-
lief that war was never more nu-
namely conducted.
The commission gives general view
Of the value of the islands, their rich
ness in agricultural and forest pro-
ducts, their mineral wealth, and their
geographical position.
They state that the Filipino islands
should soon become one of the great
trade centers of the east.
The report concludes:
Our control means to the inhabi-
tants of the Philippines internal peace
and order, a guarantee against foreign
aggression and against the dismember-
ment of their country commercial and
industrial prosperity and as large
share of the affairs Of government as
they shall have prove fit to take.
When peace and prosperity shall have
been established throughout the archi-
pelago, when education shall have be-
come general, then, in the language of
a leading Filipino. his people will, I'M
der our guidance, become more Amer
lean than the Americans themselves"
The report is signed by ]. G. Schur-
man, George Dewey, Charles DENLY
and Dean c. Worcester.