Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1899-11-09
NOT FIT TO RULE.
Filipinos are Not Ready for Self
Government.
A Preliminary Report on the state OF
Affairs i'm the Islands is Made TO
the President by the Members
Philippine Commission.

pine COMMISSIONERS NcSLSIddg SuDlhiI-
ted to the president the preliminary
report which they had promised to
prepare. The report appears to be
compact summary of conditions on the
islands as the commissioners left
them; of the historical events which
preceded the Spanish war and led to
the original Filipino insurrection; OF
the exchanges between Admiral Dew
ey nd the other American command
crs and the insurgents; the breaking
out and progress of the present insur-
recton, and finally a statement of the
capacity of the Filipinos for sclf-gov-
ernment. A notable feature of the re-
port is a memorandum by Admiral
Dewey explanatory of his relations
with Aguinaldo.
Upon the arrival of Dewey's squad
ron at Manila it was found that there
was no insurrection to speak of and 1T
was accordingly decided to allow Agu-
inaldo to come to Cavite on board the
McCulloch. He arrived with 13 of his
staff on May 10 and came on board
the Olympia to call on Dewey, after
which he was allowed TO land at Ca
vite and organize an army. This was
done with the purpose of strengthen
ing the United States forces and weak
ening those of the enemy. No alli-
ance of any kind was entered into
with Agunaldo, nor was any promise
of independence made to him, then or
at any other time.
The report states that Aguinaldo
wished to attack the Americans when
they landed at Paranaque, but was
deferred by lack of arms and ammu-
milton. From that point on there was
growing friction between the Fill
pinos and the American troops. There
were 10 conferences" says the report,
"between the officers of the Flipinos
and our officers with view to operat-
ing against the Spaniards, nor was
there cooperation of any kind"
The commission in concluding this
chapter says: after the landing of
our troops Aguinaldo made up his
mind that it would be necessary to
fight the Americans, and after the
making of the treaty of peace at Paris
thi determination was strengthened.
He did not openly declare that he in
tended to fight the Americans, but he
excited everybody and especially the
military men by claiming indepen-
dencc, and it is doubtful whether he
had the power to check or control the
army at the time hostlities broke out.
Deplorable as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by bold,
adventurous and enthusiastic army.
No alternative was left to us except
ignominious retreat. 1t is not TO be
conceived of that any American would
have sanctioned the surrender of Ma
Mia to the insurgents. Our obliga-
tions to other nations, to the friend
" Filipinos and to ourselves and our
flag demanded that force should be
met by force. Whatever the future
of the Philippines may be, there is no
course open to us now except the
prosecution of the war until the in
sureents are reduced to submission
Concerning their intellectual capac-
itv the commission says: "As to the
general intellectual capacity of the
Filipinos the commission is disposed
to rate them high. But excepting in
a limited number OF persons these
capacities have not been developed by
education or experience. The masses
of the people are uneducated. That
Intelligent public opinion on which
exist in the Philippines; and it cannot
exist until education has elevated the
masses, broadened their intellectual
horizon and disciplined their faculties
of Judgment And even then the
power of self-government cannot be
assumed without considerable previous
training and experience under the
guidance and tutelage of an enIight-
nj EIaro1 CnunpaitrY, For
the bald fact is that the Filipinos have
never had any experience in govern
ing themselves
The report shows that this inability
for self-government is due to the old
Spanish regime, which gave the Fill
pfnos little or no part in governing
themselves After reviewing this
Spanish system the commission sums
up on this point: This is all the train
ing in self-government which the in
habitants of the Philippine islands have
en- loved Their lack of education and
political experience, combined with
their racial and linguistic diversities,
disqualify them in spite of their men
tai gifts and domestic virtues to under
take the task of governing the archi-
pelago at the present time. The most
operate with the Americans IN the ad-
ministration of general affairs. from
Manila as a center. and to undertake.
subject to American control or guild
ance (as may be found necessary the
administration of provincial and mu-
nicipal affairs"
The report concludes. "Our control
means to the inhabitants of the Phil
ippines internal peace md order,
guaranty against foreign aggression
ad against the dismemberment of
their country, commercial and indus
trial prosperity and as large share
of the affairs of government as they
shall prove fit to take"
The report is signed by j. G. Schur-
man, George Dewey, Charles DENLY
and Dean G.. Worcester.
Chicagoans Cornered the Market.
Chicago, Nov. 3.-The corner in