The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-11-03

Commissioners Tell of Happenings
in the Islands From the Begin
ming of the Conflict with Spain
to the Present T1me-Argument Is
She Has.
WASHINGTON, Nov. I'm accordance
with the understanding reached at the
conference at the White house yesterday,
the Philippine commission today sub
m1tted to the president the preliminary
report which It had promised to prepare
Ihe report appears to be a compact sum-
mary Of conditions on the islands as the
commission left them; of the historical
events which preceded the Spanish war
and the internal Filipino insurrection; Of
the exchanges between Admiral Dewey
and other American commanders and the
insurgents; the breaking out of the pres
ent insurrection and, finally, a statement
OF the capability Of the Filipino for self
government. The feature Of the report is
memorandum by Admiral Dewey, ex-
planning his relations with Aguinaldo.
The report begins:
pointed by you to investigate the con-
dition of affairs in the Philippine islands
and 70 report TO you the result of their
Investigations, together with suggestions
Of reform which in their judgment would
be advisable to adopt in these islands,
have the honor to submit the following
report"
The report then describes briefly how
the commission undertook the task en-
trusted 20 them, hearing statements from
Influential people uf Marila as to the
capability of the Filipinos for self gov
ernment, the habits and customs of the
people, also the establishment of mu-
hicipal governments in many towns. All
this matter is to be included In the final
report.
HISTORY OF ISLANDS,
Turning to the history of the islands
the commission attaches little Importance
to the divers rebellions which had pre-
ceded that Of 1898. AS to this movement
they declare that it was in no sense an
attempt to win independence, but solely
to obtain relief from intolerable abuses
To sustain this statement they quote
from an insurgent proclamation, showing
that what was demanded was the ex-
pulsion Of the friars and tbs restitution
TO the people of their lands, with a.
division of the episcopal sees between
Spanish and native priests. It was also
demanded that the Filfpinos have mar
l1anentary representation, freedom of
the press, religious toleration economic
autonomy, and laws similar to those of
spain. The abolition Of the power of
Danisnment was demanded. with a legal
equality for all persons in law and eoual.
ity OF pay between Spanish and native
CIVIL servants. The commission declares
that these demands had good ground.
mat on paper the Spanish system of
government was tolerable, but in practice
every Spanish governor did what he saw
Mt, and the evil deeds of men in the gov
erument were hidden from Spain by strict
press censorship. Allusion was made to
the powerful Katipunan society. pat-
Termed On the Masonic order, and mainly
made up Of Tagalos, as a powerful revo-
luionary force.
SPAIN OFFERS MONEY.
The war begun in 1886 was Terminated
by the treaty of Biac-na-Rat The Fill
plncs were numerous, but possessed onlv
about 500 small arms. The Spanish felt
that it would require 100 900 men to can
tCre their strongholds, and concluded to
resort to the use of money. Certain con-
Ing representation of the FilipinGs in the
cortes, the deportation Of the friars
Which was the principal question, the
grant Of the right of representation, and
Of a free press
GOV Gen. Rivera was willing to paw
$Z'uVjJJj Mexican when Aguinaldo and
his cabinet and leading officers arrived
in Hong Kong. It appears, however,
that PaternO only offered the latter $4O0 :
OO0-Szo0COO to be paid when Aguinafdo 10
arrived in Hong Kong and the balance
when the Filipinos had delivered up their
arms. The arrangement was not accepta-
bic to the people. The promises were
never carried out, Spanish abuses began
afresh, in Manila alone more than 200 men
being executed. Hence sporadic risings
occurred, though they possessed nothing
like the strength Of the original move
ment. The insurgents lacked arms, am
munitiCn and leaders. The treaty had
ended the war, which, with the exception
OF an unimportant outbreak in Cebu, had
been confined to Luzon, Spain's sovereign
ty in the other islands never having been
questioned and the thought Of independ-
ence never having been entertained.
The report then tells how Gen. Angus
tine came to Manila as governor general
at this iuncture, and war broke out be-
tween Spain and the United States. Au-
gustine sought to secure the support of
the Filipinos to defend Spain against
America, promising them autonomy but
the Filipinos did not trust him Then
came the first action, ana the destruction
of the Spanish fleet by Dewey, with the
resultant loss of prestige Of the Spanish
arms.
DEWEY AND AGUINALDO.
In June. the commission says, the fol-
lowing memorandum was furnished the
commission by Admiral Dewey:
Memorandum of relations with Aguin-
"0n April 1S, the following cipher dis
patch was received at Hong Kong, from
Mr. e. Spencer Pratt, United States con-
sui general at Singapore:
'Aguinaldo, insurgent leader, here
Will come Hong Kong, arrange with
commodore for general cooperation in
surgents Manila, If desired. Telegraph
ION the same day Commodore Dewey
telegraphed Mr.. Pratt:
' Tell Aguinaldo come soon as possible, >
the necessity for haste being due to the
fact that the squadron had been notified
by the Hong Kong government to leave
those waters by the following day The
squadron left Hong Kong on the morn
ing Of the 25th and Mrs bay on the
27th. Aguinaldo did not leave Singapore
until the 26th, and did not arrive in Hong
Kong in time to have a conference with
the admiral.
''It had been reported to the conno-
dore as early as March l, by the United
CfafaS CONSUL at Manila and otbare a. =