The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-22
The Philippine Situation.

Inc fnlllpplne olluaIlOn'
Harper's Weekly publishes review
of the situation in the Philippines, by
Dean G. Worcester, one of the COM
missioners sent to the island to exam
inc into the conditions existing there.
Prof. Worcester is Vermonter, IA
miliar by several years. travel among
them with the inhabitants Of the archi-
pelago, before his recent official inves-
tigation, and what he has to say on the
situation there should have conclusive
weight with impartial readers, if any
persons Judgment is still hanging fire
as to the necessity and wisdom of the
policy and line of action adopted both
at Manila and at Washington.
The conclusions of the commission,
recently published, are we'll fortified
by the facts, circumstances and argu-
ments presented by Prof. Worcester.
His summary OF certain well-ascer-
tanned facts shows that peace reigned
in the island from 1872 to 1896; that in
the latter year a revolution broke out
which was an effort to secure certain
specific reforms but was in no sense a
movement for national independence
that the revolution was terminated by
the agreement of Spain to pay the
insurgent leaders S1,200,000; that
5000 900 was paid to Aguinaldo and
his immediate followers at Hong Kong
where they had gone under the agree
ment; that 100000, it was claimed
had been given to the leaders who re
NAMED in Luzon, but, as one of the
intended beneiciaries remarked, 81
has never been definitely ascertained
who forgot that he had this sum in his
pocket" The revolution was effect
lively terminated, but the common
people, disguised with the manner o.
settlement and angry with Spain fo
the failure of its representatives to full
fill their promises, attempted another
rising, which was ineffective by reason
of the absence of leaders and the lacl
of arms and ammunition. So that
when Admiral Dewey arrived at Ma
Mia in May, 1898, sit was found Their
was no instruction to speak Of"
Professor Worcester presents the ev
idence against the oft repeated state
ments in this country that the Filipino
were promised independence. Admi
raj Dewey's denial that he had mad,
such promise settled that matter
Consul Pratt, at whose door the charg
of making this promise was also laic
is ready to take oath that he is gull
less, and took legal action to compel tn
correspondent who had embodied thi
statement in book he had publishe
10 cut it out of every copy of the wor
and insert an apology for the misstatC
ment.
AS to the implied promise of ind'
pendence, in not promptly calling dow
Aguinaldo when be proclaimed to tn
world his expectations of indepenC
ence, Professor Worcester makes th
sufficient answer that none of our of
Gals had at the time authority to Sc
tie this matter, and, as TO why this WI
not done afterwards, says, that "und'
the circumstances, it it is hardly to /
wondered at that they did not ava
themselves of the first opportunity
attempt to do So"
Aguinaldo's head seems to have bee
turned by the prominence and impor
ance of his position after he had bee
encouraged to go to Manila, and Il
Filipinos were gathering in so lar
numbers around his standard. III
hope OF the Americans was that
would raise an army to cooperate wi
them. The army was raised and
some extent armed and equipped
the United States. But when Il
force was raised and armed, co-opC
alton ceased, in the proper sense
that word, and Aguinaldo organized
independent campaign against t
Spaniards and resented American init
ference. Aguinaldo became into
Gated with the sense of his power. g
an unhappy moment for himself a
his people," says Prof. Worcester, Z"
conceived the idea of an independe
government under, his own dictat,
ship, and from that day TO this he b
followed consistent policy with tt
sole end ia view, regardless alike