The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-11-03
Under an Enlightened Lib
eral Sovereign Power.
MENTAL CAPACITY HIGH
1T is UNDERyELOPED, HOW
EVER, ALONG THE MASSES.
INDEPENDENCE NEVER PROMISED THEM
War Against AMERICANS Not National. People a
ECongIomeration of Tribes. Prosperity In
Ger America Profession. Anarchy
Without 1t.

Without II.
Washington. Nov. 2-In accordance
with the understanding reached at the
conference at the White House yester-
day the Philippine Commission today
submitted to the President the prelimin-
airy report which it had promised to pre-
pare.
The report appears to be compact
summary of conditions on the islands as
the commission left them; Of the histori-
cal events which preceded the Spanish
War and led to the original Filipino in
surrection: of the exchanges between
Admiral Dewey and the other American
commanders and the insurgents; the
breaking out and progress of the present
insurrection. and. finally. statement of
the capacity of the Filipinos for self
government. a notable feature of the
report is Il memorandum by Admiral
Dewey explanatory of his relations with
Aguinaldo.
The commission tells briefly how it con-
Quoted the task entrusted to it, hearing
statements from all classes of people in
Manila as to the capabilities of the
Fflipinos for self government, the habits
and customs of the people, and also the
establishment Of municipal governments
in many towns. All this matter is TO be
included in the final report.
Turning to the history of the islands
the commission attaches little Importance
to the divers rebellions which had pre-
ceded that of 1896 AS to this movement
~ s,,
attempt to win independence. but solely
to obtain relief from intolerable abuses.
To sustain this statement they quote
from an insurgent proclamation issued at
the time. The report tllen tells of the in
surrection which ended by Spain buying
off Aguinaldo and his followers
The war begun in 1896 was terminated
by the treaty of Biac-Na-Bate. The pro-
visions of the treaty We're never carried
out, Spanish abuses began afresh, in
Manila alone more than 200 men being
executed. Hence sporadic risings occur
red, though they possessed notEing like
the strength of the rginal mavan.cn.7
The report then tells how &c i,ral AZ
grlstine came to Manila as Govr9a)r sen
eral at this juncture AMI war broke out
between Spain aud he United States.
of the Filipinos , defend S.n;n aga, ST
America. promising them autonomy, but
the Filipinos did not trust him. Then
came the first of May and the destruc-
ton of the Spanish feet by Dewey with
the resulting loss of prestige to Spain.
Then in June Aguinaldo came On this
point the commission says:
THE following memorandum on the
subject has been furnished the commits
sion by Admiral Dewey
MEMORANDUM OF RELATION
WITH AGUINALDO.
"On April oath. 1898. the following
cipher dispatch was received ut Hong
Kong from Mr. Il. Spencer Pratt, United
States Consul General at Singapore:
'Aguinaido, insurgent leader, here.
Will come Hong Kong, arrange with
Commodore for general cooperation in
surgents Manila if desired. Telegraph.
tSigned.) PRATT
ION the same day Commodore Dewey
teIegraphed Mr.. Pratt:
".Tell Aguinaldo come soon AS posi-
ble,' the necessity for haste being due
to the fact that the squadron had been
notified by the Hong Kong Government
10 leave those waters by the following
day. The squadron left Hong Kong on
the morning of the 18th, and Mrs Bay
on the 9th. Aguinaldo did not leave
Singapore until the 26th and so did not
arrive in Hong Kong in time to have
conference with the Admiral.
1T had been reported to the Commo-
dore as early as March LIST, by the
United States Consul at Manila and
others, that the Filipinos had broken out
into instruction against the Spanish
authority in the vicinity of Manila, and
on March Both Mr. Williams had tele-
graphed:
Five thousand rebels armed in
camp near city. Loyal to US in case Of
war;
Upon the arrival of the squadron at
Manila it was found that there WAS no
Instruction to speak of, and it was ac-
cordingly decided TO allow Aguinaldo to
come to Cavite on beard the McCalloch.
He arrived with IL Of his staff on May
18th, and Immediately came on board
the Olympia to call on the commander
in-chief after which he was allowed to
band at Cavite and organize an army.
This was done for the purpose of
strengthening the United States forces
and weakening those Of the enemy. No
alliance of any kind was entered into
with Aglinaldo, nor was any promise OF
independence made to him, then or at
any other time"
The commissioners report then rapidly
sketches events now historical. 1t tells
in substance how the Filpinos attacked
the Spanish and how General Anderson
arrived and Aguinald0 at his request
moved from Cavite to Bacoor, Says the
commission:
''Now, for the first time, rose the "a. 8
Of national independence Aguinaidt
issued a proclamation in which he tool
the responsibility of promising 1T to in'
pople on behalf of the American govern
ment, although he admittd freely IN pr
waite conversation with members of ms
cabinet that neither Admiral Dewey mo-
any other American had made him any
slluch promise"
The report then states that Aguinald'