Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-05

consideration in the senate, these COM
m~issioners set out on their mission Of
good will and liberation . Their char
acter was a sufficient guarantee of the
~Henehcent purpdseE with which they
went. even if they had not borne the
positive instructions of this government,
which made their errand pre-eminently
one OF peace and friendship.
A FILIPINO AMBITION.
But before their arrival at Manila the
SINISTER ambition of a few leaders of the
L 1i!plnoS had created a situation full of
embarassments for us and most grew
uus IN its consequence to themselves.
me GEAR and impartial preliminary re-
port or the commissioners which l trans
mt herewith. gives SO lucid and compre
henslVe a history of the present insur-
rectionary movement that the story
need not be here repeated. 1t is enough
to say that the claims of the rebel lead
er that he was promised independence
by any officer of the United States in re-
turn Tor his assistance has no founda-
ton in fact and is categorically denied
by the very witnesses who were called
Ia prove 1T. The most the insurgent
leader hoped for when he came back to
Manila was the liberation of the islands
from the Spanish control which they a
been laboring for years without success
to throw off. The prompt accomplish
ment of this work by the American army
"iio loNS save Hlil OlucE lutdS ana am
pltlons and insiduous suggestions from
various quarters perverted the pur-
poses intentions with which he had
taken up arms. No sooner had our army
captured Manila than the Filipino forces
began to assume an attitude of susDi-
cion and hostility, which the Utmost eff
forts OF our officers and troops We're UNI
able to disarm or modify. Their kind
ness and forbearance was taken as a
proof of coWardice. The aggression OF
tI, LN;I;,;,&. ~. -.l.J
finally just before the time set for the
senate of the United States to vote upon
the treaty an attack, evidently prepared
in advance, was made along the Amer
lean lines which resulted in a terribly
destructive and ~sanguinary repulse of
the insurgents. Ten days later an order
of the insurgent government was issued
to its adherents who had remained in
Manila. of which Gen. Otis justly OBJ
sEves that for barbarous intent it is
unequaled in modern times"
1t directs that at s O'Clock on the night
Of the 14th of February, the territorial
militia shall come together in the streets
of San Pedro, armed with their bolos,
with guns and ammunition where ON
venient; that Filipino families only shall
be respected, but that all other individ-
uals of whatever race they may be shall
be eXterminated without any compas-
sion, after the determination of the
army of occupation, and adds: Broth
ers. we must aVenge ourselves on the
Americans and externinate them that
we may take our revenge for the infam-
les and treacheries which they have
committed upon us. Have no compass
sion upon them. attack with vigor.' A
note of this fell. by good fortune into the
hands of our officers, and they were able
to take measures to control the rising,
which was actually attempted on the
night of Feb. end, a week later than was
originally contemplated. A considerable
number of armed insurgents entered the
city by water ways and sWamps ana, IN
concert with confederates inside. at
tempted to destroy Manila by fire. They
were kept in check during the night and
the next day driven out OF the city with
heavy loss.
AN UNHAPPY CONDITION.
This was the unhappy condition of at
fairs which confronted II commission
ers on their arrival in Manila. They a
come with the hope and intention of CO.
operating with Admiral Dewey and Maj.
Gen. Otis in establishing peace and order
in the archipelago and the giving the
largest measure of self government com-
patible with the true welfare of the peo-
pie. What they actually ound can best
be set forth in their own words:
"Deplorable as war is, the one in which
We are now engaged was unavoidable by
us. We We're attacked by a bold. adven-
turous and enthusiastic army. No alter
native. was left to us except ignDninious
retreat. 1t is not to be conceived of, that
any American would have sanctioned the
surrender of Manila to the insurgents.
Dun obligations to other nations and to
the friendly T%ilipinos 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 preser-
walton of the war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission. The commits
sion is of the opinion that there has been
no time since the destruction of the
Spanish squadron by Admira Dewey,
when it was possible to Withdraw our
forces from the islands, either with hon
or to ourselves or with safety to the in
h~abitants."
The course thus clearly indicated has
been unfiinchingly pursued. The rebellion
must be put down. Civil government
cannot be thoroughly established until
order is restored. With a devotion and
gallantry worthy of its most brilliant
history the army, ably and loyalty as
sisted by the navy has carried on this
unWelconle, but most righteous campaign
with richl deserved success. The noble
self sacrifice. with which our soldiers
and sailors whose terms of service had
expired refused to avail themselves of
their right to return home as long as they
We're needed at the front. forms one of
the brightest ages in our annals AL
though their operations, have been
somewhat interrupted and checked by a
rainy season, of unusual violence and
Duration, they have gained ground stead
lily in every direction and now look for
ward confidently to a speedy completion
of their task. The unfas orable circum-
stances connected with an active cam
paign have not been permitted to inter-
fere with the equally important work of
reconstruction.
oai 7 nyita -n1rr oytAnNsov, -, X1a
report of the commissioners for the in
teresting and encouraging details of the
work already accomplished i'm the estab-
lishment of peace and order and the in