The San Francisco call., 1899-11-03

VI " at the w mite HOUSE y6SbSi uoy
the Philippine Commission sub
mitted TO the President the preliminary
report which It had promised to prepare
The report appears to be q 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 Ad-
miral Dewey and the other American
commanders and the insurgents, and the
breaking out and the progress of the
present insurrectiOn, and finally state
ment of the capacity Of the Filipinos for
self-Eoyernment. A notable feature of the
report is a memorandum by Admiral
Dewey explanatory of his relations with
Aguinsldo.
The commission tells briefly how 1t con-
Quoted the task entrusted to 1t, hearing
statements from all classes of people in
Manila as to the capabilities of the Fill
pinos for self-government, the habits and
customs Of the people and also the estab-
lishment 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
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 the restitution
to the people OF their lands, with a di-
vision of the episcopal sees between
Spanish and native priests. 1t was also
demanded that the tilipinos have par
/ Namentary representation, freedom of the
press, religious liberation. economic au-
I tonomy and laws similar to those of
Spain. The abolition of the power of
punishment was demanded with legal
equality for all persons in law and equal
/ ity in pay between Spanish and native
civil servants. The commission declares
that these demands had good ground;
ernment was tolerable, but in practice
every Spanish governor did what he saw
tit and the evil deeds of men in the gov
ernment were hidden from Spain by strict
press censorship.
Allusion is made to the powerful Kati-
punan Society, patterned on the Masonic
order, and mainly made up OF Tagalos, as
a powerful revolutionary force.
The war begun in 1896 was terminated
by the treaty of Btac-Na-Bate. The FIJI
pInoS were numerous, but possessed only
about so smalarms. The Spanish felt that
it would require 100000 men to capture
their stronghold, and concluded to resort
to the use of money. Certain concessions
were also decided upon, including repre-
sentation Of the tillpinos in the Cortes,
the deportation OF the friars, which was
the principal question; the grant of the
right OF association and of q free press.
! Governor General Rivera was willing to
pay s2,O00.O00 in Mexican money when
Aguinaldo and his Cabinet and leading
officers arrived in Hongkong. 1t appears,
! however, that Palermo only offered the
| latter 100000. 100000 to be paid when
Aguinaldo arrived at Hongkong and the
! balance when the F1lipinos had delivered
up their arms. The arrangement was not
| acceptable to the people.
] hn liadc tod Ot1f
| and Spanish abuses began afreSh in Ma
Mia, at one time more than 200 men being
executed Hence sporadic revolutions oc-
CURED, though they possessed nothing
like the strength of the original move
ment. The insurgents lacked arms, am
muniuon and leaders. The treaty had
of an unimportant outbreak, has been
confined to LuZon, Spaln's sovereignty in
| the islands never having been questioned
and the thought of independence never
having been entertained.
The report then tells how General Au-
gustine went to Manila as Governor Gen
| eral al this tuncture, and when war broke
| out between Spain and the United States
| Augustine 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 lst of May and the destruction
of the Spanish fleet by Dewey, with the
in June Aguinaldo came. On this point
the commission says:
The following memorandum this subject
has been furnished the commission by Admiral
| Dewey:
Memorandum Of relations with Agunaldo.
on April a. 1888, the following cipher dispatch
! was received at Hongkong from f. Spencer
! Pratt United States Consul General at Slnga-
pore: 'Asuiualdo. insurgent leader. here.
VIII come to Hongkong, arrange with commo-
dore for general cooperation insurgents Manila
| II desired. Teegraph.-Prstt."
graphed Mr.. Pratt: Tell Aguinaldo come as
soon as possible" the necessity for haste being
due TO the fact that the squadron had been
notified by the Hongkong Government to leave
the waters by the following day. The squadron
left Hongkong on the morning Of the 25th. and
Mrs Bay the 9th. Aguinaldo did not leave