The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1899-11-11
Conditions When They Left.

committee lett, the COMMISSION says.
Before the commission left the islands
nearly all the Inhabitants had returned 10
these ruined villages. Many of the houses
had, been rebuilt. Fields that had lain
growing crops. Municipal government
had been established, and the people, pro
tected by our troops, were enjoying peace,
security, and a degree of participation
in their own government previously I'M
known in the history of the Philippines
Attempts Of the insurgents to raise re-
cruits and money In the province OF pa,
lacan were proving abortive, except. when
backed by bayonets and bullets, and even
in such cases the natives were applying
to US for help to resist them"
The chapter devoted to establishment
of municipal governments" gives in detail
the efforts in that direction.
There were many difficulties encoun-
tered. The condition of the people was
found to be most pitiable. They had been
plundered by the insurgent troops, who
had robbed them of jewels. money, cloth
orally starving. Peaceful citizens had
been fired on; women had been maltreat-
ed. There was general satisfaction tina
the Americans had come at last, and con-
ditions seemed favorable to the American
propaganda.
Local Government.
1.-The towns of Bacoor and linus were
selected for the purpose of experiment,
and. after talks with the local head men,,
a local for of government was eStao-
lished. Encouraged by the result, the
work was continued at Paranaque and
Las Pinas, with similar good results: AT
the request of Gen. Lawton, who had been
assigned to this work by Gen. Otis, the
commission prepared a simple scheme OF
municipal government, similar enough TO
the old system to be readily comprehen-
sible to the natives, but giving them ill.,
critics which they had never before en-
joyed. This scheme was adopted, ana
gave general satisfaction; In every in
stance enthusiasm ran high before the
commissioners took their departure. and
cheers were raised for Gen. Lawton and
for the country which he represented.
elected proved worthy of the trust i'm
posed in them, and conditions very rap
idly improved in the newly-organized
towns. Governments were organized with
more satisfactorily result in Pandacan.
Santa Ana. San Felipe, Meri, San Pedro
and Machei, while a slightly different sys-
tenn was put into effect at Malabon, Polo.
Obando, Meycauya, Yang and Malolos."
The commission states that a large
amount of supervision over the affairs Of
our new municipalities proved necessary.
as the officials were timid and slow to
comprehend their new duties. AT many
of the elections the voters went about
asking who they were expected to vote
for" and it was only with great difficulty
right of free suffrage.
Improved Conditions.
The commission sums up the situation
at the time of its departure as follows:
When we left Manila a large volume Of
business was being done, and the streets
were so owd as to be hardly safe.
The native population was quiet and or
derby, and all fear of an uprising had
long since passed. An efficient corps Of
native policemen was on duty. A system
of publis schools. in which English was
taught, had been advocated by the COM
mission. as established by Gen. Otis.
Some 5000 scholars were in attendance.
In the TagalOg province of Luzon,
where the anti-American feeling had been
strongest, public sentiment had greatly
changed, as evidenced by the fact that
the military governor of BatangaS had
offered to surrender his troops and his
province If we would only send a small
force there. The BicolS, in southern Lu-
zon, had risen against their Tagalog mas
tiers. The Macabes were clamoring for an
opportunity to fight in our ranks, and
native soldiers and scouts We're already
serving under Gen. Lawton. Stories Of
the corruption of insurgent officers We're
becoming daily more common, and the
disinterSration of the enemy's forces was
steadily progressing. The hope of as
sistance from outside sources seemed TO
be all that held them together"
Outside of LuzOn.
Having given so much attention to the
island of LuZOn, the commission then
other islands. On this point it is stated
;hat the rebellion is essentially Tagalog,
and when it ends in LuZon, it must end
throughout the archipelago. The situa-
NlOli tlotN I lL4sl III @li1c ID liliI
up as follows:
T only island. apart from Luzon,
where serious trouble threatens, is Panay,
ID which n considerable force of Tagaiog
soldiers was sent before the outbreak Of
hostilities. Many of the Nisayans of this
island are opposed to the Tagalogs, how
ever, and it is not believed the latter can
make a formidable resistance. In Samar,
Leyte and Masbate the Tagalog invaders
are numerically few, and are disliked by
the natives of these islands. whom thsy
ln,-a nnnrnSSnI Nn urar nCGpra1 that
90 men would suffice to restore order In
slindora. Bobol was asking for troops,
she Calamian islanders had sent word
taat they would welcome us. There can
ie no resistance in Palawan. Satisfac-
Spry relations had already been estab-
lished with the warlike MOrrOs. whose
sultan had previously been conciliated by
Il member of the commission. and in Min
dTnaO this tribe had even taken up our
cause. and attacked the insurgents, of
wpom there are very few in the island.
I'm Cebu we have only to reckon with
the lawless element. which has never been
very formidable there"
American Control Necessary.
Special attention is given to the island
OF NegroS. as his seemed n field well
adapted TO the extension OF an American
system. Here the natives had adopted a
local form of government, including a
congress-, and had raised the American
Nag. They believed themselves capable
of managing their own affairs, and asked
for a battalion of troOpS To hold in check
Il mountainous band of fanatics. The bat
TALON was furnished, but the poole proved
unable to carry out their programme,
oW ing to ill feeling among their own Of
ticialS. The Americans remained popular.
At the request of Gen. Otis, Il new and
SlnIplified scheme of government for the
island, giving the people Il large voice III
their affairs, but placing an American in
full control, was put into operation. Il
brought about satisfaction, and public
order is better in the island to-day than
al any time during the last twenty years.
Summarizing the failure of the native
form of government, and the success OF
the American control, the commission
says:
tablish an independent native govern
ment in Negroes, conducted, as il was, un-
der the most favorable circumstances,
makes it apparent that here, as well as in
the less favored provinces, a large amount
of American control is at present abso-
luteiy essential to n successful admins
:ration of public affairs"
Negotiations with A~EuinaIdO.
The efforts at Cancellation with Agui-
naldO and his various commissions are
set forth in detail. These commissioners
were assured of the beneiicent purpose OF
the United States and the presidents
readiness to grant the Filipino people as
large Il measure of home rule and as
ample liberty as consistent with the ends
of government Subject only to the rec
ognition of the sovereignty of the United
States"-a point which, being established.
the commission invariably refused to even
discuss.
The commission adds that nothing came
of negotiations, as Aguinaldo's emissaries
were without powers, and merely came,
and came again, for information. Court
teouS reception was accorded TO the inSurs
gent commissions and earnest apped.r