The evening times., 1899-12-05


in their employments, and In their person
al and religious rights" That there shoul'
be no doubt as the paramount authorit,
there, on the 18th of August 1t was di
rected that there must be no joint occu
patton with the Insurgents" that th,
United States must p, eserye the peace ant
protect persons and property thin tn,
territory occupied by their mi itary ant
! naval forces: that the insurgents and al
/ others must recognize the military occu.
!, potion and authority of the; United States
/ As early as December 4, before the cession
and In anticipation of that event. the COM
! mander in Manila was urged to restore
peace and tranquility and to undertake the
| establishment OF a beneficept goyernme Mt
| which should afford the fullest security
for life and property.
OTIS Instructions.
On the 21st of December, after the
treaty was signed, the commander OF the
forces Of occupation was instructed 'to
announce and proclaim In the most public
manner that We come. not as invaders and
eonauerors. but as friends to protect the
natives in their homes, in their employ
ments. and in their personal and religious
rights" On the, same day. while order
ing General Otis to see that the peaee
should be preserved in Iloilo., he was ad-
monished that: 1T is most important that
there should be no conflict with the in
surgents.",. On. the 1st day of January,
1899, urgent orders were reiterated that
the kindly intentions of this Government
should be in every possible way communi-
Gated to the insurgents.
On the 21st of January / announced my
intention Of despatching to Mani a a com
mission composed of three gent emen Of
the highest character and distinction,
thoroughly acquainted with the Orient,
who, in association with Admiral Dewey
and Major General Otis, were instructed
Ito facilitate, the most humane and ef-
fective extension of authority throughout
the islands, and to secure with the least
possible delay the benefits of a wise and
generous protection Of life and property to
the inhabitants.' These gentlemen were
DIR. Jacob Gould Schurman, President OF
Cornell University; -. the Hon. Charles
DENLY. for many years minister to China,
and Prof. Dean c. Worcester. of the Uni
versity Of Michigan, who had made
most careful study Of life in the Philip
pines. While the treaty of peace was un-
der consideration In the Senate these Com
missioners set out on their mission of good
will and liberation. Their character was a
sufficient guaranty Of the benefcsnt pur-
pose with which they went. even IL they
had not borne the positive instructions Of
this Government, which made their errand
pre- e-eminentiy one of peace and friend
ship. "f-a
But before their arrival at Manila the
sinister ambition of few leaders of the
Filipinos had created a situation full Of
embarrassment for US and most grievous
in Its consequences to themselves. The
clear and impartial preliminary report of
the Commissioners, which l transmit here
with. gives SO lucid and comprehensive
a history of the present insurrectionary
movement that the story need not be here
repeated. II Is enough to say that the
claim of the rebel leader that he was prom
ised independence by any officer Of the
United States in return for his assistance
has no foundation in fact and is categori-
cally denied by the very witnesses who
were called to prove it. 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 had been laboring for years without
success 10 throw of.
Aguinaldo.
The prompt accomplishment Of this work
by the American Army and Navy gave him
other ideas and ambitions, and insidious
suggestions from various quarters pervert-
ed the purposes and 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
suspicion and hostility which the utmost
efforts of our officers and troops were |
unable TO disarm or modify. Their kind !
ness and forbearance were taken as proof
of cowardice. The aggressions OF the Fill |
pinos continually increased until finally. |
lust before the time set by the Senate of |
he United States for a vote upon the |
treaty, an attack. evidently prepared In
advance, was made all along the American
ines. which resulted in a terrible destruc-
i've and sanguinary repulse Of the insur-
gents. as---r- .-t-ai.-.,
Ten days later an order OF the insurgent
government was issued to its adherents |
who had remained in Manila, Of which
General Otis justly observes that for
,arbarous intent il is unequaled in modern
INES" 1t directs that at o'clock on the
light of the 18th OF February the terrific
.ial militia shall come together In the
streets of San Pedro armed with their
,olos. with guns and ammunition where
convenient; that Filipino families only
hall be respected; but that all other in
Iividuals, of whatever race they may be,
hall be exterminated without any COM
passion, after the determination of the
rmy of occupation and adds: Brothers,
We must avenge ourselves on the Ameri-
ans and exterminate them, that we may
AXE our revenge for the infamies and
reacheries which they have committed
Ipon US. Have no compassion upon them;
ttack with vigor." A copy OF this fell
" good fortune into the hands OF our
Ulcers and they were able to take meas
res to control the rising, which was ac-
ually attempted on the night Of February
2. a week later than was originally con-
emplated. Considerable numbers OF arm
d insurgents entered the city by water
;ays and swamps and in concert with con-
ederates inside attempted to destroy Ma
lila by FIRE. They were kept in check dur
ng the night and the next day driven out
( the city with heavy loss.
The Commission.
This was the unhappy condition Of af-
airs which confronted our Commissioners
n their arrival in Manila. They had
ONE with the hope and intention Of CO.
perating with Admiral Dewey and Major
eneral Otis in establishing peace and or
er in the archipelago and the largest
,easure of self-government compatible
18th the true welfare of the people. What
hey actually found can best be set forth
!, their own words.
Deplorable as war is, the one In which We are
ow engaged was unavoidable by Us. We were
ttacked by bold, adventurous, and enthusias-
C army. No alternative was left to Us except