The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-11-03
PRELIMINARY
REPORTS MADE
Continued from First PasoJ

apparent that here. as well as in the less
favored provinces. large amount Oh
American control is at present absolute
and the present successful administration
Of public affairs permanent"
The efforts at Cancellation with Aguinaldo
ana his various commissions are set forth
IA detail.
The commission adds that nothing came
of negotiations. as Aguinaldo's emissa-
ries were without powers, and merely
came. and came again for Information.
The report sums mp the result OF these
fruitiess exchanges as follows:
mo better proof could be furnished that
= the primary object Of MS struggle is not
as is pretended the liberty OF the Fill
pino peoples. but the continuance OF MS
(AguinaldO's) own arbitrary and despotic
power"
CAPACITY FOR SELF-GOVERNMltNI.
The chapter devoted % Capacity FOR
Self-Government" IS the result, the report
states OF diligent inquiry for several
months in the course Of which great
number Of witnesses were examined of al
shades Of political thought and varieties
OF occupation. tribe and locality. Inc
most striking. and perhaps the most sug-
gcstiye fact In the entire situation, Is
the multiplicity OF tribes inhabiting the
archipelago. the diversity OF their Ian
guage (Which Is mutually unintelligi-
bic). and tho muitifarious phases Of civ
ilzation ranging all the way from the
best TO the lowest Touching this, the re-
port says:
THE FilipinOs are not nation, but a
varegated assemblage Of different tribes
and peoples. and their loyalty is sull
Of the tribal type"
Concerning their intellectual capacity,
the commission says
"As % the general intellectual charac-
teristics of the Fihpinos, the commission
is disposed 10 tate them hish. But eX-
cepting I'm "A limited number OF persons
those characteristics have not been de-
val0ped by education and experience.
The masses of the people are uneducated.
The report SHOWS that this inability for
stif-government is dive 90 the old Spanish
regime which gave the F1IipnOs LITTLE
or 100 part in governing themselves.
WOULD LAPSE INTO ANARCHY.
Should our power by any fatality be
Withdrawn. the commission believe that
the government Of the Philippines would
speedily lapse into an anarchy which
would excuse, II 1t did not necessitate,
the intervention Of other powers, and the
eventual division Of the islands among
them. only through American occupa-
tion, therefore, is the idea OF a free self
governing and united Philippine common
wealth al all conceivable
we cannot from any point Of view
escape the responsibilities OF government
which cur sovereignty entails, and the
commission IS strongly persuaded that
the performance Of our national duty viii
prove the greatest blessing 10 the peoples
Of the Philippine Islands"
one Of the closing chapters Of the re-
port is devoted TO q tribute TO our SOL
diers and sailors IN the war
The commission says that the presence
Of Admiral Dewey as a member OF TINS
body makes IL uniting 10 dwell on its
personal achievements. but he joins in the
eulogy Of his comrades.
Inc commission witnessed some Of the
many brave deeds of our soldiers. and
they declare that all that skill courage
and patient endurance can do has been
done In the Philippines. They dismiss the
reports Of the Decorating or churches,
the numbering Of prisoners and the COM
hitting OF unmentiOnable crimes, and say
they are glad TO express the belief that
a war was never more humaney con-
VALUE OF ISLANDS.
The commission gives a general view
Of the value Il the Islands, their richness
in agricultural and forest products. their
mineral wealth, and their commanding
geographical position. They state that
the Philippine Islands should soon become
one Of the great trade centres OF the
Eist Manila is already connected by
new steamship lines with Australia, In
da and Japan. and she win become the
natural terminus of many other lines
when "a ship canal connects the Atlantic
and Pacific. The report concludes:
"Our control means 20 the Inhabitants
Of the Philippines internal peace and
order q guarantee against foreign az
eression and against The ACKNOWLEDGMENT
OF this country commercial and indus
trial prosperity. and as large a share
a affairs Of government as they snail
prove fit 10 take. When peace and pros
perity shall have been established
throughout the archipelago: when edu-
cation shall have been general. then. IN
The language of a leading Filipino, his
people viii. under our guidance, become
more American than the Americans them
selves"
The report is signed By J. G. Schurman.
George Dewey. Charles Deny and Dean G.