The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-05-26

Manila, May 22.-The Philippine COM
missioners who arrived here on Satur-
day to negotiate with the United States
commissioners held a conference this
morning with Messrs. Schurman, Wor-
cester and DENLY. They say that they
are without power to bind the socalled
Philippine government in any particu-
lar, and can only refer n results of
the present negotiations to Aguinaldo.
The Philippine commissioners. Gen
eral Gregario del Pillar, Lieutenant
Colonel Alberto .Barretto, Major Zea-
lita and Senior Gracio Gonzaga, with
their families, spent yesterday in Wis
iting friends in Manila and conferred
with Seniors F~lorentino Torres, Pablo
Ocampo, and Teodoro Yanco, the men,
bers of the local Philippine association,
who will participate in the meetings
with the American commissioners.
SENIOR TORRES FOR AUTON-
ONLY.
Senior Torres was a member of Agui-
naldo's commission before the war. He
opposes Independence and favors au-
tonomy, and he has been most in1u-
entail in ~persuading h followers of
ASulndIuO 10 Indke IHe pIeSeuL III
Vances. Autonomy is the burden of
the talk of the Philippines, and 1T is
thought that the kind they wish for
would be little different from the
scheme they talked Of before the war.
Senior Paterno, who has succeeded the
i~rreconcilable Mabini as president OF
the Philippine so-called cabinet, is a
student and writer of ability. He once
drew up a plan Of autonomy under
Spain, which the Spanish government
promised to adopt, there then being a
troublesome rebellion on foot The
American commissioners, in studying
the question Of Philippine government,
have found several good points in
this scheme. Palermo is now the strong
man in Aguinaldo's party.
All the moneyed leaders of the insur-
rection see that it is hopeless and are
anxious for peace. Those who want
money think they may profit by har-
assing the Americans a while longer.
On the suggestion of Mr.. Schurman,
president of the American commits
ion, the local Philippine peace party
has started a newspaper.
MILITARY OPERATIONS CONTIN-
UED.
In spite of the presence of the Phil
ippion commissioners in Manila, the
military operations continue with un-
abated VigOr.
The visitors were apparently ignorant
of the true condition of affairs here.
Upon their arrival they were immed-
lately inundated with Invitations, COW
ering both day n nighsy n express
surprise at the condition of affairs
within our lines. They had bee> led
to believe that everything was chaotic,
and are delighted at the reception ac-
corded them.
Reports received from persons who
have arrived from the interior show
fIn+ M trAnD. nra 1nft in tho pn1th orp
province. They were all drafted south
after the outbreak of the war. The
villages on the west coast are almost
deserted. and the Ilocanos, especially,
are DESTROYS of joining the Americans
if only for the purpose of crushing the
Tagalos. Many natives of Benguot
and Ilocos said that if the Americans
had not arrived civil wal would neces-
sarily have ensued, owing to the fric-
ton between the Tagalos and the in
haIbitants of other provinces.
1t is added that the only Philippine
troops now left are 1000 men under
General Luna, ait Tarlac, and about
1000 under General Pho del Pillar. Even
these are demoralized and short of
arms and supplies. Many of their
rifles are disabled and the Philippines
are unable to repair them, owing to
the lack Of mechanics and materials
for so doing.
A coasting steamer which has ar
rived here reports that the Spanish
garrison at ~Zamboanga, island of Min
danao, is held by the rebels in much
the same manner as the Americans
held them while they were in the vi
cinity of Manila. Every night the
Spaniards are subjected to an inef-
fectual fusillade, and if they are not
soon relieved they will be reduced to
the condition of the Spanish garrison
at Iloilo just previous to it's evacuation
of that place.
OUR COMMISSIONERS PROPOSED
GOVERNMENT.
Professor Schurman, head of the
United States-Philippino commission
has submitted the following written
proposition ITO the Philippines:
While the final decision as to the
form of government is in the hands Of
congress, the president, under his mill
tary powers, pending the action Of
congress, stands ready to offer the fol-
lowing form of government:
"A encouragement, to be appoint
ed by the president; a cabinet to be
appointed by the governor-general; all
the judges to De appointed by the pres
fdent; the heads of departments and
judges to either be Americans or Phil
ippinos or both, and also a general ad-
visory council, it's members to be
chosen by the people by the form Of
suffrage to be hereafter carefully de-
ttegunined upon.
~The president earnestly desires that
bloodshed cease and that the people of
the Philippines, at an early date, enjoy
the largest measures of self-govern-
ment compatible with peace and order"
The United States commission pre-
pared the scheme and the president ca
bled his approval of the form of
the document.
The Philippines have made no d.
mite proposition, except for a cessation
or hostilfties until they can present the
question of peace to the people. Pro-
fessor Schurman told the Philippines
they had no means of gathering the
people together, as the Americans con-
troll most of the ports. He also re-
minded them that a liberal form of
government was offered them and
pointed out that it was better than the
conditions existing under Spanish rule
Gozaga. president .nf tha pbi1innino