Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1899-11-09

Washington. Nov. 4.-ln accordance
with the understanding reached al the
conference at the White House tues
day the Philippine commission yester-
day submitted to the president the
preliminary report which it had prom
Used to prepare. The report appears to
be compact summary of conditions
on the islands rs the commission left
them; of the historical events which
preceded the Spanish war and the IN
ternal Filipino Instruction; of the eX-
change between Admiral Dewey ana
other American commanders and the
insurgents; the breaking out OF the
present insurrection, and, finally.
statement of the capability OF the I'll
ipino for self-goycrnment. The feature
Of the report is a memorandum ny
Admiral Dewey explaining his rela-
lions with Aguinaldo.
The commission is of the opinion
that American sovereignty over the
archipelago will prove a great political
boon to the people, aud says:
'Should our power by a,iT 1atallty
be withdrawn the commission DeHeVe
that the government of the philippines
would speedily lopse into anarchy,
which would excuse, if it did not neces-
state, the intervention of other pow
crs and the eventual division OF the
islands among them. Only through
American occupation, therefore, is the
idea Of free, self-governing anu
united Philippine commonwealth at an
conceivable. And the indlsHensaple
need from the Filipino point nj view OF
maintaining American sovereignty
over the archipelago is fully recos,
nized by all intelligent FiIIpinos, ana
even by those insurgents who desire
an American protectorate. Tile ntte1,
it is true, would take the revenues ana
leave us the responsibilities. Never
theless we recognized the in;lubltable
fact that the Philippines cannot
stand alone. Thus the welfare oil the
Filipinos is considered with the dc
tates of national honor i'll forblddlng
our abandonment of the archipelago.
We cannot, from any point of view,
escape tie responsibilities OF govern
ment which our sovereignty entails.
The commission is fully persuaded
that the performance Of our national
duty will prove the greatest blessing
to the people Of the Philippine is
lands" --,:.,
They deny the reports of Dissertation
of churches, the numbering of prison.
ers and the committing OF unmentlon-
able crimes, and say they are glad to
declare that the war is the most hu~
name in history.
The commission gives general view
of the value of the islands, their rlch-
ness in agricultural and forest pro-
ducts, their mineral wealth, and COM
handing geographical position, II
SAYS that the Philippine group should
become one of the great trade resorts
of the East.
In concluding the report the commls-
sion has this to say regarding reteh~
tion of our control in the islands:
"Our control means giving the III
habitants of the Philippines internal
peace and a guarantee against Iofelsn
aggression and against the dismember-
ment of their country. commercial ana
industrial prosperity and a large snare
Of the reins of government as they
shall become fit to take them. When
peace and prosperity shall have been
established through the archlpelago'
when education shall have become
general, then, in the language of u
leading Filipino, his people WILL unaef
our guidance, become more American
than the Americans themselves:
The report is signed by J. G. Schur-
I1norro noWny Charles DENLY,