The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1899-12-08

sooner had our army captured Manila
than the Filipino forces began to assume
an attitude OF suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts Of u officers
and troops were unable to disarm or
modify. Their kindness and forbearance
were taken as a proof Of cowardice. The
aggressions Of the Filipinos continually
increased until finally just before the time
set by the senate Of the United States for
a vote upon the treaty on attack evidently
prepared in advance, was made all along
the American lines, which resulted In u
temporary destructive. and sa%nguinary re-
pulse Of the insurgents.
An In famous Proclamation.
Ten days later an order Of the insur-
gent government was issued to Its adher-
EMS who had remained in Manila, Of
which General Otis Justly observes that
'for barbarous intent 1t IL unequnlled In
modern times" 1t directs that ut 8
o'clock on the nj ght of the 18th Of Feb
ruary the territorial militia shall come
together In the streets of San Pedro armed
with their bolos, with guns and ammu-
milton, where convenient, that Filipino
families alone shall DO respected; but that
all other individuals, of whatever race
they may be, shall be exterminated with
out any compassion, after the extermina-
ton Of the army of occupation" and adds:
brothers, we II avenge ourselves on
the Americans and exterminate them,
that we may take our revenge for the In
famies And t%reacheries which they have
committed upon us. Have no compassion
upon them; attack with vigor."
A copy of this fell, by good fortune,
into the hands Of u officers, and they
e, I, k1n A~ On III = ,V,Vo, t< nv,t,,A Nhn
rising which was actually attempted on
the night Of Feb. 20, a week later than
was originally contemplated. Consider
able number of armed insurgents entered
the city by W "ttrways and swamps, and
In concert with confederates inside
Attempted to Destroy Manila by Fire.
They were kept in check durinr the
night and the next day driven out of the
city with heavy loss.
This was the unhappy condition OF
affairs which confronted our commission
ers on their arrival in Manila. They had
come with the hope and intention Of co.
operating with Admiral Dewey ana Major
General Otis In establishing peace and
order In the archipelago and the largest
measure of self government compatible
with the true welfare of the people.
Itp UACy uCVuulAy AOuIN CNA Oc5p w
set forth In their W words: "Deplor-
able us war 10, the one in which we are
now engaged was unavoidable by us.
We were attacked by u bold, adventure
Il and enthusiastic army. No alterna-
tive was left to us, except ignominous
retreat.
ut Is not to be conceived Of that any
American would have sanctioned the sur
render Of Manila to the insurgents. Our
obligations to other nations and to the
friendly Wlipinos and to ourselves and
to our flag demanded that force should
be met by force. Whatever the future
of the Philippines may be there Is nc
course open to us now except the prose-
cution of the war until the insurgents are
reduced to submission. The commission
is of the opinion that there has been no
time since the destruction Of the Spanish
squadron by Admiral Dewey when it was
possible to withdraw our forces from the
islands either with honor to ourselves or
with safety to the Inhabitants"
Rebellion Must lie tut Down.
The course thus clearly indicated has
been unfinch!ngly pursued. The rebellion
must be put down. Civil government
cannot be thoroughly established until
order Is restored. With a devotion and
g~allantry worthy of Its most brilliant his
tory the army, ably and Loyalty assisted
by the navy, has carried IN this unwel-
come but most righteous campaign, which
richly deserve success. The noble self
sacrifice with which our soldiers and
sailors whose term of service had expired
refused to avail themselves of their right
to return home 80 long as they were
needed at the front, forms one of the
brightest pages In our annals. Although
their operations have been somewhat In
terrupted and checked by rainy season
of unusual violence and duration, they
have gained ground steadily In every
direction and now look forward conf
IDENTIFY to q speedy completion of their
task.
Government for Nesros.
The ~unfavorable circumstances con-
nected with an active campaign have not
been permitted to interfere with the
equally important work OF construction.
Again I invite your attention Of the report
of the commissioners, interesting and en-
c~ouraging details Of the work already &C.
complished in the establishment Of peace
and order and the Inauguration of self
governing municipal life In many por-
lions of the archipelago. A notable be-
XluuluR Iu6 UCOA ll1bNS ~ pHV SsutSSAioli-
ment Of q government In the island Of
Negroes, which Ia deserving Of special CON
sideration. This was the first island
to accept American sovereignty.
Its people unreservedly proclaimed allie.
glance to tho United States and adopted q
constitution looking to the establishment
of u popular government. 1t was impossi-
BILE to guarantee to the people of Negroes
that the constitution so adopted should
be the ultimate form of government.
Such u question under the treaty with
Spain and in accordance with our own
constitution and laws came exclusively
within the jurisdiction Of congress. The
government actually set up by the inhab-
itants Of Negroes eventually proved I'M
satisfactory to the natives themselves. A
new system was put into force by order
of the major general commanding the
department, which Is partly military and
partly civil.
Executive Officer the Military Governor.