Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1899-12-07

Islands, that the United States should
pay to Spain the sum- Of $2O,066,O0o
and that the civil rights and p6iitica!
status of the native inhabitants of the
territories thus ceded to the United
States should be determined by CON
grsss. The treaty was ratified by the
senate on the 9th OF February. 1899,
and by the government OF Spain on
the 10Th of March following. The rati-
| fications We're exchanged on the 18th
of April, and The treaty publicly pro-
claimed. On the 2d Of March the con
sress voted the sum Contemplated by
the treaty and the amount was paid
over to the Spanish government on
/ the LIST of May
In this manner The Philippines came
TO the United States, The islands
wei'e ceiieil by HE government Of
| Spain, which had been iii untlisputed
possession of them for centuries. They
were accepted, not merely by our a,i-
| thorlzed commissioners in Paris, UNI
der the direction of the executive. but
by the constitutional and well-consid-
cred action of the representa- S.ss OF
the people of the United States in
both houses of congress. ] had every
reason to believe. and ! still believe,
that this transfer of sovereignty was
IN accordance with the wishes and the
| aspirations of the great masses of the
iillplGo people.
l'fun he earli.si m6ineIit ITO 6ppof-
tulity Was lest OF assuring He people
OF the islands OF our ardent desire for
their welfare and OF the intention of
this government to do everything pos
sibie to advance their interests. In
my order of the 18Th of May, 1898. the
commander of the military expedition
dispatched to the Philippines was in
structed ia declare that we came no!
to make war upon the people OF that
country. nor upon aiiN party or fac.
ton among them, but TO protect them
i'm their homes. in their cmployments,
and in their personal and religious
rights" That there should be no
doubt as to the paramount authority
there, on tie 18th of August it was de-
clared that there must be no Joint oc-
cupation with the insurgents" that
the United States must preserve the
peace and protect persons and prop
erty within the territory occupied by
their military and naval forces; that
the Insurgents and all others must
recognize the military occupation and
authority of the United States. As
early as December 4, before the
cession. and in anticipation of that
event. tn" commander i'm Manila was
urged ia restore peace aud tranquility
and to undertake the establishment of
Il beneficent government, which
should afford the fullest Security for
life and property.
On the 21st of December, after the
treaty was signed. the commander of
the forces of occupation was instruct
ca ITO announce and proclaim in the
most public, manner that we come
not as invaders and conquerors, but
as friends to protect the natives i'm
their homes, i'm their employments,
and in their personal and religious
rights. On the same day, while or
derins General Otis to see that the
peace should be preserved at Iloilo, he
was n'!monishctl tliat ut Is most i'm
por1nni that tllsre should bt no con-
tict with the Insurgents Oh the list
day of Fobt,afy. isoo. urgent orders
were reiterated that the kindly inten-
tions Of this government should be
i'm every possible way communicated
10 the insurgents.
Commission Sent to Manila.
On the alst of january | announced
my intention of dispatching to Manila
q commission composed of three Ten-
tlemcn OF the highest character and
distinction, thoroughly acquainted
With he orient. who, ih association
with Admiral Dewey and Major Cen
eral Otis, were instructed to "facili-
tate the most humane and effective
extension of authority throughout the
Islands, and to secure with tho least
possible delay the benefits of a wise
and generous protection of life and
property TO the inhabitants.' These
gentlemen We're: DR.. Jacob Gould
Schurman, president of Cornell uni
Nersity; the Hon. Charles DENLY. for
many years minister to China. and
Professor Dean G. Worcester, of the
University of Michigan, who made a
most careful study of life iri the Phil
iprines. While the treaty of peace
was under consideration in the SEN
ate, these commissioners set out Oil
their mission of goodwill and liber-
alton Their character was suf-
ficient guarantee of the bcneticent
purpose with which they went, even
If they had not borne the positive in
siructions of this government. which
made their crrand pre-eminen.ly one
of peace and friendship.
Work of a Few fiottcrs.
But before their arrival at Manila
the sinister ambition of few leaders
of the Filipinos had created stua-
ton full of embarrassments for us
and most grievous i'm it's consequences
to themselves. The clear and impair
tlal preliminary report of the commits
sioners, which / transmit herewith,
gives so lucid and comprehensive
history of the present insurrectionary
movement that the story need not be
here repeated. 1t is enough to say that
the claim of the rebel leader that he
was promised independence by any Of
ticcr OF the United States i'm return
for his assistance has no foundation in
fact and is categorically denied by the
very witnesses who were called to
prove it. The most the insurgent leader
hoped for when he came back to Ma
Mia was the liberation of the islands
from the Spanish control, which they
had been labcring for years without
success to throw off.
The prompt accomplishment of this
work by the American army and navy
gave him other ideas and ambitions.
and insidous suggestions from va
rious quarters perverted the purposes
aud intentions with which he chad