The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-11-07

$1,000 $500 49, AA A1[
lost four The population OF these
provinces is estimated to be about
1.500, 600. but il should not be supposed
that eve in the six provinces imme-
diately adjacent to Manila the people
were united in their opposition TO US.
Even here there was a strong conserva-
tive element. consisting Of people Of
wealth and intelligence, opposed TO the
war"
Under the head Of "The Rebellion
not a National Movement" the report
treats OF the rebellion outside OF the
province OF Luzon. where. it is stated
The uprising vas viewed at first with
indifference and later with fear. 1t is
stated that the insurgent administre-
ton throughout the interior was worSe
than in the days Of Spanish misrule: in
many provinces there was absolute
anarchy, and from all sides came peti-
tons for protection and help.
As to the state of affairs when the
commission left, the report says fields
were being planted and the people. pro-
tected by our troops, We're enjoying
peace, security and a degree of partici-
patton in their own government pre-
vfously unknown in the history of the
hilippines.
The chapter devoted to Establish
ment of Municipal Governments gives
in detail the efforts in that direction.
There were man. difficulties encoun-
tered. The towns OF Bacoor and linus
were selected for the purpose of expe-
rinent, and after talks with the local
head men" a local form Of governs
ment was established. This scheme
was adopted, and rave general salts
faction. Governments were organized
with ever more satisfactory results in
Pandacan, Santa Ana, San Felipe,
Meri, San Pedro and Machei, Malabon,
Polo, Obando, Meycaupa, Yang and
Mololos.
The commission sums the situation
at the time of their departure as fol-
lows:
When we left Manila A large volume
OF business was being done, and the
streets were so rowde as to be hard
~ safe. The native population was
quiet and orderly, and all fear of an
uprising had long since passed: An
efficient corps of native policemen
was on duty. A system of public
schools in which English was taught,
had been advocated by the commission
and established by General Otis. Some
5000 scholars were in attendance.
In the TagalOg province of LuZon,
where the anti-American feeling had
been strongest, public sentiment had
greatly changed as evidenced by the
fact that the military governor of
Batangas had offered to surrender his
troops and his province if we would
only send a small force there. The Ri
Cola, in southern Luzon, had risen
against their Tagalog masters. The
Macabebes were clamoring for an OPP
p%Ortunity to fight in our ranks, and ma
tive soldiers and scouts were already
serving under General LaWton.
Special attention is given to the is
land of NegrOS, as this seemed a field
Well dapted to the extension of an
American system. Here the natives
| 1aI a1~-4~ - I---I
ment, including a congress-, and had
raised the American flag. They believ-
ed themselves capable of managing
their own affairs and asked for a bat
TALON of troops to hold in check a
mountainous band of fanatics. The
battalion vas furnished, but the peo-
pie proved unable to carry out their
programme, owing to ill-feeling among
their own officials. The Americans re-
manned popular. AT the request of
General Otis, a new and simplified
scheme of government for the island,
giving the people a large voice in their
affairs, but placing an American in
full control, was put into operation. 1t
brought about satisfaction, and public
order is better in the island today than
at any time during the last twenty
years.
CAPACITY FOR SELF GOVERN
MENT.
The chapter devoted to Capacity for
Self-Government" is the result, the
report states, of diligent inquiry for
several months, in the course of which
a great number of witnesses were ex-
amined, of all shades of political
thought and varieties of occupation,
tribe and locality. The most striking
and perhaps the mast significant fact
in the entire situation is the m%ultiplici-
ty of tribes inhabiting the archipelago
the diversity of their languages (Which
are mutually unintelligble) and the
m~ultifariOus phases of civilization
ranging all the way from the highest
to the lowest. AS to this the report
says:
THE Filipinos are not a nation, but
a varigated assemblage of differen
tribes and peoples, and-their loyalty is
still Of the tribal type.
LAS Ito the general intellectual capac,
tiles of the Filipinos, the commission
is disposed to rate them high. But eX
cepting in a limited number of person:
those capacities have lot been devel
oped by education or experience. TIL
masses of the people are u~neducated
That intelligent public opinion OF
which popular government rests doe!
not exist in the Philippines, and it Cal
not exist Int education has elevated
the masses, broadened their intellect
ooI alId NlS1Apl1lAON NIIS1I q
uity of judgment and even then tht
power of self government cannot b
assumed without considerable previou
training and experience under III,
guidance and tutelage of an enlight
ened and liberal sovereign power. Fo
the bald fact is that the FilipinoS hav
never had n experience in g%overnin,
l themselves"
L Should our power by any fatalit.
be withdrawn, the commission believ
) that h government of the Philippine
would speedily lapse into anarchy
> which would excuse, if it did not ne
c~essitate, the intervention of othe
powers.
4 I'VE cannot from any point of vie'
escape the responsibilities of govern
ment which III sovereignty entails
< and the commission is strongly pei
suaded that the performance of our ma
, tional duty will prove the creates
a blessing to the peoples of the Philil
0 | pine islands,"
Manv a Lover.
Has turned with disgust from an 9th
arviSo IovahIo Girl with IN 0neraly