The Topeka state journal., 1899-11-03

tackled the insurgents, Of whom there
are very few in the island In Cebu We
have only to reckon with the IaWleSs
element, which has never been very
formidable there
Special attention is given to the is
land of NegrOs, as this seemed a field
we'll adapted to the extension of an
American system. Here the natives
had adopted a local form of govern
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 was furnished, but the peo-
pie proved unable to carry out their
program, owing to iII-feehng among
their own officials. The Americans re-
mained popular. At the request of Gen
eral Otis a new and simpliied 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 ard puolic order is
better in the island today than at any
time during the last twenty years.
Summarizing the failure of the native
form of government and the success OF
the American control, the commission
says:
The nat failure of this attempt to es-
in Negros conducted as it was under the
most favorable circumstances made it ap
parent that here as well as in the less
American control is at present absolutely
essential to 6. successful administration
'.1yhe efforts at conciliotion with Aguin-
aldo ana his various commissions are set
forth IN detail. These commissioners were
assured of the bene6cent purposes of the
ness to grant the Filipino people as large
a measure of home rule and as ample lib
erty as consistent with the ends of the
government, subject only to the reeogni-
ton OF the sovereignty of the United
commission invariably refused even to
discuss"
The commission adds that nothing came
OF the negotiations as Aguinaldo's ennis
saries were without power and merely
game, and came again. for information
Courteous reception was accorded to the
1nsurgent commissions and earnest ap-
Peals made to stop further bloodshed, all
Hation." exhibited by the American COM
cable adjustment with the Insurgents as
well as the obduracy of AguinaldO.
fruitless exchanges as follows;
mo better proof could be furnished that
as is pretended, the liberty of the Filipino
peoples, but the continuance of his own
event the American people may feel con-
fident that no effort was omitted by the
the struggle, but the opportunities they
otfer,ed, and urged We're all neglected, if
The chapter devoted to capacity for
self government is the result, the re-
port states, of diligent inquiry for sew
eral months, in the course of which a
great numper OF witnesses were e<-anin-
ed, of all shades of political thought and
varieties of occupation tribe and locality
The The most striking and perhaps the most
SiShlncdnI !act IN the entire Sltua IIon, is
the multiplicity of tribes inha biting the
archipelago, the diversity of their lang
uages (Whcn are mutually un1nteIltgible)
and the multifariOuS phases of ciVfliza-
est to the lowest AS to this, the report
says .yTia z4,,n,nos o 4 +,o -
Var1egated assemblage of different tribes
ana peoples; and their loyalty is still of
Concerning their intellectual capacities
the commission says:
AS to the general intellectual capacities
OF the .t1lpinos the commission IS dis
posed to rate them high. But except
ing in a limited number of persons these
cd5pdc1tleS nave not been developed by
education or experience. The masses z f
the people are uneducated. That intelli-
gent pupllc opinion on which popular
government rests does not exist in the
Philippines. And 1T can not exist until
education has elevated the masses, broad
ened their. intellectual horizon and dis
even then the power Of self government
can not be assumed without cOnSidera BILE
the guidance and tutelage of an enlight-
ened and liberal foreign power For the
bald fact is that the Fiiipinos have never
selves"
The report shows that this inability for
self government is due to the old Spanish
regime, which gave the FiipinOs little or
reviewing the Spanish system the com
mission sums up on this point:
ment which the inhabitants of the Phil
fppine islands have enjoyed. Their lack
combined with their racial and linguistic
diversities, diSqualify them, in spite of
to undertake the task of governing the
archipelago at the present time The
cooperate with the Americans in the ad-
ministratiOn of general affairs from Man
to American control or guidance (as may
be found necessary the administration OF
ately there are educated FilipinOs. though
they do not constitute large proportion
port and services. will be of incafua Bile
value in inaugurating and maintaining
vances and experience ripens the natives
may be entrusted with a large and more
government, as the American ideal being
constantly kept in view as the goal. In
archipelago will prove a great political
boon to the people
Withdrawn, the commission believe that
the government of the Philippines would
speedily lapse into anarchy, which would
excuse, if it did not necessitate the inter
yention Of other powers, and the eventfuI
division of the islands among them.
only through American occupation,
therefore, Is the idea of a free self gov
ernment and united Philippines common
wealth at all conceivable. And the fndis-
pensable need from the Filipino point of
view of maintaining American sovereignty
over the archipelago is recognized by all
intelligent F11plnos and even by those in
Surgents who desire an American protect
crate The latter, it is true. would take
the revenues and leave US the RESPONSE
biIftes. Nevertheless they recognize the
fact that the F1Iipinos can not stand
alone.
Thus the welfare of the F'flfpinos coin
c1deS with the dictates of national honor
IN forbidding our abandonment of the ar
ch1pelago. We can not from any point of
view escape the responsibilities of govern
ment which our sovereignty entails and
the commission is strongly persuaded that
the performance of our national duty will
prove the greatest blessing to the peoples
of the Philippine islands"
One of the closing chapters of the re-
port is devoted to a tribute to ''our sold
1ers and sailors in the war"
The commission dismisses the report of