The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-06


property 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 Dec 4,
before the CeSstOn, in anticipation of that
event, the commander in Manila was
urged to restore peace and tranquility,
and to undertake the establishment of a
beneiicent government that should afford
the fullest security for life and property.
on the Ast of December, after. the
treaty was signed, the commander Of the
forces OF occupation was instructed Ito
announce and proclaim in the most public
manner that we come not as invaders and
conQusrors, but as friends, to protect the
natives In their homes, In their employ
ments, and in their personal and religious
rights. On the same day, while order
ing Gen. Otis to see that the peace should
be preserved in tloflo, he was adInoniShed
that: 1T is most important that there
should be no conflict with the insurgents. ="
On the first day of January 1899 urgent
orders were reiterated that the kindly
intentions of this government should in
every possible way be communicated to
the insurgents.
On the 2lst of January [ announced my
intention Of Cispatching to Manila a COM
mission composed of
three gentlemen of Civil Efforts
the highest charac-
ter and distinction, ~
h orou g hly ao- Restore Peace.
quainted with the
Orient who. in association with Admiral
Dewey and Maj. Gen. Otis, were in
structed to facilitate the most humane
ana effective extension Of authority
throughout the islands. and to secure
with the least possible delay. the bene-
hts of a wise ard generous protection of
III NE and property to the inhabitants"
These gentlemen We're Dr. Jacob Gould
Schurman. president of Cornell sunivers-
1ty; the Hon. Charles DENLY, for many
years minister to China and Prof: Dean
=. worcester, of the University of Mich
iiEganI who had made a careful study of
life in the Philippines. While the treaty
OF peace was under consideration in the
senate these commissioners set out on
Iheir character was sufficient. guaranty
or the benef1cent purpose of which thew
went, even If they had not borne the
positive instructions of this government
which made their efrand pre-etninently
one or peace. and friendship. But before
thelr arrival at Manila the Sinister am
oltlon OF a few leaders Of the FIlfpinos
mad created situation full Of embar-
easements Tor US, and most grevous in
IT'S consequences to themselves. The
clear and impartial preliminary repOrt
or the commissioners, which I transmit
herewith. gives, so lucid and ecmprehen-
SiVe history of the present insurrec-
not be here repeated. 1t is enough TO
say that the claim of the rebel leader
mat ne was promised independence by
any officer of the United States in rela-
ton. for his assistance has no foundation
IN fact, and is categoricaIly denied by
the very witnesses who We're called to
hoped FOR when he came back to Manila
was the liberation of the islands from
the Spanish control, which they had
peen laboring for years without success
The prompt accomplishment of this
work by the American army and navy
save MIN other ideas and ambitions, and
inSldlous suggestions from various quar-
ters perverted the purposes and inten-
tons with which he had taken up arms
no no sooner had had our army captured Manila
sumo an attitude of suspicion and hos
uI!ty. which the utmost efforts Of our
oLncerS and troops were unable to dis
arm or modify. Their kindness and for
Dearance We're taken as a proof of cow
ardlce. The aggressions of the Fflipinos
continually Increased. until finally. Just
United States for a vote upon the treaty
an attack, evidently prepared in advance
was made all along the American lines,
which resulted in a temporary destruc,
tive and sangufnary repulse of the in
surgents. -
Ten days later an order of the fnsur-
gent government was issued to it's adj
herents who had remained in Manila, Of
which Gen. Otis justly observes that
Tor barbarous intent it Is unequaled in
n n!cfodE t III 81 II DIRECTED that at 8
FEBRUARY. the territorial militia shall
come together In the streets of San
Pedro, armed with their bolos, with
guns ana ammunition where convenient,
a.
spected; but that all other individuals,
OF whatever race they may be- shall be
eNterminated without any compassion
after the externination Of the army OF
occupation, and adds: Brothers, we
must aVenge ourselves on the Americans
and eXterminate them, that we NAV take
our revenge for the infamies and
treacheries which they have committed
them; attack with vigor'' A copy of
this FELL BY good fortune. into the hands
or our officers, and they were able to
take measures to control the rising,
which was actually attempted on the
night of Feb. Y, a week later than was
originally contemplated. Considerable
numbers of armed insurgents entered
the city by waterways and swamps and,
| in concert with confederates inside. at.
! tempted to destroy Manila by fire They
| were Kept In check during the night, and
| the next day driven out Of the CITY with
| heavy loss.
This was the unhappy condition of at
fairs which confronted our commission
ers on their arrival in Manila. They
had come with the hope and Intention
| of cooperating with Admiral Dewey
and Maj. Gen. Otis in establishing peace
and order In the archipelago and the
largest measure of self-government com,
patible with the true welfare of the
people What they actually found can
best be set forth In their own words:
"Deplorable as war is. the one in which
| we are now engaged was unavoidable by
us. We were attacked by a bold, ad-
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
| alternative was left to us, except ig-
! nominious retreat.
| 1T Is not to be conceived that any
! American would have sanctioned the
/ surrender of Manila to the insurgents.
/ Our obligations to other nations and to
! the friendly Filipinos and to ourselves
I and our flag demanded that force should
| be met by force, Whatever the future
! of the Philippines may be there Is no
! course open to us now except the prosecu-
! ton 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
forces from the Islands. either with
| honor to ourselves or with safety to the
| inhabitants"
The course thus clearly indicated ha:
been unflinchingly pursued. The rebellion
cannot be thoroughly established unit
| ga!lantry worthy Of its most brilliant
! history, the army, ably and Loyalty as
sisted by the navy, has carried on thi.
| unwelcome but most righteous campaign
which richly deserved success. The
! noble self-sacrifiee with which our sol
| diers and sailors, whose terms of service
| had expired, refused to avail themselve:
! or their right to return home as long az
| they were needed at the front forms ont
! Of the brightest pages in our annals. All
! though their operations have been some
j what interrupted and checked by a rainI
/ Of