The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1899-12-07

intention OF this government to do every
| thing possible to advance their interests
The president quotes from warn rus
orders issued to those in command oi
the United States military and naval
forces a Manila TO show that IL was the
object of the United States to project
the people and to establish benefcent
government, even before the trea~ f
peace was signed. After the treaty had
been ratih II, the message says, orders
We're sent IL the commander to proclaim
the kindly intention of the government
and saying it was most important that
there should be no conflict with the in
sureents." The president then gives an
account OF the appointment of the Philip
pine commission who, assisted by Ad-
miral Dewey and General Otis, were TO
facilitate the most humane and eTec-
tive extension ~ authority throughout
the islands. and says: But before their
arrival in Manila the sinister ambition
of a few leaders of the Flipinos had
| created a situation full of enlbarrass-
ment for US and most grieVous In its CON
sequences to themselves. The clear and
impartial preliminary report of the COM
missioners which l transmit herewith
gives so lucid and comprehensive his
tory OF the present insurreetionary
| movement that the story need not be
here repeated. 1t Is enough to say thai
the claim of the rebel leader that he as
promised independence by any officer of
the United States In return for his as
sistance has no foundation in fact md i
categorically denied by the very wit
nesses who we're called to prove it, Ne
sooner had our army captured Manila
than the Filipino forces began To assam,
an attitude IF suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts of our officers
and troops were unable to dsarm or
modify. Their kindness and forbear-
ance were taken as proof of cowardice.
Tht aggressions of the Filipinos con-
tinually increased until finally, just be-
fore the time set by the senate of the
United States for vote upon the -rea.y,
an attack, evidently prepared IN adj
vance was made all along the Ameri an
lines. which resulted in a terribly de-
structive and sanguinary repulse of the
insurgents.
The president then gives the details
of the uprising and slaughter proposed
by the insurgents In Manila the success
of which was prevented by General Otis,
Into whose hands fell copy of the order
of the insurgent government, directing
the massacre. This, the president says.
was the unhappy condition of affairs
which confronted our commissioners on
their arrival in Manila. What they
actually found can best be set forth in
their own words:
'rDanIAra 1l a a G W. "a ba m " n n
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by a bold ad
senturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left to us except igno-
minous retreat.
1t is not to De conceived of 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
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 prose
cution of The war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission"
The course thus clearly indicated, says
the message, has been unHinchingly pu--
sued Civl government cannot be
thoroughly established until order is
restored. Although operations have
been somewhat Interrupted and checked
by rainy season of unusual violence
| and Duration our soldiers have gained
ground in every direction. and now look
forward confidently to a speedy compile
ton of their task. The nnfavorabe
circumstances connected with an active
campaign have not been permitted to in
terfere with the equally important work
of reconstruction. Here. again. the
president invites attention to the re-
port of the commissioners for the in
teresting and encouraging details Of The
work already accomplished in the estab-
| lishment of peace and order, and the
! inauguration of governing munich
pal life in many portions of the archi-
pelago. The system of gov eminent es-
tablshed in the Island of Negrus. which
was the first to accept American sover-
eighty, is given in detail in re mes
sage.
The president then says: Everything
indicates that with speedy suppression
of the Tasalo rebellion. life in the
archipelago viii soon resume its or
din&ry course, under the protection of
our sovereignty, and the people of those
favored islands will enjoy a prosperity
and freedom which they have never
before known. Already hundreds OF
schools are open and filled with children.
Religious freedom is sacredly assured
and enjoyed. The courts are dispensing
Justice Business is beginning 10 cir
culate in its accustomed channels.
The future government of the Philip
pines rests with the congress of the
United States. Fewer graver re-
spons;bilities have ever been conaded to
us, If We accept them in spirit worthy
of our race and our traditions. u great
opportunity comes with them The
islands lie under the shelter of our flag
They are ours by every title of law and
equity. They cannot be abandoned.
II We desert them we leave them at
once to anarchy and finally to bar
barism. We fling them, Il golden APP
pie of discord, among the rival powers,
no one of which would permit another TO
seize them unquestioned. The sug-
gestion has been made that we could
renouncC our authority over the Islands.
and giving hem independence. could re-
tain protectorate over them. The
PR position will not be found I am
sure worthy of your serious attention.
Such an arrangement would involve at
M