The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1899-11-08
Report OF tho Commission.


aDce to the divers rebellions that had
preceded that of 1896. AS TO this
movement they declare that it was in
no sense an attempt TO win independ-
ence but solely to obtain relief from
intolerable abuses. To sustain this
statement they quote from an insurg-
ent proclamation showing that what
was demanded was the expulsion of
the Friars and the restitution to the
people of their lands, with a division
of the Episcopal sees between Spanish
and native priests. 1t was also de-
manded that the Filipinos have par
liamentary presentation, freedom
of the press, religious tolerahon, eco
nomic autonomy and laws similar to
those of Spain. Other demands were
made for which the commission says
there was good ground.
The war begun in 1896 was terminal
ed by the treaty of Biac-Na-B Bate. The
Flli1inos were numerous but possessed
only about 800 small arms. The Span
ish felt that it would require 100000
men to capture their stronghold and
concluded to resort to the use of
money. Certain concessions were also
decided upon, including representation
of the Filipinos in the Cortes, the de-
portation of the friars, which was the
principal question; the grant of the
right of association and of a free press.
Governor General Rivers was willing
to pay 100000 Mexican, when
Aguinaldo and his cabinet and leading
officers arrived in Hong Kong. 1t APP
pears, however, that Palermo only Of
fered the latter 100000, $780, 900 to
be paid when Aguinaldo arrived at
Hong Kong and the balance when the
The arrangement was not acceptable to
the people; the promises were never
carried out; Spanish abuses began
afresh, in Manila alone more than 200
men being executed.
General Augustine came to Manila
as governor general at this juncture
and war broke out between Spain and
the United States. Augustine sought
to secure the support of the Filipinos
to defend Spain against America, prom
Using them autonomy but the Filipinos
did not trust them. Then came the
first of May and the destruction of the
Spanish fleet by Dewey with the result
ing loss of prestige to Spain. Then, 6
June, Aguinaldo came. On this point
the commission says:
Admiral Dewey furnishes memo
randum of his relations with Aguin-
aldo. He declares that "upon the ar
rival OF the squadron at Manila it was
found that there was no insurrection
TO speak of and it was accordingly de-
cded to allow Aguinaldo to come to
Cavite on the McCulloch. No
alliance of any kind was entered into
with Aguinaldo, nor was any promise
of independence made to him, then or
at any other time" He was allowed
to organize an army "for the purpose
of strengthening the United States
forces and weakening those of the enc
N.Y." On the arrival of the United
States troops 'for the first time
arose the idea of national indie
pendence. Aguinaldo isssed procla-
nation in which he took the RESPONSE
bility of promising it to his people on
behalf of the American government
although he admitted freely in private
conversation with members of his cab
met that neither Admiral Dewey nor
any other American had made him any
such promise
The report states that Aguinaldo
wished to attack the Americans when
they landed at Paranaque but was de-
tered by lack of arms and ammuni-
ton. From that point on there was a
growing friction between the Filipinos
and the American troops. "There
were no conferences" says the report,
"between the officers of the Filipinos
and our officers with view to operat-
ing against the Spanards, nor was
there cooperation Of any kind. There
never was any preconcerted or any
combined movement by the United
States and Filipinos against the Span
iards." Reference is made to Agui.
naldo's demand that he be allowed to
loot Manila and take the arms of the
Spaniards, with which it was his pur.
pose to attack the Americans.
AS to the war which began February
A, the commission says:
CATER the landing of our troops
Aguinaldo made up his mind that il
would be necessary to fight the Ameri.
cans and after the making of the treaty
of peace at Paris this determination
was strengthened. He did not openly
declare that he intended to fight the
Americans but he excited everybody
and especially the military men by
claiming independence, and it is doubt
full whether he had the power to checl
or control the army at the time hostili
ties broke out. Deplorable as war is
the one in which we ere now engaged
was unavoidable by us. We were at
tackled by bold, adventurous and en-
thusiastic army. No alternative wa
left US except ignominious retreat
II is not 10 be conceived Of that any dmeri
can wouM hare sanctioned the surrender o
Manila to the insurgents. O,U obligation
to 0ther nations, and to tie ffiendiy Fiji
pinOS, and to ourselves and our flag demand
ed that force ShOuid be met by force What
erer the future Of the philippines may b
there IS no course open TO as nO7O erteT
the prosecution Of the Uar until the inSur
gents are reduced 10 SuJmisSioN The com
mission is Of the opinion that there has bee,
no time since The destruction of the SPANS
squadron By admiral De,oey when il IRA
possible to 7Oithdrdw orr forces from N