The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1899-11-10

the preliminary report which i had
promised 10 prepare.
The report appears 10 be compact
summary of conditions ON the islands,
as tbc commissioners left them; of he
historical events which preceded the
Spanish war and led 10 the original
Filipino insurrection; Of the exchange
between Admiral Dewey and other
American commando and The insu F.
gents; the breaking out end progress
OF the present insurrection, and final
~ statement of the capacity Of The
Fihpinos for government 4
notable feature OF the report is q mem-
oraudum 10y Admiral Dewey eNplana-
tory OF his relations with Aguinaldo.
The Con,missIon'> Findings.
Among the points emphasized in the
report are the following:
That Admiral Dewey mad" no prom
Uses to Agunaldo.
That Agunaldo forced the war upon
the United States leaving the admins
tration no alternative except ignomini-
Gus retreat.
That there was no time after Dew
ey's victory over the Spaniards when il
was possible ito Withdraw our forces
either with honor TO ourselves or with
safety 10 the inhabitants"
That the instruction is confined 10
siN provinces OF Luzon. with popula-
iiou Of only l.500.00O.
That the Filipinos are not capable
OF self-goyernment.
That il American authority should
be withdrawn the islands would lapse
into a state Of anarchy
That Aguinaldo's purpose is not TO
give his people independence. but the
continuance OF his own arbitrary and
despotic power.
The report begins with the following
statement:
he undersigned commissioners APP
pointed 10y YOU 20 investigate affairs
in the Philippine islands. and 10 report
the result OF their Investigations. tn-
getner with such recommendations as
might in their Judgment be called fol
by the conditions which should Dc
found 10 exist in these islands, have
the honor TO submit the following pre-
Iiminary statement in compliance with
your request"
The commiite next tells briefly how
II conducted the task entrusted to k.
hearing statements from an classes IF
people in Manila. as 10 the capacity of
the Filipinos for self-goyernment the
habits and customs Of the people. and
also the establishment of municipal
governments in many towns All this
matter is to be included ia the final re-
port.
The Rebellion OF 1900.
Turning TO tho history ~ the islands
the commission attaches little importance
a. the divers rcbelliuns which had prece3-
ed that ~ 1895 AS IL this movement
they declare that IL was al mo- sense an at-
tempt tn win independence but solely a.
obtain relief from intolerable abuses Tn
sustain this statement they quote from
an insurgent proclamation. showing that
what was demanded was the eNpuls ION
or the friars ana the restitution To :hc
people 81 their lands, with a division. ~
the episcopal sees between Spanish and
gative priests. II was also demanded that
the Filipinos have parliamentary repre-
scutatinn. freedom OF the press. religious
1ol' ration economic autonomy ana law
similar to those ~ spain The abolition
OF the power 81 Punishment was demand
ed. with legal equality for all persons
81 law and equality in pay between Span
ISL and native servants
The commission declares that these de-
mands had good ground. that on paper
the Spanish system ~ government was
tolcrahe but IN practice every spanish
governor did what he saw ht. and the
evil deeds % men IN the government were
hidden from Spain by strict censorship
Allnsiun Is made % the powerful hati-
punnn society. patterned on the Masonic
order and mainly made up 81 TagolDs
az powerful revolutionary force
No Thought of Inderr ndencc.
I rrt.. ..4ar t.~,.,, IN fs4g .t.s.7
by tho treaty 81 Eiac-Na-Bate. The Fill
pinos were numerous. but possessed Only
about geo small arms m spanish iei
turc their stronghold. and concluded 20
resort 20 the use Of money. Certain con
ceSgicns were also decided upon. includ-
inc ~eprcs.ntation 81 the Fllipinos in N
csrtes the deportation Of the friars.
which was the principal questions tli~
grant 81 the right OF association. and a
GOV cen. Rivera was willing 20 pay
saoCcC 0 Mexican when Aguinaldo and htS
cabinet and leading officers arrived ~
Hong Kong II appears. IA wcNer. that fh-
fernn only offered the latter SiuhWn. S3M.
OOl 90 DC paid when Aguiualdo arrived -
14,nw Kong and the balance when the
IiIipinos had delivered up their arms .'he
nrrangement was not acceptable 70 the
mo promises were never carried out
Spanish abuses began afresh. In Manila
alone more than Lol being EXECUTES
Hence sporadic risings occurred thtugN
they possessed nothing like the strength
az The original movement The insurgent
lacked arms ammunition and leader
The treaty had ended ;hn war. wbirh
with the exception of an unimportant out.
hreal. m Cebu had been confined 20 Ia
zon Spain's sovereignty IN the other AZ
lands never having been questioned. aat
the thought 90 Independence never haN
Ing been entertained
The report tells how Gen. Augusta
came to Manila rs governor general "a
this tWStturt, .ul war broke put between
Spain and the nited States Augn-iif
sought to secure the support ~ The FIJI
pinOr 10 defend Spain against Amer 4
promising them autonomy, but the liN
pinon did not truss him
Dewey and tauinaido.
Thee came the nrst Of May and tho DC
structiun 10 the Spanish fleet by Dewey
with the resulting loss 90 persiirs q
Spin Then. in June. Aguinaldo came
ON this point the commission says.
-Ihe following memorandum w thi
sub ieCt has been furnished the comrnis
sion hy Admiral Dewey
fNcmorandum ~ Relations with Agui
m idn ON April "a isss. the following 50
phts dispatch was received AZ Hong kpnl
from Mr.. II Spencer Pratt. United state
consul gcneral at Singapors. Aguinala'
inrfrrent leader. here Will come Hons
hone Arrange With conni'sioners 70