The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1899-12-15
Pensions of widows.
? THE PHILIPPINE ISLANDS.


President Reviews Their acquisition auo
Subsequent Difficulties.
On the 10th of December, 1898, the
treaty of peace between the United States
and Spain was signed. 1tprovided among
other things, that Spain should cede to
the United States the archipelago known
as the Philippine islands, that the United
States should pay to Spain the sum of
$50, 0OO,0 900, and that the civil rights and
population of the native Inhabitants of
the territories thus coded to the United
States should be determined by the con-
gress. The treaty was ratified by the SEN
ate on the 9th of February, 1899, and by
the government of Spain on the 10Th of
March following. The notifications were
exchanged on the 18th of April and the
treaty publicly proclaimed On the I'd of
March, the congress voted the sum con-
templated by the treaty, and the amount
was paid over to the Spanish government
ON the 1st of LAY. f-.- -r .~
Not Invaders OF Conquerors.
On the 21st of December after the treaty
was signed the commander Of the forces
of occupation was instructed ito an
nounce and proclaim in the most public
manner that we come not as invaders and
conquerors 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 Iloio he was admonished
that: at is most important that there
should be no conflict with the insur-
gents" On the 1st day of Jaduary, 1899,
urgent orders were reiterated that the
kindly instructions of this government
should in every possible way be COM
municated to the insurgents -.,s.5 .ss
On the 21st of January 1 announced my
intention of dispatching to Manila a COM
mission composed of three gentlemen of
the highest character and distinction,
thoroughly acquainted with the Orient,
who. in association with Admiral Dewey
and Major General Otis, were Instructed
to facilitate the most humane and effec-
tive extension of authority throughout
the islands and to secure with the least
possible delay, the benefits of a wise and
generous protection of life and property
to the inhabitants" .s" -..- .-". ~-.
aae Ambition Created q Situation 10. ga
The character of the gentlemen compos-
ing this commission was sufficient guar
anty of the benefcent purpose for which
they were sent, even if they had not borne
the positive instructions of this govern
ment which made their errand pre-
eminently one of peace and friendship,
But before their arrival at Manila the
sinister ambition of few leaders of the
PHILIPPINES had created a situation full Of
embarrassments for us and most grieVous
in its consequences to themselves The
clear and impartial preliminary report of
the commissioners which l transmit
herewith. gives SO lucid and comprehen-
sive history of the present insurrection-
ary movement that the story need not
be here repeated. 1t is enough to say
that the claim of the rebel leader that he
was promised independence by any officer
of the United States in return for his as
sistance, has no foundation in fact, and
is categorlcally denied by the very wit
nesses who were called to prove it. The
most the insurgent lea Ter hoped for when
he came back to Manila was the liber-
alton of the islands from the Spanish
control, which they had been laboring for
years without success to throw off.
The prompt accomplishment of this
work by the American army and navy
gave him other ideas and ambitions and
insidious suggestions from various quar-
tiers perverted the purposes and intentions
with which he had taken up arms. No