Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1899-12-08

tranquility. and to undertake tne an,
ushment Of a beneficient government.
which ahould afford the fullest secu1"'
for life and property. .
I'm the Plat of December, after the treaty
was signed the commander OF ING .s
OF occupation was instructed 10 ahnou.e
and proclaim. In the most pubic Hann.'
that we come. not as invaders an ~
Ouerors but as friends to protect the no
tiyes In their homes. In their empioyaen
and in their personal and religious
rights" The same day, while orue.ins
General Otis to see that peace shouio Us
preserved in lilo lilo, he was aomons"
that: TT Is most important that tnei.
should be no conflict with the insurgents.
On the first day Of January, 1877. seneia
orders reiterated that the kindly inten-
lions or this government should In every
possible way, be communicated 10 ."e
insurgents.
The Philippine Communication.
On the 21st OF January, I announced my
intention of dispatching to Manila COM
mission composed Of three gentlemen Oh
the highest character and distinctoi,'
thoroughly acquainted with the ORIENT
who. In association with Admiral dewey
and Major.General Otis, were instructor
to facilitate the most humane ana el
fectiye ends and to secure. with the least
posstbe delay the benefits of wise anu
generous protection of life and property 70
the inha hitants' These gentlemen were
DR.. Jacob Gould Schurman, president OF
Cornell university; the Hon. Charles IN
by, for many years minis er 10 CHINA,
and Professor Dean G. Worcester. OF tis
university of Michigan, who hah maui
q most careful study OF life In the Pnii-
ippines.
While the treaty of peace was under
consideration in tho senate these comm s.
sioners set out on their mission OF sood
will and liberation. Their character was
sufficient guaranty of the benefoieni pur-
pose with which they went. even Il they
had not borne the positive instructions OF
this government which made their errand
pre-elninently one of peace and friendship.
But before their arrival In Manila, the
sinister ambition of a few leaders or the
Filipinos had created situation fuil OF
embarrassments for us and most grleVpus
in It's consequences to themselves.
The clear and impartial preliminary re-
port of the commissioners, which trans
nit herewith. gives so lucid and compre-
hensive a history of the present insunrS C.
tionary movement that the story need
not be here repeated. 1t Is enough to say
that the claim of the rebel leader, tnat
he was promised independence by any
officer of the United States In return Tot
his assistance has no foundation in fact.
and Is categorically denied by the very
witnesses who were called to prove II.
The most the insurgent leader hoped Tor
when he came back to Manila was the
liberation of the islands from the Spanish
control, which they had been lahoring for
years. without success, to throw OF.
, Outbreak of the JnaurrectiOn.
The prompt accomplishment of this
work by the American army and navy
iv~.r t1,n 1nnu md oYV1h
insidious suggestions from various quar-
tiers perverted the purposes and intentions
with which he had taken uD arms NO
sooner had our army captured Manila than
the Filipino forces began to assume an
attitude Of suspicion and hostility. which
the utmost efforts of our officers and
troops were unable to disarm or modify
Their kindness and fnrbearance was taken
as a proof Of cowardice. The aggression
of the Filpinos continually increased. un-
til. finally inst before the time set for the
senate of the United States to vote upon
the treaty an attack, evidently prepared
In advance was made all along the
American lines. which resulted In terri
bly, destructive aud sanguinary repuse Of
the insurgents.
h Ten days later an order of the insurgent
government was issued to its adherents
who had remained In Manila, of which
General Otis justly observes that "for
4 DHTDdTouS intent IL Is u0euudIeO IN mod
1 ern times" 1t directs that at o'clock
/ on the night of the 14th of February, the
/ territorial militia shall come together in
] the streets Of San Pedro armed with
their bolos, with guns and ammunition
where convenient; that Filipino families
only shall be respected; that all other
] individuals of whatever race they may
be- shall be exterminated without any
compassion, after the determination Of
the army of occupation, and adds:
brothers. we must avenge ourselves on
the Americans and extermnate them
that we may take our revenge for the
infamies and treacheries which they hive
committed upon us. Have no compassion
upon them; attack with yigor."
A copy of this fell. by good fortune.
into the hands of our officers. and they
were able to take measures to control the
rising. which was actually attempted on
the night of February o. week later
than was originally contemplated. con-
siderable number of armed insurgents en-
tered the city by waterways and swamps.
and. In concert with confaderates inside
attempted to destroy Manila by fire. Thev
were kept in check during the night, and
the next day driven out of the city, with
heavy loss.
What the Commission Found.
This was the unhappy condition of at
on their arrival in Manila. They had
come with the hope and intention of CO.
] operation with Admiral Dewey and Ma.
jor-General Otis In establishing peace and
order In the archipelago, and the largest
measure of self-government compat ible
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 bold. adven-
turous and enthusiastic army. No alter
native was left US. except ignominious
retreat It Is not to be conceived of thai
any American would have sanctioned the
surrender of Manila to the Insurgents.
Our obligations to other nations and 10
the friendly Filipinos and to ourselves and
our nag demanded that force should be
met with force. Whatever the future Of
the philippines may be, there Is no course
open TO us now except the prosecution of
/ the war until the insurgents are reduced
10 submission. The commission Is of the
opinion that there has been no time since
the destruction of the Spanish squadron
Dy Admiral Dewey when II was nosv,h,a