The Indianapolis journal., 1899-01-19

to bring them under our control We may
give them offices of minor importance. both
military and civil, and try the experiment
for whatever number of years may be neces-
sary until they develop their capacity for
governing, and we can then be guided by
that.
Il saw Aguinaldo on Oct 27, three days
before leaving Manila. He said his people
were about equally divided, one-half favor.
ing absolute independence, the other halL
favorlng an American protectorate. ] SAID
TO him in reply to those favoring inde-
pendence: The fact is, it must be the Wish
of all OF you to develop the country. To do
this, roads must be built on scientific prin-
ciples, railroads must be constructed, sani-
tation will be necessary. You have no money
are so rich a prize that, apart from the
quarrels and schisms between the dinerent
tribes, foreigners are most likely TO take
from you portions of the possession2 from
time 10 time.
"Aguinaldo replied: The civilized world
would never permit such a thing to which
replied: How has it been in China, where
England, Russia, France and Germany are
striving at all times to take parts of the
country? He had no answer for this.
"A confidential friend of Aguinaldo Buen
Canine, joined the conference at this point,
and after talking a while with Aguinaldo
expressed very strongly his opinion that the
two could move their people to the accept
ance of a protectorate. Aguinaldo and Buen
Canine added expressions Of pleasure at
my visit, as they felt they had been neg
lected and given the cold shoulder by Amer
leans since the day after the fall of Manila,
when they were assured or our friendship.
My view is that after the signing of the
treaty in Paris communication should have
been established with them, and l have no
doubt that an understanding could have
been arrived at with no impairment of our
dignity and with no suggestion that we were
going to give up the islands, at least Tor
the present"
Asked his opinion of the appointment by
President Mckinley of the commission to
investigate conditions in the Philippines,
General Whittier replied: Il think 1t is
most excellent thing In a letter to the sec
retary Of state, written last September,
recommended that such a commission be
sent there to study and report on the con-
ditions political, social and material of all
the islands, and later, in my testimony be-
fore the peace commission in Paris, / made
a similar reason. L then suggested that
a bureau of science, with the ablest chief
and staff to be obtained, should at once be
established to comprehend the departments
of geology, zoology, botany and ethnoiogy
and also a land and forestry commission, or
department of land surveys and works
The prese.st commission seems to fulfill all
ilate to the British colonial system, and it
will be easy for it to determine which or
their many forms may be adVantageously
used. The British colonial empire has forty
distinct and Independent governments. or
these eleven have elective assemblies and re-
sponsible governments. The remaining
twenty-nine are divided into many classes.
"In any form of government under q
protectorate it would be of advantage prob
commissioner of native affairs. In this or
any event d governor general, alone or with
the commission, should have absolute
poWer''