The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-04-13
CANNOT GOVERN THEMSELVES
MANY NATIVES SAY FILIPINOs ARE
INCAPABLE OF 1T.

Questions Put TO All Glasses by the
PhiIIppine COMMUNICATIVE FIX
tortion From the Inhabitants Far
worse Than That of spain-Luna
Recalled 20 Command-Wheaton
Captured santa Maria-Lawton'
Men Securing Country.
Manila. April l2.-Gen. Wheaton started
a. daylight with the Tenth Pennsylvania
and the Second oregon Regiments and TWO
guns TO drive the rebels from the American
right flank between the railroad and the
foot hills.
ne met with slight resistance near Santa
Maria. ana had one man wounded. But
the enemy bolted when shelled by the ar
til.ery. ana burned aud abandoned the
town Of Santa Maria. where 1000 rebels
were supposed 10 have been concentrated.
During the rest of the day the enemy
was in fun retreat toward the mountains,
burning the villages behind the retreating
forces
Occasionai.y few OF the rebels dropped
70 The rear and fired At the advancing
American troops from the jungle, appar-
RTffE Win A.sl l4tA A4lat tll41 NoNAA NAANNAA
our advance aud cover the retreat of the
Fnipinos BUT finding these tactics inef-
fect,lal. these rebels scrambled after the
main body.
American Guard Increased.
The American guard along the railroad
has been materially strengthened. and it
Is not likely che rebels will succeed in get
ntIa
as they did yesterday, even If they re-
turn from the mountains.
Gen. Wheaton has telegraphed to Mai
Gen. Otis saying: They would not wait
20 be killed"
Gen. Lawton is securing the vicinity of
Santa Cruz. He finds the rebels have
decamped. He has secured a gunboat six
launches and two cascaos, comprising the
Filipino feet. These vessels were stuck
in the mud of the river. Maj Gen. OTIS
has sent a dredge TO the spot.
Philippines Are Incapable.
The United States Philippine commits
sion is hearing the leading residents -
various nationalities, priests and Span
iards, numbers Of them appearing voun-
tary. on the subject of the future Of the
islands The questions put to them al
are:
do you believe the FiHpinos are ca
pable of self-goyernment In the town
ships?
do you believe the Fnipnos are ca
pable of self-government in the prov
inces?
do you believe the Fflpinos are ca
pable of self-government in the archi-
pelago?"
All of those who have been Intercepted
including Fnpinos who sympathlze theo-
retically with independence, have replied
to the third question with remarkable
unanimity, in the negative.
Independence, they say, would result
in chaos, endless tribal wars and Euro
pean intervention. A few of them think
that provincial self-government is prac-
ticable but most of them favor self-gov-
eminent in the townships, with a form OF
American supervision protecting the in
habitants against the populations and ex-
tortions which their experience with the
Spanish regime has led them to consider
the natural perquisltes of officialdom.
Are Worse Than Spaniards.
The commercial classes urge the sending
of detachments of American troops, each
numbering about 100 men, TO take possess
ion of the towns in the southern provinces
and in the Visayas Islands. now held by
small bands of Tagalos They declare the
natives find the Tagalo oppression worse
than Spanish oppression. and that they will
welcome the Americans.
The case of the inhabitants of Gubat.
in the province of Sorsogon, is cited as a
typical instance. The Spanish taxes
amounted TO $4,000 but the rebel Taga-
los extort $112,0 from the people of GU
bat
Aguinaldo's brother-in-law. the provin-
cial governor. is said to be despoiling the
people numerically.
Gen. Luna, who retired from the COM
mand of the Filipino forces, and who is
editing a newspaper at San Francisco del
Monte, his retirement being due to the
fact that the Fiipinose rebelled at his rig
I'd discipline, has been recalled to the com
mand. This is taken as showing that the
rebel army is only kept together by harsh
measures.