Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1899-12-16

famies and treacheries which they
have committed upon us. Have no
compassion upon them; attack with
vigor." A copy of this fell, by good
fortune, Into the hands of our OFF,
GERS and they were able to take meas
ures to control the rising, which was
actually attempted on the night of
Febfuaty %, week later than was
originally contemplated. A consider
able number of armed insurgents en-
tered the city by waterways and
swamps and in concert with confed-
crates inside attempted TO destroy
Manila by fire. They were kept i'm
check during the night and the next
day driven out of the city with heavy
loss.
This was the unhappy condition Of
affairs which confronted our commits
sioners on their arrival in Manila.
They had come with the hope and in
tention of cooperating with Admiral
Dewey and Major General Otis in es-
tablishing peace and order in the arch
ipelago and the largest measure OF
self government compatible with the
true welfare of the people. What
they actually found can best be set
forth In their own words!
War Was Unatoidabie.
"Deplorable as war is, the otie In
which we are now engaged was uIi-
avoidable by us. We were attacked
by bold, adventurous and cnthusi-
astic army. No alternative was left to
us except ignominious retreat.
"It is not to be conceived OF that
any American would have sanctioned
the surrender of Manila to the insur-
gents. Our obligations to other ma
tions and to the friendly Filipinos and
to ourselves and our flag demanded
that force should be met by force.
Whatever the future of the Philippines
may be, there IL no course open to us
now except the prosecution OF the war
until the insurgents are reduced to
submission. The commission Is of the
opinion that there has been no time
since the destruction of the Spanish
squadron by Admiral Dewey when il
was possible to withdraw our forces
from the islands, either with honor TO
ourselves or with safety to the inhab-
itants."
The course thus clearly indicated
has been unfinchingly pursued. The
rebellion must be put down. Civil
government cannot be thoroughly es-
tabiished until order is restored. With
q devotion and gallantry worthy OF its
most brilliant history, the army, ably
and Loyalty assisted by the navy, has
carried on this unwelcome, but most
righteous, compaign with richly de-
served success. The noble self sacri-
fees with which Our soldiers and sail
ors whose terms of service had ex-
pired refused to avail themselves Of
their right to return home as long rs
they were needed at the front forms
one of the brightest pages iii our am
nails. Although their operations have
been somewhat interrupted and
checked by rainy season of unusual
violence and duration, they have
gained ground steadily in every direc-
ton, and now look forward confident
ly to speedy completion of their
task.
Presidents Duty Clear.
Until congress shall have made
known the formal expression of its
will / shall use the authority vested
In me by the constitution and the
statutes TO uphold the sovereignty OF
the United States in those distant
stands as in all other places where
cur flag rightfully floats. | shall put
at the disposal of the army and navy
nll the means which the liberality OF
coz gress and the people have provid-
ed to cause this unprovoked aud
wasteful insurrection to cease. If
any orders Of mine were required to
insure the merciful conduct Of mill
tary and naval operations, they would
not be lacking; but every step of the
progress of our troops has been
marked by n humanity which has sur
priscd even the misguided insurgents.
The truest kindness to them will be
swift and effective defeat of their
present leader. The hour of victory
will be the hour of clemency and re-
construction.
No effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by war
and by long years Of misgovernment.
We shall not wait for the end Of strife
to begin the beneticent work. we
shall continue, as we have begun, TO
open the schools and the churches, to
set the courts in operation, to foster
industry and trade and agriculture,
and in every way in our power to
make these people whom providence
has brought within our jurisdiction
feel that it is their liberty and not our
power, their welfare and not our gain,
we are seeking to enhance. Our flag
has never waved over any community
but in blessing. I believe the Fill
pinos will soon recognize the fact
that it has not lost its gift of beAedic-
ton in its worldwide journey to their
shores.
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