The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-12-06

system of managing the forests OF the
country Is being put in operation and
n careful study of the whole forestry
problem is being conducted throughout
the United states. very extensive
and complete exhibit Of the agrlcul-
tural and horticultural products of the
United States Is being prepared for the
Paris exposition.
The Philippine Question.
on the 10th Of December, 1898, the
treaty of peace between the United
States and Spain was signed. 1t pro-
vided. 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 OPo
and that the civil rights and political
status of the native inhabitants of the
territories thus cedea 60 the Unit I'd
States should be determined by con-
Rress. The treaty was ratified by the
senate on February 6 1899, and by
the government of Spain on March 10
following. The ratihcatiOEs were ex-
changed on the 1lth OF April and the
treaty publicly proclaimed. on the
second of March the congress voted
the sum contemplated by the treaty
and the amount was paid over to the
Spanish government on the first of
May
In this manner the Philippines came
to the United States. The islands were
ceded by the government of Spain,
which had been in undsputed pos
session of them for centuries. They
were accented not merely by our au-
thorized commissioners in Paris, under
the direction of the executive, but by
the constitutional and well-considered
action of the representatives OF the
people of the United states in both
houses of congress. | had every reason
to believe and l still believe that this
transfer of sovereignty was in accord
ance with the wishes and the aspira-
tion of the great mass of the Filioino
people.
From the earliest moment no oppor-
tunity was lost of assuring the peoole
of the islands of our ardent desire for
their welfare and of the intention of
this government to do everything pos
sihle to advance their interests. In my
order of May 49, 1898. the commander
of the military expedition despatched
TO the Philippines was instructed to
declare that we came not to make war
upon the people of that coNltry nor
upon any party or faction among them,
but to protect them in their homes, in
their employments, and in their per-
sonal and religious rights" That there
should be no doubt as to the para
mount authority there on the 18th of
August it was directed that there
must be no joint occupation with the
must preserve nd protect persons and
property within. the territory occupied
by their military and naval forces;
that the insurgents and all others must
recognize the military occupation and
authority of the United States
AS early as December 4, before the
cession and in anticipation of that
event, the commander in Manila was
urged to restore peace and tranquility
and to undertake the establishment of
a eneficent government which should
afford the fullest security for life and
property.
On the 21st of December, after the
treaty was signed, the commander of
the forces of occupation was instructed
"to announce 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,
their employment and in their personal
religious rights" On the same day,
while ordering General Otis to see that
the peace be preserved in Ilo Ilo, he
was admonshed that 'it is most i'm
oortant that there should be no con-
ilict with the insurgents"
On the first day of January, 1899,
argent orders were reiterated that the
kindly intentions of this government
should be in every possible way COM
municated to the insurgents.
Manila Commission.
my intention of dispatching to Manila
a commission composed of three gem
tlemen of the highest character and
distinction, thoroughly acquainted
wi n the Orient. who, in association
with Admiral Dewey and Major Gen
eral Otis, were instructed "to facilitate
the most humane and effective extern
sion of authority throughout the islands
and to secure with the least possible
delay the benefits of a wise and gener-
GUS protection of life and property 70
the inhabitants"
These gentlemen were DIR. Jacob
Gould Schurman, president of Cornell
university; the Hon. Charles DENLY,
for many years minister to China, and
Professor Dean I. Worcester, of the
University of Michigan, who had made
a most careful study of life in me
Philippines. While the treaty of peace
was under consideration in the senate
these commissioners set out on their
mission of good will and liberation
Their character was sufficient guar
antee of the beneficent purpose with
which they went. even If they had not
borne the positive instructions of this
government which made their errand
pre-eminently one of peace and friend
ship.
But before their arrival at Manila
the sinister ambition of few leaders
of the Filipinos had created a situation
full of embarrassment for us and most
RrleVouS IN ltS consequences to them
selves The clear and impartial pre-
liminary report of the commissioners,
which 1 transmit herewith, gives such
lucid and comprehensive history of
the present insurrectionary movement
that the story need not be here re-
oeated. 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 assistance has no foundation
In fact, and is contradicted by the very
witnesses who were called TO prove It,
What the insurgent leader hoped for
when he came back to Manila was The
liberation of the islands from the
Spanish control. which they had been
laboring for years without success to
throw off.
The Insurgent Leader.
The prompt accomplishment of this
work by the American army and navy
gave him other ideas and ambitions,
and insidious suggestions from various
quarters perverted the purposes and in
tentions with which he had taken up
arms. No sooner had our army cap
tured Manila than the Filipino forces
began to assume an attitude of sus-
picion and hostility which the utmost
efforts of our officers and troops were
unable to dsarm or modify. Their
Kindness and forbearance were taken
as proof of cowardce. The aggres-
bions or the Filipinos continually in
creased until finally, just before the
lime set by the senate of the United
States for vote upon the treaty an
lttack, evidently prepared in advance