The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1899-12-14
THE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.
Acquisition of the Islands-The Fill.
pinO InsurrectiOn.

p1nO lnBurfect1On.
On the 10th of December, 1898. the treaty
of peace between the United States snd
Spain was signed. 1t provided. 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 s2),-
O00 000 and that the civil rights and pOiti-
cal status of the native inhabitants Of
the territories thus ceded to the United
States should be determined by the con-
gress. The treaty was ratified by the sem
ate on the 9Th of February, 1898, and by
the government of Spain on the 10Th CT
March following. The ratifications were
exchanged on the 18th of April, and the
treaty publicly proclaimed. On the I'd Of
March, the congress voted the sum con-
templated by the treaty, and the amount
was paid over to the Spanish government
on the 1st 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 undisputed pos
session of them for centuries They we're
accepted not merely by our authorized
commissioners In Paris, under the direction
of the executive, but by the constitutional
and well-considered action Of the repre-
sentatives of the people of the United
States In both houses Of congress.
had every reason to believe, and still
believe, that this transfer of sovereignty
was In accordance with the wishes and
the aspirations Of the great mass of the
Filipino people. From the earliest moment
no opportunity was lost Of assuring the
people Of the islands of our ardent desire
for their welfare and of the intention Of
this government to do everything possible
to advance their interests. In my order of
the 18th of May, 1898, the commander Of
the military expedition dispatched to the
Philippines was instructed to declare that
we came not to make war on the people
Of the country, nor upon any part or
faction among them, but to protect them
in their homes, In their employments and
in their personal and religious rights" :"
That there should be no doubt as 10 tho
paramount authority there, on the nth
Of August, it was directed that there
must be no joint occupation with the in
surgents"; that the United States must
preserve the peace and protect persons
and property within the territory cccu-
pied by their military and naval forces;
that the insurgents and all others must
recognize the military occupation and au-
thority of the United States. AS early as
December T. before the cession and in an
ticipation Of that event, the commander in
Manila was urged to restore peace and
tranquility, and to undertake the estab-
lishment Of a beneficient government,
for life and property.
On the 21st of December. after the treaty
was signed, the commander of the forces
CT occupation was instructed Ito announce
and proclaim, in the most public manner,
that we come, not as invaders and con-
querors. but as friends to protect the ma
tives In their homes, in their employments
and in their personal and religious
rights" The same day, while ordering
Hoporo1 Ofic IN coo that Dpqca ShOu1d he
preserved in lilo lilo, he was admonished
that: 'It Is most important that there
should be no conflict with the insurgents"
On the first day Of January, 1899. general
orders reiterated that the kindly inten-
tions Of this government should In every
possible way, be communicated to the
insurgents.
The Philippine Commission.
On the 21st Of January. announced my
intention of dispatching to Manila COM
mission composed Of three gentlemen Of
the highest character and distinction,
thoroughly acquainted with the Orient,
who, in association with Admiral Dewey
and Major-General Otis. were instructed
to facilitate the most humane and ef-
fective ends and to secure, with the least
possible delay, the benefits of a wise and
generous protection Of life and proeprty to
the inhabitants" These gentlemen were
DR.. Jacob Gould Schurman. president Of
Cornell university: the Hon. Charles Den
by, for many years minister to China,
and Professor Dean c. Worcester. Of the
university of Michigan. who had made
a most careful study Of life in the Phil
ippines.
While the treaty of peace was under
consideration in the senate, these comm.s-
s,oners set out on their mission Of good
will and liberation. Their character was
sufficient guaranty of the beneficient pur-
pose with which they went, even IL they
had not borne the positive instructions Of
this government which made their errand
pre-eminently one Of peace and friendship
But before their arrival in Manila, the
sinister ambition Of a few leaders Of the
Fflipinos had created a situation full of
embarrassments for US and most grievous
in its consequences to themselves.
The clear and impartial preliminary re-
port Of the commissioners. which trans
NIT herewith, gives so lucid and compre-
hensive history of the present insumec-
tionary movement that the story need
not be here repeated. 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 IL categorically denied by the very
witnesses who were called to prove II.
The most the insurgent leader hoped for
when he came back to Manila was the
liberation Of the islands from the Spanish