Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-05-06
His Envoys Recogniz e Our
Government.
TROUBLE NEARING CLOSE
Fllipinos Must Lay Down Their Arms
and Then Form of Government
Will be Decided Upon

Chicago, May GA special to the
Times-Herald from Washington says:
| Aguinaldo's representatives to the
American Philippines commission have
formally admitted the sovereignty of
the United States over the Philippine
archipelago. From a member OF the
cabinet it is learned that this admission
was made to President Schurlfl ann at a
conference held by him with Colonel
| Arguelles n Lieutenant Bernal several
days ago. 1t was in the nature of a re-
ply to a direct question u by Mr.
Schurrman and the character Of the an
| swer was no doubt as gratifying to the
commission as it is to the president. AS
a result of a dispatch sent by MIR. Schur-
| mann it is the confident expectation or
| the president that the end of the rebellion
| is close at hand. This result will not be
obtained. though, without concessions
which have been recommended by the
commission and which, by direction of the
president. will be granted. These con-
cessions contemplate giving to the Fill
ipinos a form of government modelled
after that of the United States.
The member of the cabinet who gave
the above information said that the COM
mission had unanimously adopted a
| recommendation which was submitted to
| the president in Mr.. S~churmanns dis
| patch, providing three departments for
the new government of the archipelago
first, the executive Department.; second,
the legislative department, and, third,
the judicial department. The executive
department., a recommended by the
commission, is to consist of a governor
general, who shall have absolute power
80 ~f Ia nf1 Ma
cabinet, Formed of leaders am ong the
Filipinos and Americans. The legislative
department will be organized as a result
of granting suffrage to Filipinos having
proper qualifications. The president Will
be empowered to appoint the member
Of the Judiciary, just as he will be en-
, powered to appoint the governor general.
What the cabinet officer regarded as
the best feature of the whole matter was
the acceptance of the commission
proposition by the Filipinos ENJOYS.
Furthermore, it was learned that before
the submission of this proposition to them
they had asserted that they did not rep
resent General Luna, but that they rep
resented Aguinaldo.
1t is believed that the presentation OF
the commissions proposition was in COM
pliance with the request of the Filipinos,
who desired to know What the glittering
promises made by the United States real
ly meant.
The first proposition made by them to
the commission was that already re-
ported-for the adoption of an armistice,
during which time the Filipinos proposed
to call together the congress and through
that body arrange for peace. The PROPOSE
ton was refused without consideration.
1t was then admitted. the cabinet officer
says. that the Filipino army was too
weak to stand against the American
force, which was greatly it's superior.
Aguinaldo, they declared, is not fighting
for the independence of the country so
much as he is fighting for the honor of
the army and the Filipino ENJOYS thought
it humiliating that they should be COM
PEELED to lay down their arms without
first understanding what the United
States proposed to do with them. IT the
United States persisted in overriding the
TTilipinos by force, Colonel Arguelles de-
clared that the latter would retreat to
the mountains and would continue for
years a guerilla warfare which would be
to the great injury OF the United States.
mann made a deep impression upon the
cabinet melting, and upon the conclusion
of the meeting it was stated that the
situation in Luzon, aside from its mill
tary features, IS most encouraging.
In the instructions given Mr.. Schur-
mann and his colleagues they have been
directed to act in a conciliatory manner
toward the Insurgents, and it is due to
the mastery way in which the commits
sion has conducted its work that the adj
ministration believes its success is due.
Mr. Schurmann did not indicate in his
dispatch whether Colonel Arguelles and
Lieutenant ernal had returned to Aguin-
aIdo's headquarters, but it is the UNDER
starding of the president that immedi-
ately after the instructions sent today
the commission will communicate with
out delay to the Filipino ENJOYS.
1t has been impressed Upon the COM
mission that before the Filipinps are
granted peace they must first lay down
their arms. When they have taken this
action and returned to their homes the
form Of government which has been rec
commended by the commission will be
placed in operation. The commission
Will no doubt make it plain to Colonel
Arguelles and Lieutenant Bernal that the
president cannot guarantee that the form
of government recommended by the COM
mission shall be continued, but the prom
Use will be made that a recommendation
of a government of this character will
be made to congress and everything pos
sible done to secure its adoption. This,
in the opinion of. administra ton officials,
should satisfy the Filipinos and bring
the peace~ which the administration. as
we'll as the Filipinos, are so anxious to
secure.
While the administration believes, from
President S~churTnann's cable, that the
end of the Filipino resurrection is near,
it is not thought To be tine to send any
Instructions to Major General Otis that
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