Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1900-08-10

them liberties which they had never be-
fore enjoyed. This scheme was adopted
and gave general satisfaction.
In every instance enthusiasm ran high
before the commissioners took their de-
parture, and cheers were raised for Gen.
Lawton and for the country which he
represented.
Secure Good Rcsults.
With a single exception the officials
! elected proved worthy Of the trust impos-
ed in them, and conditions very rapidly
improved In the newly organized towns.
| Governments were organized with more
| satisfactory results in Pandacan, Santa
Ana, San Felipe, Merl, San Pedro and
Machei, while slightly different system
was put into effect in Malabon, Polo,
Obando, Meycauya, Yang and Malolos.
The commission states that large
amount Of supervision over the affairs Of
our new municipalities proved necessary.
| as the officials were tinid and slow to
| comprehend their new duties. At many
of the elections the voters went about
"asking who they were expected to vote
for" and it was only with great diff
Guilty that they were persuaded to exer-
else the right Of free suffrage.
Schools for NJ anila.
The commissioners sum up the situa-
ton at the time of their departure as
| follows:
when we left Manila large volume
of business was being done, and the
| OF Or0uyinI RI hn hardly
safe. The native population was quiet
and orderly and all fear Of an uprising
had long since passed. An efficient corps
of native policemen was on duty. "A
system of public schools in which English
was taught had been advocated by the
commission and established by Gen. Otis.
Some 5000 scholars were in attendance.
I'm the Tagalo provinces of Luzon,
where the anti-American feeling had been
strongest, public sentiment had greatly
changed, as evidenced by the fact that
the military governor of Batangas had
offered to surrender his troops and his
province if we would only send small
force there. The Bicols, in southern Lu-
zon, had risen against their Tagalo mas
tiers. The Macabebes were clamoring for
an opportunity to fight in our ranks, and
native soldiers and scouts were already
serving under Gen. Lawton.
Rebellion Dying Out.
"Stories Of the corruption of insurgent
officers were becoming daily more COM
mon, and the disintegration of the enc
my's forces was steadily progressing. The
hope Of assistance from outside sources
seemed to be all that held them togeth-
err"
Having given so much attention to the
Island of Luzon, the commission then
takes up in detail the conditions in the
other islands. On this point it is stated
that the rebellion is essentially Tagalo,
and when 1t ends in Luzon it must end
throughout the archipelago. The situa.
ton elsewhere than in Luzon is summed
up as follows:
'The only island, apart from Luzon
where serious trouble threatens, is Pa
nay, to which considerable force of Ia
gallo soldiers was sent before the out
break of hostilities. Many Of the Visay
ans of this island are opposed to the Ia
galos, however, and it is not believed
that the latter can make formidable
resistance.
Oppose the Tagalos.
TN Samar, Leyte and Masbate the Ia
gallo. invaders are numerically few ant
are disliked by the natives Of these isl
ands, whom they have oppressed. W.
were assured that 200 men would suffic.
to restore order in Mindoro. Bobol wa!
asking for troops. The Calamianes isl
anders had sent word that they would
| 6',nro ha iefa M
in Palawan. Satisfactory relations hat
already been established with the war
like Moros, whose sultan had previously
been conciliated by member of the com
mission, and in Mindanao this tribe haG
even taken up our cause and attacked
the insurgents, of whom there are very
few in the island.
'In Cebu we have only to reckon with
the lawless element, which has never
been very formidable there"
Special attention is given to the ISLAND
Of Negroes, as this seemed field vel
adapted to the extension Of an American
system. Here the natives have adopted
a local form of government, including g
congress, and had raised the American
flag. They believed themselves capable
Of managing their own affairs and asked
for battalion Of troops to hold in check
a mountainous band Of fanatics. The
battalion was furnished, but the people
proved unable to carry out their program
owing to i'll feeling among their own Off
Gals. The Americans remained popular
Need American Rule.
At the request of Gen. Otis new and
simplifed scheme of government for the
island, giving the people large voice ir
their affairs, but placing an American in
full control, was put into operation. II
brought about satisfaction, and public or
der is better in the island to-day than al
any time during the last twenty years.
Summarizing the failure of the native
form Of government and the success OF
the American control, the commission
says:
1.-THE fat failure of this attempt to es
tablish an independent native government
in Negroes, conducted as it was under the
most favorable circumstances, makes il
apparent that here, as we'll as in the less
favored provinces, a large amount OF
American control is at present absolutely
essential to successful administration
OF public affairs"
| Efforts for Peace.
IL