Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-08-16

5lSa 81 ANILA capitulated to the
ss Wi United States forces, command
ed by Admiral Dewey, on May
1898
SS in order to become Informed upon
condition Of affairs in the Philip
s mes, President Mckinley, on Jan. 20,
M i99, aappointed commission COM
n bsed Of President ]. G. Schurman, of
& prnell University; Professor Dean,
q Forester; Charles DENLY, late Min
}ter to China; Admiral Dewey and
eneral Otis. The commission handed
s ts report to President Mckinley Nov.
/ 1899, and the same was transmitted
b Congress by the President, Feb. 2,
1880. 1t reads in part as follows:
q '"rhe undersigned commissioners APP
pointed by you to investigate affairs in
he Philippine Islands and to report the
Result of their Investigations, together
SYyxith sfch recommendations as might in
isssher Judgment be called for by the con-
Editions which should be found to exist
sin these islands, have the honor to sub
unit the following preliminary statement
lin compliance with your request"
The commission next tells briefly how
lit conducted the task intrusted to it,
hearing statements from all classes of
people in Manila as to the capabilities of
the Filipinos for self-government, the
habits and customs Of the people, and
also the establishment of municipal gov
.ernments in many towns.
History of Islands.
Turning to the history Of the islands,
the commission attaches little Importance
to the divers rebellions which had pre-
coded that Of 1896. AS to this move
meDt hle commissioners declare that it
was mo sense an attempt to win indie
pcn'ience but solely to obtain relief from
intolerable abuses.
10 sustain this statement they quote
from an nsurgent proclamation. show
ing that what was demanded was the ex-
pulsion Of the friars and the restitution
to the people Of their lands, with a di-
vision Of the episcopal sees between
Spanish and native priests. 1t was also
demanded that the Filipinos have parlia-
mentary representation. freedom of the
press. religious liberation. economic au-
'tonomy, and laws similar to those of
Spain. The abolition Of the power Of
Punishment was demanded, with a legal
equality for all persons in law and equal
ity in pay between Spanish and native
civil servants
Treaty with Spanish.
Sssa'he commission declares that these de-
"asEsinds had good ground; that on paper
the Spanish system Of government was
tolerablc. but in practice every Spanish
governor did what he saw fit, and the
evil deeds OF men in the government were
hidden from Spain by strict press censor
ship. Allusion is made to the powerful
akatipunan Society. patterned on the Ma.
Psonic order, and mainly made up Of Ia
galos, as a powerful revolutionary force.
The war begun in 1896 was terminated
by the treaty Of Blac-na-Bate The Fill
pinos were numerous. but possessed only
about 500 small arms. The Spanish felt
that it would require 100000 men to cap
ture their stronghold, and concluded to
resort to the use of money. Certain con-
cessions were also decided upon, includ-
ing representation Of the Filipinos in the
NCortes, the deportation Of the friars,
which was the principal question: the
grant Of the right Of association and of a
free press.
Promises Not Kept.
Governor General Rivera was willing
to pay 100000 in Mexican money
when Aguinaldo and his cabinet and lead
ing officers arrived in Hong Kong. 1t ap-
pears. however, that Palermo offered the
latter only 100000, 100000 to be paid
when Asuinaldo arrived at Hong Kong
and the balance when the Filipinos had
delivered up their arms. The arrange
ment was not acceptable to the people.
The promises We're never carried out.
Spanish abuses began afresh, in Manila
alone more than 200 men being execut-
ed. Hence sporadic risings occurred
though they possessed nothing like the
strength Of the original movement The
insurgents lacked arms, ammunition and
leaders.
The treaty had ended the war. which.
with the exception Of an unimportant
outbreak in Cebu, had been confined to
Luzon. Spain's sovereignty in the other
islands never having been questioned, and
the thought Of independence never hay-
ing been entertained.
Dewey and Aguinaldo.
The report then tells how Gen. Angus
tino came to Manila as governor general
at this juncture and war broke out be-
tween Spain and the United States. Au-
gustino sought to secure the support Of
the Filipinos to defend Spain against
America, promising them autonomy, but
the Filipinos did not trust him.
Then came the LIST Of May and the de-
struction Of the Spanish fleet by Dewey.
with the resulting loss of prestige to
Spain. Then in June Aguinaldo came.
On this point the commission says:
1.-The following memorandum on this