The sun., 1900-08-22

iMHl United States forces, command
SSo& ed by Admiral Dewey, on May
|. 1898.
In order to become informed upon |
the condition of affairs in the Philip |
pines, President Mckinley, on Jan. 90,
1899, appointed a commission com
posed of President ]. G. Schurman, OF
Cornell University; Professor Dean,
Worcester; Charles DENLY, late Min
ister to China; Admiral Dewey ana
General Otis. The commission handed
its report to President Mckinley NOV.
2. 1899, and the same was transmitted
to Congress by the President, Feb. :,
1900. 1t reads in part as follows:
THE undersigned commissioners APP
pointed by you to investigate affairs IN
the Philippine Islands and to report the
result of their Investigations. together
with such recommendations as might i'll
their Judgment he called for by the con
ditions which should be found to exist
in these islands. have the honor to sub
init the following preliminary statement
in compliance with yOur request.
The commission next tells briefly how
it conducted the task intruSted 10 IT.
hearing statements from all classes Of
people in Manila as TO the capabilities OF
the Filpinos 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-
ceded that Of 1896. AS to this move
ment the commissioners declare that it
was in no sense an attempt to win inde-
pendence, but solely to obtain relief from
intolerable abuses
To sustain this statement they quote
from an insurgent 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 oi
Spain. The abolition of the power Of
banishment was demanded. with lega
equality for all persons in law and equal
ity in pay between Spanish and native
civil servants.
Treaty with Spanish.
The commission declares that these de
mands had good ground that on pape
the Spanish system of government wn
tolerable, but in practice every SpaniSl
governor did what he saw fit, and tn
evil deeds of men in the government wer
hidden from Spain by strict press censor
ship. Allnsion is made to the powerful
Katipunan Society, patterned on the Ma
sonic order, and mainly made MP of Ia
galos. as a powerful revolutionary force
The war begun in 1896 was terminate
By the treaty of Bac-naBatc The Fill
pinos were numerous, but possessed oDl
about 800 small arms. The Spanish fe
that it would require 100000 men to cal
ture their stronghold, and concluded I
resort to the use of money. Certain col
cessions were also decided upon, inclu
ing representation of the Filipinos in I'll
Cortes, the deportation of the friar
which was the prin<ipal question; II
grant of the right of aN;ociation and Of
free press.
Promises Not Kept.
Governor General Rivera was willil
to pay $2,000,000 in Mexican mont
when Aguinaldo and his cabinet and lea
ing officers arrived in Hong Kong. 1t n
pears, however, that Paterno offered t
latter only 100000, 100000 to be pa
when Aguinado arrived at Hong Koi
and the balance when the F'ilipinos hi
delivered up their arms. The arranG
ment was not acceptable to the people
The promises were never carried ol
MI gh nh
alone more than 200 men being eXecl
ed. Hence sporadic risings occurrt
though they possessed nothing like t
strength of the original movement 7
insurgents lacked arms, ammunition a
leaders.
The treaty had ended the war, whit
with the exception of an unimporta
outbreak in Cebu, had been confined
I.uzon, Spains sovereignty in the otl
islands never having been questioned, a
the thought of independence never hi
! ing been entertained.
Dewey and AruinaIdo.
The report then tells now Gen. Aug
tino came to Manila as governor gene
at this juncture and war broke out
tween Spain and the United States. ]
gustiuo sought to secure the support
the Filipnos to defend Spain agai
America, promising them autonomy,
the Filipinos did not trust him.
Then came the LIST of May and the
struction Of the Spanish feet by Dew
@ with the resulting loss of prestige
Spain. Then in June Agninaldo cal
On this point the commission says:
The following memorandum on