The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-20

| written in choice telegraphese probably
came by mail, since otherwise it could
| have been given out nearly month ago.
Among the things which Mr.. Root, in tie
innocence of his heart. desired to know
was concerning the general condition of
| the islands as to peace and Industry.
| This particular demand for information
would seem TO carry a reflection upon
| the Judgment or veracity. or both. OF
Grandmother Otis. who about the same
time, assured Mr.. Mckinley and Mr..
Root that everything was lovely in the
| archipelago, because he had made it
So but no matter for that. The Com
missioners were also required to report
on business and revenue conditions pre-
vailing;" on the progress CT opp-r uni
ty for education" on the disposition of
the people toward the United States" on
the present extent of the instruction"
on how much of the archipelago is an
gull, and how much is still in a disturbed
state on the probable continuance of
guerrilla warfare. and influences cpcrat-
ing TO prolong it," on how it can best
be brought to a close" and on ''coadi
lions and requirements of civil govern
ment.
Magoon himself never had "a clearer or
der for an opinion to suit the exigencies
of the market than the Philippine Com
missioners received in the Root request
for enlightenment, and we must say that
they rose to the occasion with forty Ma
COON power. The answer. as readers of
The Times will see by its text, asserts
that hostility TO the United States was
originally aroused by absurd falsehoods
of INSCRIPTIONS leaders, The Commits
sioners do not say 50, but the principal
one among these absurd falsehoods'' was
to the effect that if American sovereign
ty should be established, the friars,
against whose alleged confiscation of
three-fourths of the arabic lands in Luz
ION the FiIipinos had rebelled for CEN
fury, would be maintained in their priv
ileges, immunities, and possessions, the
same as under the Spanish regime. The
Treaty of Paris has served to the untu-
tored Tagal mind to confirm that predic-
ton. At any rate, in practice so far, it
has been confirmed.
The Commissioners state that nearly all
prominent generals and politicians of the
instruction, except Aguinaldo. have been
captured and have taken the oath of allie
glance THE policyof leniency eliminating
in amnesty had marked effect TO induce
surrenders until defining of political is
sues in the United States, reported here
lin Manilal in full. gave hope to insur-
gent officers still in arms OF changed
policy and stayed surrenders to await the
result of elections
Whether this statement emanated from
the Philippine Commission. or is
War Department blue pencil interpola-
tion, We do not know. In either case it
is not true. Captain Allen. of the
Forty-third Indiana Voiunteers-a oandi-
date for Congress in the district now rep
resented by Hanna's friend Landis-
writing from the Island of Luzon late in
July. stated that although the amnesty
proclamation had been posted in his dis
trict for two months, no one had taken
advantage of it, and. although equal pub
licity had been given to the Government
offer to buy any old guns at thirty reals
apiece, not one had been turned in. On
the contrary, there was no safety any
where, and the country was in such a
state of revolt that the withdrawal of a
few regiments for service in China had
practically renewed the war. Long be-
fore any knowledge of alleged political
conditions in the United States had
reached the Philippines. General MacAr
thur warned the Administration that ne
could not answer for consequences if his
force of sixty-odd thousand men were
weakened. The Commissioners
point with pride to the fact that communi-
cations between Manila and Dagupan.
along the railway line, have not been at
tackled in several months. They omit,
however to state the reason for such
happy condition. which is that the whole
distance is dotted with block houses. and
entrenched camps within close touch CT
each other. and that the railway is prac-
ticalIy an extended line of battle. always /
maintained in fit state to meet an attack |
at any point at any moment. The con-
tention that political conditions or pros /
poets in this country have any relations /
to the Philippine status is arrant non
sense on the face of it,, The rebellion 1
has been as active on any day since the /
departure of Otis as 1T is now. 1t will |
continue to be so until the Tagals sec /
some prospect for the redress Of the I
grievances on account of which they re-
peatedly revolted against SPAIN and are |
now fighting the United States.
The Commission says that business in
terrupted by war i much improved, as /
peace extends'-a rather paradoxical |
statement as there is no evidence that |
peace extends" anywhere beyond life /
shot Of fortified post, and not that far, |
where the jungle has not been cleared |
away.
Where the report becomes interesting |
is at the point az which 1t leaves the gem
erai line Of Magoonic opinion to-order and |
offers a few undoubtedly invited remarks |
on opportunities for the Administration !
contractural and railway exploiting friends.
The Commissioners represent that high
and oppressive tariff has resulted in the
OF fund Of six million dol
lars (Mexican) at Manila, which ought TO
,e utilized in making harbor Improvements.
We have no reason to question the prob
ability that those Mexican dollars will be
Used in the wawsuggested; nor tLat the
contracts will go"where they viii do the
nost good 10 the intended benefciaries,
whose identity We have not the slightest