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

naldo made up his mind that It would be
necessary to fight the Americans, and
after the making Of the treaty Of peace
at Paris this determination was strength
ened. He did not openly declare that he
intended to fight the Americans, but he
excited rybody, and especially the mil
itary men, by claiming independence, and
1t is doubtful whether he had the power
to check or control the army at the time
hostilities broke out.
No Alternative Left.
"Deplorahle as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by a bold, ad-
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left to us, except igno-
minious retreat. 1t is not to be conceived
of that any American would have sane
toned the surrender Of Manila to the
insurgents. Our obligations to other ma
tons, to the friendly Filipinos and to
ourselves and our flag demanded that
force should be met by force.
"Whatever the future of the Philip
pines may be, there is no course open to
us now except the prosecution Of the war
until the insurgents are reduced to sub
mission. The commission is Of the opin-
ion that there has been no time since the
destruction of the Spanish squadron by
Admiral Dewey when it was possible to
withdraw our forces from the islands
either with honor to ourselves or with
safety to the inhabitants"
Reign of Terror.
The commissioners then take up the
condition Of the country at the time Of
their arrival, comparing it with condi-
tons existing when they left short time
ago. A vivid picture is given Of the an
archy existing among the inhabitants in
and about Manila during the early
spring.
1.-The situation in the city," says the
commission, was bad. Incendiary fires
occurred daily. The streets were almost
deserted. Half of the native population
had fed and most Of the remainder were
shut in their houses. Business was at a
standstil. Insurgent troops everywhere
faced our lines, and the sound Of rifle fire
was frequently audible in our house. A
reign Of terror prevailed. Filipinos who
| had favored Americans feared assassina-
ton, and few had the courage to come
out openly for us. Fortunately there
were among this number some Of the best
men Of the city"
Restoring Public Confidence.
The report then speaks of the issu-
ance Of the commissions proclamation
| and the good effects it had on public SEN
timent. The natives, accustomed to Span
ish promises, urged upon the commission
| that acts instead of promises should be
given them. AS result native law courts
were established and this greatly aided
| in the restoration Of public confidence.
The flow Of population soon began to set
toward the city. Natives who had fed
| from their homes returned.
AS showing the limited scope Of the
rebellion the commission states:
I'VE learned that the strong anti-Amer-
| lean feeling was confined to the Tagalo
provinces, namely, Manila, Cavite, La
guna, Batangas, Morong, Bulacan,
Nueva Ecija, Principe, !nfanta and Fam
bales. 1t was strongest in the first six
named, and hardly existed in the last
four.
Revolt Not Popular.
'The population OF these .pEoy:nccs II
estimated to be about l,5UO, 900, but il
should not be supposed that even in the
six provinces Immediately adjacent tc
Manila the people were united in their
4 opposition to US. Even here there was
a strong conservative element, consisting
| of people of wealth and intelligence, op.
posed to the war"
Under the head, "The Rebellion not a
National Movement" the report treats
of the rebellion outside of the provinces
of Luzon, where, it is stated, the upris-
ing was viewed at first with indifference
and later with fear. Throughout the
archipelago at large there was trouble
only at those points to which armed Ia.
galos had been sent in considerable mum
bers.
| Ask American Help.
The machinery Of insurgent govern.
ment' served only for plundering the
people under the pretext Of levying war
gent officials were rapidly accommodating
wealth." 1t is stated that the insurgent
administration throughout the interior
was worse than in the days Of Spanish
misrule. In many provinces there was
absolute anarchy, and from all sides came
petitions for protection and help.
In speaking Of Gen. Macarthur &
movement northward the report tells of
the insurgent method Of intimidating the
natives by telling them fearful tales con-
corning the American soldiers. This
method of procedure, eminently success.
full at first, in the end recoiled on it's au.
thors.
Troops Bring Peace.
As to the state of affairs when the
commission left the report says:
Before the commission left the Philip.
pines nearly all the inhabitants had re-
turned to those ruined villages. Many
of the houses had been rebuilt. Fields
that had lain fallow for three years were
green with growing crops. Municipal
governments were established, and the
people, protected by our troops, were en-
joying peace, security and degree OF
participation in their own government
previously unknown in the history OF the
Philippines. Attempts Of the insurgents
to raise recruits and money in the prov
ince Of Bulacan were proving abortivc,
except when backed by bayonets and bull
! lets, and even in such cases the natives