Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-10
ISSUES PRESENTED
CONTINUED from Ninth Page.)

CONTINUED from Ninth Page.)
In Negroes Cebu, Romion. Masbate, Sib-
uyan. Tablas. Bothol and other Philippine
islands little disturbance exists and civil
government eagerly awaited. = -Four
years of war and 3awlessness in parts OF
islands have created unsettled conditions.
Native constabulary and militia,
which should be organized at once VIII end
this and the terrorism to which defenseless
people are subjected The natives desire to
enlist in these organizations. II judicious-
~ selected and differed. will be efficient
forces for maintenance OF order, and will
permit early material reduction of United
States troops. =
Turning islands over to coterie of Taga-
log politicians will blight fair prospects of
enormous Improvement. drive out capital:
make life and property secular and reli-
giuus most insecure. Danish by fear of
cruel prescription considerable body of con-
sentative Filipinos who have aided Ameri
cans in well-founded belief that their peo-
pie are not now fit for government, and
reintroduce same oppression and corruption
which existed IN all provinces under Ma
loios insurgent government during the eight
months of its control The result will be
fractional strife between jealous leaders.
chaos and anarchy, and will require and
justify active Intervention of our govern
ment or some other. Business in
terrupted by war. much improved as peace
extends. In Negroes more sugar in
cultivation than ever before New fores-
try regulations give impetus to timber
trade and reduce high price of lumber.
THE customs collections for last quarter
30 per cent greater than ever in Spanish
history, and August collections show fur
Their increase. The total revenue for same
period one-third greater than in any quar-
ter under Spain, though cedula tax, chief
source of Spanish revenue, practically
abolished Economy and efficiency of mill
tary government have created surplus fund
Of six million dollars, which should be ex-
pended in much-needed public works, no.
tably Improvement of Manila harbor
With proper tariff and facilities Manila
will become great port of orient
To Improve Conditions.
1.-The commission is confident that by jul
dicous customs law reasonable land tax and
proper corporation franchise tax, imposi-
ton of no greater rate than that in aver
age American states, will give less annoy
ance. and with peace will produce reve-
nues sufficient to pay expenses of efficient
government, including militia and constab
ulary" They ARE preparing q stringent
civil service law, giving equal opportunity
to Filpinos and Americans with prefer
eLce for former where qualifications arc
equal to enter at lowest rank and by pro-
motion reach head of department.
Forty-five miles of railroad extension un-
der negotiation will give access to large
province rich in valuable minerals. mile
high, with strictly temperate climate.
Railroad construction will give en-
ployment to many and communication will
furnish market to vast stretches of rich
agricultural lands
They report that there are "calls from all
parts Of the islands for public schools,
school supplies and English teachers, great
er than the commission can provide until
comprehensive school system Is organized.
Night schos for teaching English to adults
are being Established in response to popu
lor Not
tude in learning English. Spanish is spok-
en- by a small fraction of people. and In a
few years the medium of communication in
the courts, public offices and between diff
ferent tribes will be English. Creation of
central government within eighteen months,
under which substantially all rights de-
scribed in the bill of rights in the federal
Constitution are to be secured to the peo-
pie of the Philippines. will bring to them
contentment, prosperity, education and po-
ltical enlightenment
This shows to my countrymen what
has been and Is being done to bring the
benefits of liberty and good government to
these wards of the nation. Every effort has
been directed to their peace and prosperity,
their advancement and well-being, not for
our ACKNOWLEDGMENT nor for pride OF might;
not for trade of commerce, not for exploita-
ton but for humanity and civilization, and
for the protection of the vast majority
of the population, who welcome our soVer-
eighty, against the designing minority,
Manila by the Spanish army was to enter
the city that they might loot it and destroy
those not in sympathy with their selfish
and treacherOus designs
Denial of Alliance with FiIipinOs.
Nobody who will avail himself of the
facts will longer hold that there was any
alliance between our soldiers and the In
surgents, or that any promise OF independ-
ence was made to them. Long before their
cNlx
ed If the commander Of the American navy
would give them arms with winch 10
fight the Spanish army they WOULD
later turn upon us, which they dld
murderously and without the SHADOW OF
cause or justification. There may be those
without the means of full information who
believe that we were In alliance with the
insurgents and that we assured them that
they should have independence. 10 SUCH iet
me repeat the facts.
On the 28th Of May, 1898, Admiral Dewey
was instructed by me to make no alliance
with any party or faction In the Phlhp-
pines that would incur liability 10 MAINTAIN
their cause in future, and he replied, unoer
date Of June 6, 1895 Have acted accord
ing to spirit of departments instructions
from the beginning, and l have entered
into no alliance with the insurgents or with
any faction. This squadron can reduce the
defenses of Manila at any moment. but II
Is considered useless until the arrival OF
sufficient United States forces to retain
Philippine commission, submitted on NO
vember Q 1899, Admiral Dewey, one Of Its
members said: mo alliance of any kind
was entered into with Aguinaldo, nor was
any promise Of independence made to him
at any time"
Gen. Merritt arrived in the Philippines
on July %, 1885, and a dispatch from Ad-
miral Dewey to the government at wash
ington said: Merritt arrived yesterday.
Situation is most critical at Manila. The
Spanish may surrender at any moment.
Merritts most difficult problem will
be how to deal with the insurgents
under Aguinaldo who have become ag-
gressive and even threatening toward our
army" Here is revealed the spirit of the
insurgents as early as July, 1893. before
the protocol was signed, while we were
still engaged in active war with Spain.
Even then the insurgents were threatening
our army.
On August Is Manila was captured and
of this and subsequent events the Philip
pine commission says: when the city of
Manila was taken, August 10. the Filipinos
took no part in the attack, but came fol-
lowing in with view to lOoting the city,
and were only prevented from doing so by
our forces preventing them from entering.
Aguinaldo claimed that he had the right to
occupy the city. He demanded Of Gen.
Merritt the palace of Malacanan for him
self, and the cession of all the churches of
Manila, also that a part of the money
taken from the Spaniards as spoils of war