The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-11
Mckinley SAYS
He WILL ACCEPT
CONF esvd mo1I penuIluooJ

also my wish and expectation that the
Commissioners may be received in man
ner due to the honored and authorized
representatives of the American Repub-
lie duly commissioned on account or
their knowledge, skill and integrity as
bearers of the good will, the protection
and richest blessings of liberating
rather than conquering nation"
THE TREATY RATIFIED.
On the 9Th of February, 1899, the
treaty was ratified by the Senate of the
United States, and the Congress imme-
diately appropriated $4,000, 900 to carry
out its provisions. The ratifcations
were exchanged by the United States and
Spain on the 18th of April, 1899.
AS early as April, 1899, the Philippine
Commission of which DR.. Schurman was
president, endeavored to bring about
peace in the islands by repeated confer
ences with leading Tagalogs representing
the so-called insurgent government to
the end that some general plan of gov
eminent might be offered them which
they would accept. So great was the sat-
isfacton of the insurgent commissioners
with the form of government proposed
by the American Commission that the
latter submitted the proposed scheme to
me for approval, and my action thereon
is shown by the cable message following:
May 5, 1899.
"Schurman, Manila:
yours 4th received You are author
lied to propose that under the military
power of the President. pending action
of Congress, government of the Philip
pine Islands shall consist of a Governor
General appointed by the President; cab
met appointed by the Governor General;
general advisory council elected by the
people; the qualifications of electors to
be carefully considered and determined;
and the Governor General to have abso-
lutte veto. Judiciary strong and indepen-
dent; principal judges appointed by the
President. The cabinet and judges to
be chosen from natives or Americans, or
both, having regard to fitness. The
the President earnestly desires the cessa-
ton of bloodshed and that the people OF
the Philippine Islands at an early date
shall have the largest measure of local
government consistent with peace
and good order
WAR WAS UNAVOIDABLE.
In the latter part of May another group
of representatives came from the insur-
gent leader. The whole matter was fully
discussed with them and promise of ac-
ceptance seemed near at hand. They as
sured our commissioners they would re-
turn after consulting with their leader,
but they never did.
As a result of the views expressed by
the first Tagalo representative favorable
to the plan of the commission it appears
that he was, by military order of the in
surgent leader, stripped of his shoulder
straps, dismissed from the army and SEN
fenced to twelve years Imprisonment.
The views of the commission are bes6
set forth in their own words:
"Deplorable as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable by
us. We were attacked by a bold adven-
turous and enthusiastic army. No alter
native was left to us except ignominoua
retreat.
"It is not to be conceived of that any
American would have sanctioned the sur
render of Manila to the insurgents, Our
obligations TO other nations and to the
friendly Filipinos and to ourselves and our
flag demanded that force should be met
by force. Whatever the future of the
Philippines may be. there is no course
open to us now except the prosecution OF
to submission. The commission is of the
opinion 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 island
either with honor to ourselves or with
safety to the inhabitants"
After the most thorough study OF the
people of the archipelago the Commission
reported among other things:
Their lack of education and political
experience, combined with their racial
and linguistic diversities, disqualify them,
in spite of their mental gifts and domes-
tic virtues, to undertake the task of gov
erning the archipelago at the present time.
The most that can be expected Of them is
to cooperate with the Americans in the
administration of general affairs, from
Manila as a center, and to undertake, sub
iect to American control or guidance Gas
may be found necessary the administra-
tion of provincial and municipal af-
fairs.
Should our power by any fatality be