The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-08-17

n
tM United States States forces n,e command MI and
l. 1898
In order to become informed upor
the condition of affairs in the Philip
pines, President Mckinley, on Jan. 20
1899, appointed a commission com
posed of President ]. G. Schurman, OF
Cornell University; Professor Dean
Worcester; Charles DENLY, late Min
lister to China; Admiral Dewey and
General Otis. The commission handed
its report to President Mckinley Nov
2. 1899, and the same was transmitted
to Congress by the President, Feb. 2
1900. 1t reads in part as follows:
''The undersigned commissioners ap
pointed by you to investigate affairs II
the Philippine Islands and to report the
result of their Investigations, together
with such recommendations as might il
their Judgment be called for by the con
ditions which should be found to exis
in these islands, have the honor to sub
nit the following preliminary statement
in compliance with your request"
Inc next ltllS hoN
it conducted the task intrusted to it
hearing statements from all classes OF
people in Manila as to the capabilities Of
the Filipinos for self-government the
habits and customs of the people, anC
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 i
was in no sense an attempt to win indie
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 di
vision of the episcopal sees between
Spanish and native priests. 1t was alst
demanded that the Filipinos have parlia
mentary representation, freedom of the
press, religious liberation, economic au
tonomy, and laws similar to those o.
Spain. The abolition of the power OF
Punishment 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 paper
the Spanish system of government wa!
tolerable, but in practice every Spanish
governor did what he saw fit, and the
evil deeds of men in the government wer,
hidden from Spain by strict press censor
ship. Allusion is made to the powerful
Katipunan Society, patterned on the Ma
sonic order, and mainly made up of Ia
galos, as powerful revolutionary force
The war begun in 1896 was terminated
by the treaty of Blac-na-Bate. The Fill
pinos were numerous, but possessed onl!
about 800 small arms. The Spanish fel
that it would require 100, 1000 men to cap
ture their stronghold, and concluded t,
resort to the use Of money. Certain con
cessions were also decided upon, includ
ing representation of the Filipinos in tn,
Cortes, the deportation of the friars
which was the principal question; thu
grant of the right of association and Of /;
free press.
Promises Not Kept.
Governor General Rivera was willin,
to pay 100000 in Mexican none.
when Aguinaldo and his cabinet and lead
ing officers arrived in Hong Kong. 1t ap
pears, however, that Palermo offered thu
latter only $500, 900, $20O,OO0 to be pal,
when Aguinaldo arrived at Hong Koni
and the balance when the Filipinos ha,
Ill. 11.-
ment was not acceptable to the people.
The promises were never carried out
Spanish abuses began afresh, in Manil,
alone more than 200 men being execut
ed. Hence sporadic risings occurred
though they possessed nothing like tn
strength of the original movement. TIL
insurgents lacked arms, ammunition an,
leaders.
The treaty had ended the war, which
with the exception Of an unimportan
outbreak in Cebu, had been confined t
Luzon, SPANS sovereignty in the othe
islands never having been questioned, an,
the thought Of independence never hav
ing been entertained.
Dewey and A1uinaldo.
The report then tells how Gen. Angus
tino came to Manila as governor genera
at this juncture and war broke out be
tween Spain and the United States. An
gustino sought to secure the support o
the Filipinos to defend Spain agains
America, promising them autonomy, blu
the Filipinos did not trust him.
Then came the LIST Of May and the de
struction Of the Spanish feet by Dewey
with the resulting loss of prestige t
Spain. Then In June Aguinaldo came
On this point the commission says: ,
'The following memorandum on thi