The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-09-10

| con lrmation of ell their private rights and
| relations. 1t will be the duty OF the COM
| mander OF the forces OF occupation to an
| nounce and proclaim in the most public
manner that we come not as invaders or
conquerors. but as friends. TO protect the
natives in their homes. in their employ
! ments, and in their personal and religious
rights"
In order to facilitate the most humane,
! pacific, and effective extension of au. .hority
/ throughout these islands, and to secure,
with the least possible delay, the BENEFITS
[ Of q wise and generous protection Of life
and property to the inhabitants. l appoint
( ed in January, 1899, commission consist
/ ing Of the Hon. Jacob Gould Sehurman, OF
/ New York; Admiral George Dewey, U. S.
+, N the Hon. Charles Denby Of Indiana;
/ Prof Dean c. Worcester, of Michigan, and
Mai Gen. Elwell 5. Otis. U: 5. A
On the 9Th of February, 1899. the Treaty
was ratified by the Senate OF the United
States. and the Congress Immediately ap-
propriated S20.000 coo to carry out its pro-
visions. The ratifcations were exchanged
by the United States and Spain on the 11th
OF April, 1899.
Pence on the Presidents Terms.
As early as April, 1899, the Philippine
Commission, of which DR.. Schurman was
! president, endeavored to bring about peace
in the islands by repeated conferences with
! leading Tagalogs, representing the So
called insurgent government, to the end
that some general plan of government
| might be offered them which they would
accept So great was the satisfaction of
! the insurgent commissioners with the form
| of government proposed by the American
/ Commissioners that the latter submitted
the proposed scheme to me for approval,
and my action thereon is shown by the ca
bic message following:
'Schurman. Manila:
Yours 14th received. You are author
lied to propose that under the military
power of the President pending action of
| Congress, government of the Philippine
Islands shall consist of a Goyernor-Gen-
eral appointed by the President; cabinet,
appointed by the Governor General; a gem
eral advisory council elected by the peU-
pie; the qualifications OF electors to be
carefully considered and determined, and
the Governor General to have absolute
Veto Judiciary strong and independent.
principal judges appointed by the Presi-
( dent. The cabinet and judges to be chosen
from natives or Americans. or both. hav-
ing regard to fitness. The President ear
nestly desires the cessation OF bloodshed,
and that the people of the Philippine ISL
ands at an carly date shall have the largest
measure OF local seh-government consist
ent with peace and good order.
Nay 3, 1S99.''
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.
The views of the commission are best
set forth in their own words:
Views of the Commission.
"DepIorable as war is, the one in
which we are now engaged was unayoid-
able by us. We were attacked by bold.
adventurous. 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 sanctioned the
surrender 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 prose-
culion of the war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission. The CON-
mission is of the opinion that there has
beer nc time since the destruction Of
the Spanish squadron by Admiral Dewey
When ii was possible to withdraw our
forces from the islands, either with
honor to ourselves, or with safety TO
the inhabitants
Satisfied that nothing further could be
accomplished in pursuance Of their mis-
sion until the rebellion was suppressed,
an6 desiring TO place before the Congress
the result of their observations, l re
quested the commission TO return to the
United States. Their most intelligent
and comprehensive report was submit
ted to Congress.
In March, 1900, believing that the in
surrection was practically ended and
earnestly desiring to promote the estab-
lishment OF a stable government in the
archipelago. ] appointed the following
civil commission: The Hon. William
H. Taft, OF Ohio; Prof Dean c. Worces-
Ter. of Michigan; the Hon. Luke l.
Wright. of Tennessee; the Hon. Henry
c. lde. of Vermont. and the Hon. Ber-
nard Moses. CT California.
Under their instructions The commits
sion, composed of representative Ameri-
cans, Of different sections OF the country
and from different political parties, whose
character and ability guaranteed the most
faithful, intelligent, ana patriotic service.
are now laboring to establish stable gov
ernment, under civil control, in which
the inhabitants shall participate, giving
them opportunity TO demonstrate how far
they are prepared for government.
This commission, under date of August
q. 1900. makes an interesting report from
which / quote the following extract:
FjIipinos Almost Crushed.
Hostility against Americans originally
aroused by absurd falsehoods of unscru-
pulous leaders. The distribution OF troops
in 300 posts has, by contact. largely dis
PEELED hostility, and steadily improved
temper of people. This improvement is
numbers of people long for peace, and
willing to accept government under the
United States. Insurgents not surrender
ing after defeat divided into small guer-
rilla bands under general officers or be-
come robbers Nearly all of the promi-
nent generals and politicians of the in
surrection, except Aguinaldo. have since
been captured CT have surrendered and
taken the oath OF allegiance. All
northern Luzon. except two provinces.
substantially free from insurgents. People
busy planting, and asking for municipal
organization Railway and telegraph lines
from Manila to Dagupan, 122 miles. not
molested for FIVE months. Taga-
logs alone active in leading guerrilla war
fare. In Negros, Cebu. Romblon. Mas
bate, Sibuyan, Tablas, Bohol, and other
Philippine islands little disturbance OK
lists, and civil government eagerly awaite ed.
Four years of war and lawles5-
ness in parts Of islands have created un-