The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-09-03
F|L|P|NOS WANT PEACE.
MAJORITY OF THE ISLANDERS DE-
SIRE AMERICAN CONTROL.
Hut the Terror Inspired ny the Ken
ella and Ladrones Prevents Open
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS In the Way OF
the Taft Peace Commission.

Copyrighted 1900, by Associated Press.
MANILA. Sept 2--The Ftlipinos seem
Incapable OF realizing the scope and pur-
pose OF the legislative functions OF the
commission OF peace. There Is no posi-
bility OF separating the Legislative from
the executive branches OF the govern
ment and therefore the commissions an
nouncement Of its assumption Of power
Yesterday has met with childish COM
ments at the hands Of the Spaniards and
foreigners, who sneer at the new arrange
ment as they are apt TO DO at every
beneficial innovation on the/part Of the
United States authorities.
The commission enters upon the gov
ernmental field under the following con-
ditions:
Majority Want Peace.
A majority OF the islanders desire peace
and the resumption OF business under the
Americans, hut they are so cowed by
long series OF murderous atrocities and
destruction OF property by their armed
countrymen that they dare not actively
show their feelings. especially because
experience has taught them that such
an expression of sentiment will bring
upon them the mercilessly revengeful
rebels. A genuine reign OF terror IL ex-
peaceful country folk in order to collect
the revenue and recruits their operations
require, ana widespread vengeance Is
wreaked in the vicinity Of garrisoned
towns.
For example. the insurgent general.
Cables. In the province OF Laguna. put
to death the president and ofnce-holders
OF the town OF Bay. on I.aguna de Bay.
officials who had been installed by the
Americans. and gave orders that SINH
lar fate should be meted out to other adj
herents of the American cause. He also
ordered that all Filipino soldiers who sold
their rifles to the Americans should be
killed
Any change OF. policy involving the
withdrawal d the United States troops.
without substituting for them an ade-
quate defensive force. Is certain 10 result
IN fearful retaliation at tho expense Of
the ''friendlies." The approaching patri-
alton OF the volunteers tends to influence
the situation unfavorably
In North and south Luson.
In Northern Luxon the status quo II
fairly well maintained and the people In
that quarter are quiet and engaged in
planting. except in the provinces Of Nueva
ja~and Bulacan. where there has been
a recent outburst OF rebel and ladrone
activity.
| but IN southern LuLON ronultionE are
far more unsatisfactory. Life there Is
not safe outside the garrisoned towns
Travellers arc subject to ambush by guer-
rNias. Rarely does day pass without
an encounter between the United States
| troops and the insurgents or iadrones.
resulting In casualties. There are 1900
troops in that district. Gen. Bates COM
handing and In three regiments over a
| third Of tho men are sick. The activity
.f ha Inc I'D
Is evidence that the insurgents have come
into possession OF new rifles. and that
they wish to annihiIats some small
| American garrisons.
Conditions in the visayas continue vir-
tuaiIy unchanged. The lack Of troops IN
Samar prevents aggression. Negroes,
| Rombion. Masbate, Sibuyan. Tablas and
Bohoi are tranquil. all desiring civil gov
/ eminent. MindanRo is also tranquil, ex-
eepting the districts OF Tagayan and
surigaru. where occasional encounters
| with the Fflipinos occur. The enemy
fighting force there in limited, but IL has
number Of rifles. The surrendcrs, al
though they have noticeably decreased
since May, continue.
Improved Husiness Conditions.
The experience of Northern f.uxon
shows that the American occupation OF
any locality tends 20 It's racifcation and
Wri-prtHk An unsettled American pol
I Icy retards the Investment Of capltal
/ Nevertheless the imports for the last
| quarter and a half were greater than dur
ing any period Of the Spanish regime. No
doubt the needs Of the army Of ocrtIpa-
/ tion are responsible for "a very consider
\ able portion of this The internal rev
Z enue collections are third greater than
I those made by Spain.
THIS Il due 10 an honest system OF sc-
I counts 20 lack ~ favorstism and 10
/ impartial enforcement Of the law Tho
military officials will tarn over a. opo zln
I Mexican. 90 the commission. and this win
probably DO expended IN pphlle Improve
K insnts. notably In harbor deveiopmen.s
the need OF which is greatly harsbertny
l the shipping Industry.
I Tho commission viii arst organize rnu.
Inequalities In the provinces. notably In
FAmraags province. Subsequently, n viii
sNrn It's attention % needed reforms 4,
ne civil and criminal codes. naaslnx 81
ane time 10 other features ~ is iu.trne-
lions. With the idea 81 estabiishtns a es,.
rAl cisii governments during shs newt
I eighteen months
Twelve Americans fncsuatrs tuc can
tAins ard two isautenanfs, have hecr
Stled during the past twro eceks Th~
ofnesel reports 81 The encounters IN ~htrh
these casualties o9currei are raeAxrr
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