Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-09-03
SITUATION IN PHILIPPINES
PEACE COMMISSIONS ANNOUNCE
MENT NOT FAVORABLY RECEIVED.
Peace Party in Luzon TerrOrized by
the Insurgents The COndi-
lions Elsewhere.

dispatch from Manila yesterday says:
The F'ilipinos seem incapable of realizing
the scope and purpose Of the legislative
functions of the commission of peace
There is no possibility Of separating the leg
islative from the executive branches or the
government and therefore the commissions
announcement of its assumption OF power
yesterday has met with childish comment
AT the hands of the SpaniardS and foreign
ers who jealousy sheer at the new ar
rangement, they are apt to do at every
beneficial innovation on the part OF the
United States authorities.
The commission enters upon the govern
mental field under the following conditions:
majority Of the islanders desire peace
and the resumption Of business under the
Americans. but they are so cowed by a long
series of murderous atrocities and destruc-
ton of property by their armed countrymen
that they dare not actively show their feel
ings. especially because experience has
taught them what such an expression or
sentiment will bring upon them from the
mercilessly revengeful rebels. A genuine
reign Of terror is exercised by insurgents
and ladrones over peaceful country folk in
order to collect the revenue and recruits
their operations require. and widespread
vengeance Is wreaked in the vicinity OF gar
risoned towns
For example the insurgent Gen. Cables,
in the province of Laguna, put to death
the presidente and office holders Of the town
Of Bay. on Laguna de Bay. of1cials VINO
had been installed by the Americans. and
gave orders that a similar fate Should be
melted out to other adherents OF the Amer
lean cause. He also ordered that all Fill
Pine soldiers who sold their rifles to the
Americans should be killed.
Any change of policy involving the with
drawal of the United States troops without
substituting for them an adequate defensive
force is certain to result in fearful retalia-
ton at the expense of the friendlies. The
approa ching patriation of the volunteers
tends to influence the situation unfavorably.
In northern Luzon the status quo Is fairly
well maintained. and the people In that
quarter are quiet and engaged in planting.
except in the provinces of Nueva Ecija and
Bulacan, where there has been recent out
burst of rebel and ladrone activity. But
in southern Luzon conditions are far from
satisfactory. Life there Is not safe outside
the garrisOned towns. Travellers are subject
to ambush by guerrillas. Rarely does day
pass without an encounter between the
United States troops and the insurgents or
ladrones. resulting In casualties. There
$1,000 troops in that district. Gen. Bates
commanding. and in three regiments over
third OF the men are sick The activity
Of the enemy increased last month. There
is evidence that the insurgents have come
into possession Of new rifles, and that they
wish to annihilate some small American
garrison.
Conditions In the Visayans continue v1r-
tually unchanged. The lack Of troops In
Samar prevents aggression Negroes. Rom
blon, Masbate. S.buyan. Tablas and Bohol
are tranquil. all desiring civil governments.
Mindanao is also tranquil. excepting the
districts Of Teagayan and Surigam, where
occasional encounters with the Filip.nes oe-
cur The enemy's fighting force there Is
limited, but 1t has a number Of rifles. The
surrenders. although they have noticeably
decreased since May, continue.
The experience OF northern Luzon shows
that the American occupation Of any To-
cality tends to its pacifcation and we'll
being. An unsettled American policy re-
tards the investment Of capital. Neverthe-