Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1900-09-15

4 arehv which would excuse, If not nacessf-
I tate the Intervention Of other powers and
/ the eventual division Of the Islands among
/ them Only through American occupa-
i ton therefore, is the idea Of free self
/ governing and united Philippine common
4 wealth at all conceive bic"
/ Satisfied that nothing further could be
/ accomplished in pursuance OF their mis-
sion until the rebellion was suppressed.
! and desiring to place before the con-
/ gress the result Of their observations I
/ requested t,1e commission 70 return 70 the
! In March, 1900 believing that the in.
/ surrection was practically ended and
earnestly desiring 70 promote the estab-
lishmcnt II a. stable government IN the
/ archipelago I appointed the following
I civil commission. Hon. William II. Taft
( OF Ohio Dean G.. Worcester OF Michigan.
/ Hon Luke J. Wright OF tennessee. Hon.
/ Henry Q. Idc Of vermont ana Hon. Ber-
/ nard Moses Of California. My instruc-
/ tons 10 them contained the following.
! You tthe secretary Of war; VIII in
/ struct the commission to devote
| their attention in the first instance to the
/ establishment OF municipal governments
/ IN which me natives o. tne ISLANDS. ooth
/ ia the cities and in the rural COMMUNE
+ ties shall be afforded the opportunity to
/ manage their own local affairs TO the
/ fullest extent Of which they are capable
and subject to the least degree of super
/ vision and control which careful study
1 OF their capacities and observation OF the
workings of native control show to be
( consistent with the maintenance OF law,
/ order and loyalty. Whenever the
I commission is of the opinion that the
condition Of affairs In the island Is such
that the control and administration may
safely be transferred from military 70
civil control they will report that con-
clusion TO you (the secretary of war;,
with their recommendations as to the
form of central government 70 be es-
tablished for the purpose Of taking over
the control
The instructions conclude with the proc
| lamation issued by Cen. Macarthur on
June p. 1860 by order Of the president.
offering amnesty 10 the rebellious Fill
! pinos. The president continues:
Under their Instructions the commits
sion, composed of representative Ameri-
cans in different sections of the country
and from different political parties whose
character and ability guarantee the most
faithful intelligence and patriotic service,
are now laboring to establish stable gov
eminent under civil control. In which the
inhabitants shall partjc pate, giving them
opportunity to demonstrate how tar they
are prepared for self government.
The Commissioners Quoted.
This commission. under date of Aug. q.
1900 makes an interesting report from
which / quote the following extracts
Hostility against Americans originally
aroused by absurd faisehoods Of unscru-
pElous leaders. The distribution of troops
in three hundred posts has by contact
largely dispeiled hostility and steadily
/ improved the temper of the people, This
| Improvement Is furthered by abuses of
insurgents. Large numbers of people
long for peace and are willing to accept
government under the United States.
Insurgents not surrendering after defeat
divided into small guerrilla bands under
general officers or become. robbers. Near
| ~ all of the prominent generals and poll
ticans of the instruction except Agul-
naldO have since been captured or have
surrendered and taken the oath of al
legiance. All northern LuZon except
two provinces substantially free from in
surgcnts. People busy planting, and ask
ing Tor municipal organization. Railway
and telegraph line from Manila TO
10 for Af4rsA
months. Tagal0gs alone active
in leading guerrilla warfare. In Negros.
Cebu Rombon, Masbate, Sibuyan, Tab
las. Bohol and other Philippine islands
/ little disturbance exists and civil gov
| ernment eagerly awaited Four
years of war and lawlessness in parts of
Islands have created unsettled conditions.
Native constahulary and militia.
which should be organized at once, Will
end this and the terrorism to which de-
fenseless people are subjected. The ma
tiVes desire to enlist in these organiZa-
tons. If 1udcOusiy selected and offcered
will he efficient forces for maintenance of
order and viii permit early material re-
duction of United States troops
Turning islands over TO coterie of Tagalog
politicians Will blight fair prospects of
enormous Improvement, drive out capital,
make life and property secular and relig~
ious, most insecure; Danish by fear OF
cruel prescription considerable body of
conservative Filpinos who have aided
Americans in well founded belief that
| their people are now fit for self gov
eminent, and reintroduce same oppression
and corruption which existed in all prov
inces under Malolos insurgent govern
ment during the eight months of its con-
troll The result will be fractional strife
| between jealous leaders, chaos and an
archy.
The commission is confident that by
a judiciOus customs law. reaSona BILE land
tax and proper corporation franchise
tax, imposition of no greater rate than
that in average American state viii
produce revenues sufficient TO pay
expenses of efficient government, in
Guiding militia and constabulary.
They ARE preparing stringent
civil service law giving equal opportunity
to Fiipinos and Americans, with prefer
ence for former where dualifcati0ns are
equal. TO enter at lowest rank and by
promotion reach head OF department.
Forty-fVe miles of railroad extern
sion under negotiation Will give access
to a large province rich in valuable min
erals. mile high, with strictly temperate
climate. Railroad construction
will give employment to many and COM
| munication win furnish market to vast
stretches of high agricultural lands
The Demand For Education.
They report that there are calls from
all parts of the islands for public schools.
! school supplies and English teachers,
/ greater than the commission can provide
until comprehensive school system IS
/ organized. Night schools for teaching
/ English to adults are being established in
/ response to popular demand Native chill
dren show aptitude in learning English.
/ spanish IS spoken py a SuidI traction or
! people, and. in. few years the medium
! o. communication IN me courts. pubic
Offices and between different tribes will
! be English
This shows to my countrymen what has
/ been and is being done to bring the bena-
+ fits of liberty and good government TO
/ these wards of the nation Every effort
I has been directed to their peace and pros
( perity. their advancement and well being,
I not for our ACKNOWLEDGMENT. nor for
/ pride of might, not for trade or COM
I mainly and civilization, and for the pro-
! lection OF the vast majority of the pOpu-
+ lation who welcome our soVcreiguty
/ against the designing minority whose
[ first demand after the surrender Of
/ Manila by the Spanish army was 20
/ enter the city that they might loot it and
/ destroy those not in sympathy with their
( selfish and treacherous designs.
Nobody who Will avail himself of the
facts viii longer hold that there was any
/ alliance between our soldiers and tile IN
/ Surgents or that any promise OF indie
pendence WAS made 10 them, Long before
{ their leader had reached Manila they had