The sun., 1900-08-22

necessary to fight the Americans, and
after the making of the treaty Of peace
at Paris this determination WAS strength
ened He did not openly declare that he
to fight the Americans, but he
excited everybody, and especially the mil
itary men. by claiming independence. and
il is doubtful whether he had the power
to check or control the army at the time
hostilities broke out.
No Alternative Left.
"Deplorable as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by bold, ad-
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left to us, except igno-
minious retreat. II is not to be conceived
of that any American would have sane
toned the surrender of Manila TO the
insurgents. Our obligations TO other ma
tons, to the friendly Filipinos and TO
ourselves and our flag demanded that
force should be met by force.
whatever the future of the l'hlip-
pines may be, there is no course open TO
lis now except the prosecution of the war
until the insurgents are reduced to sub
mission. The commission is OF the Opin-
ion that there has been no time since the
destruction of the Spanish squadron by
Admiral Dewey when it was possible TO
withdraw our forces from the islands
either with honor to ourselves or with
safety to the inhabitants"
Reign of Terror.
The commissioners then take up the
condition of the country at the time Of
their arrival, comparing it with condi-
tions existing when they left short time
ago. A vivid picture is given of the an
archy existing among the inhabitants in
and about Manila during the early
spring
The situation in the city" says the
commission, was bad. lncendary fires
occurred daily. The streets were almost
deserted. Half of the native population
had fled and most of the remainder were
shut in their houses. Business was at a
standstill. lnSurgent troops everywhere
faced or lines. and the sound of rifle fire
was frequently audible in our house. \
reign of terror prevailed. Fiiipinos who
had favored Americans feared assassina-
tion, and few had the courage TO come
ont openly for us. Fortunately there
were among this number some of the best
men of the city
Restoring Public Confidence.
| The report then speaks of the issu-
ancc of the commissions proclamation
and the good effects it had on public sen
| timent. The natives, accustomed to Span
| ish promises. urged upon the commission
| that acts instead of promises should be
| given them. As result native law courts
were established and this greatly aided
in the restoration of public confidence
! The flow of population soon began to SCI
toward the city. Natives who had fet
from their homes returned.
As showing the limited scope OF tho
rebellion the commission states:
we learned that the strong anti-Amer
lean feeling was confined TO the Tagal,
provinces. namely, Manila, Cavite, la
guna, Batangas, Morong, Bulacan
Nueva Ecija, Principe, Infanta and Zam
bales. 1t was strongest in the first 81!
named, and hardly existed in the las
four.
Revolt Not Popular.
"l'hc population OF these provinces i
estimated to bc about 100000. but
should not be supposed that even in tn
six provinces Immediately adjacent t
Manila the people were united in thci
opposition to us Even here there wa
strong conservative element. consistn
of people of wealth and intelligence, ol
posed to the war"
Under the head, The Rebellion not
National Movement" the report treat
of the rebellion outside of the province
of I.uzon. where, it is stated, the upri
ing was viewed at first with indifference
and later with fear Throughout tn
archipelago at large there was trouh
only at those points to which armed r;
galos had been sent in considerable nun
hers.
| Ask American Help.
The machinery of insurGent govern
ment' served only for plundering Il
people under the pretcxt of levying WI
= contributions, while many of The insil
I gent officials were rapidly accumulatir
= wealth." 1t is stated that the insurgc1
i administration throughout the intcri
was worse than in the days of Spani.
misrulc. In many provinces there WI
absolute anarchy, and from all sides can
Q petitions for protection and help.
u In speaking of Gen. Macarthur
= movement northward the report tells
l. the insurgcnt method of intimdating 4
Z natives by telling them fearful tales co
c ccrnng the American soldiers. III
method of procedure, emincntly succc.
!" ful at first, in the end rccoiled on its Il
4 thors.
!" Troops Bring Peace.
= As to the state of affairs when t
commission left the report says:
Before the commission left the Phil
y pines nearly all the inhabitants had
~ turned to those ruined villages. Ma
of the houses had been rebuilt. Fiel
: that had lain falow for three years W,
:" green with growing crops. Munich
~ governments We're established, and {
. people. protected by our troops, were
~ joying peace, security and degree
participation in their own governmt
previously unknown in the history of
NJ Philippines. Attempts of the insurge
he to raise recruits and money in the pr
ch incc of Bulacan were proving aborti
1T except when backed by bayoncts and h
hc lets, and even in such cases the natl
cll were applying to us for help TO re,
ny thcm.'
The chapter devoted to 'Establishm
nj of Municipal Governments" gives in
ass tail the efforts III that direction. Th
to were many difficulties encountered. !
he condition of the people was found to