Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-08-16

naldo made up his mind that it would be
Necessary TO fight the Americans. aud
after the making of the treaty of peace
at Paris this determination was strength
ened. He did not openly declare that he
intended TO fight the Americans. but he
excited every body. and especially the mil
!tary men. by claiming Independence. and
1t - doubtful whether be had the power
TO check or control the army al the time
hostiiities broke out
No Alternative Left.
"Deporab bic as war is, the one in which
We are how engaged was unavoidable
by us. We We're attacked by a bold. add
ventnrous and enthusiastic army No
alternative was left to us. except igno-
mlnious retreat. 1t 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 Philip
pines may be, there is no course open 10
VS. iAoN EANNPl tilt prosecution OIL ltlS var
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 inha bitants"
Reign of Terror
The commissioners then take I'D the
condition of the country at the time of
their arrival, comparing it with conli-
lions existing when they left a 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. Incenliary fires
occurred daily. The streets were almost
deserted. Half of the native population
had fled and most Of the remainder We're
shut in their houses Business was at a
standStlll. lnsurgent troops everywhere
faced our lines, and the sound Of rifle fire
was frequently audible in our house. A
reign OF terror prevailed. Filipinos who
had favored Americans feared aSSassina-
ton. and few had the courage to come
out 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-
ance of the commissions proclamation
and tn" good effects it had ON public SEN
ument. The natives, accustomed to Span
lsh promises, urged upon the commission
that acts instead Of promises should be
given them. AS Il result native law courts
We're established and this greatly aided
III the restoration of public confidence
The flow Of population soon began TO set
toward the city. Natives who had fled
from their homes returned.
AS showing the limited scope of the
rebellion the commission states:
I'VE learned that the strong anti-Amey-
lean feeling was confined to the Tagalo
provinces, namely, Manila. Cavite, La
suna. Ratangas. Morons. Bulacan,
Nneva Ecija, Principe. lnfanta and Fam
bales. 1t was strongest in the first six
named, and hardly existed in the last
four.
Revolt Not Popular.
The population of these provinces is
estimated to be about 100000. but it
should not be supposed that even in the
six provinces Immediately adjacent to
Manila the people were united in their
opposition to us. Even here there was
Il strong conservative element, consisting
of people of wealth and intelligence, OBJ
posed to the war."
Under the head. The Rebellion not a
National Movement" the report treats
of the rebellion outside of the provinces
of Luzon, where, it is stated, the upris-
ing was viewed at first with Indifference
and later with fear Throuyhout the
archipelago at large there was trouhl.
only at those points to which armed Ia
yaios had been sent in considerable num-
bers.
Ask American Help.
The machinery of insur,ent GOVERN
ment' served only for plunderins the
people under the pretext of levying war
contributions, while many of the insur-
gent officials We're rapidly accommodating
wealth. 1t is stated that the insurgent
throughout the interior
was worse than in the days of Spanish
misrule. In many provinces there was
absolute anarchy. and from all sides came
petitions for protection and help.
In speaking Of Gen. MarArthur's
movement northward the report tells of
the insurgent method Of intimidatinc the
natives by telling them fearful tales con-
corning the American soldiers. This
method Of procedure. eminently success
full at first, in the end recoiled on it's au-
thors. ....
Troops Bring Peace.
AS to the state of affairs when the
commission left the report says:
Before the commission left rho philin-
pines nearly all the inha bitants had re-
turned to those ruined villages. Many
of the houses had been rebuilt. Fields
that had lain fallow for three years were
green with growing crops Municipal
governments were established, and the
people, protected by our troops, were en-
joyins peace, security and degree of
in their own government
unknown in the history of the
Philippines. Attempts Of the insurgents
to raise recruits and money in the PROV
incc of Bulacan We're proving abortive.
except when backed by bayonets and bull
let's, and even in such cases the natives
We're applying to us for help to resist
them"
The chapter devoted to Establishment
Of Municipal Governments gives in de-