The Savannah morning news., 1900-07-15
shall by force or violence impose Its ideas

shall by force or violence impose Its ideas
upon any other.
Fourth Philippine funds shall be ap-
piled as follows: A. To maintain a hospital
for the wounded and sick Filipino soldiers
now in the field B. To succor the invalid
Filipino soldier; c., to create university
in Manila and four official institutes, one
in Manila, one in Vigan, one in Nueva
Caceres and one in Iloilo, all under the
protection of the United States govern
ment.
Fifth. Our political rights shall be ex-
ercised after the manner determined by
the American Congress.
Sixth. Any person holding funds be-
longing to the government of the Filipino
republic shall deliver the same to the
American government established in Ma
Mia, failing in which such person will be
prosecuted as a swindler.
Seventh. municipalities will be ruled
by the legal expression of the will of the
people, and each province may name a
representative delegate. These del
egates may make known their
desires to the American Civil
Commission, which in turn will
communicate them to the government at
Washington, and the latter will lay them
before Congress. These delegates shall
have the right to appeal directly to the
administration and to Congress; there to
make known their wants
Eighth. The friars shall be excluded
from the administration of the Philippine
Catholic Church.
For such a peace propaganda to be ac-
ceptable to the Filipino people and more
especially to the more stubborn element
thereof, il must hatter them and appeal
to their national vanity. They must be
cajoled into believing that they are in
Sisting upon terms and stipulations from
the United States government, that con-
cessions are. given them, that they are
still an important factor in the situation
and that their consent is needed to any
settlement. If such a peace programme
as the above appeals TO their vanity it
has a much better chance of being ac-
cepted by them than were it simple bus-
mess proposition devoid of all sentiment.
Hence Buencamino makes a show of ask
ing much from the American government
in exchange for the cessation of HOSTILE
ties and the recognition of American SOW
ereignty, while, as a matter of. fact he
does not ask for a single thing of any i'm
portance that the military administration
has not already accorded the Filipino peo-
Pile But, the mass of the people do rot
know this, because what the American
government has done for them has never
been concretely written out and placed be-
fore their eyes. Buncamino practically
recites what the United States has al
ready done for the Filipinos and then says:
I'VE will ask for all this in exchange for
peace" and the Filipino thinks those are
pretty good things to have and that they
constitute desirable and dignified terms of
capitulation. So ii is that the Buencamno
document is written for the Filipino people
and in that way which argues for its
quicket acceptance by them.
There are, however, one or two mis-
leading statements in Buencaminos COM
munication, notably that which says the
condition of the Filipino laborer has bet
tered with the increase of his earnings.
1t is true the laborer in Manila earns
more to-day than formerly. but the in
crease in wage is in no way commensur-
ate with the cost of living, so in reality he
is worse off than he was formerly.
Speaking to a representative of the As
ISOLATED Press, Buoncamino said:
There are three elements operating
against peace in the Philippines to-day.
One is the friars, who in the ultimate adj
justment of the present trouble between
the Filipinos and Americans foresee the
final loss of their position and prestige in
the country, as well as of their properties
and wealth. 1 believe they seek to pro-
long the struggle in the hope that
something may arise 90 secure their
standing in the country, and l believe
they are partly accountable for the re-
cent rumors of a native uprising in Ma
Mia. The second reason is the presence
in Manila of certain hot-headed Filipinos,
who persist in stirring up the people to
continued discomfort with the American
occupation These men may be called pro-
Al oil n ore /
think they should be sought out and sup
pressed The third is the stiff-necked at
titude of the past military government in
refusing 10 treat with the Filipinos except
on the ground of total and unconditional
surrender. They seem 10 have thought
che only possible way TO terminate our
MISUNDERSTANDING was by force of arms.
This l consider Il natural result of mill
tary training. Men schooled in the use
of arms naturally believe the only way
to settle a quarrel is to fight it out TO a
finish II this new commission comes
here with broader and more liberal views,
If thoy will approach the Filipino people.
or allow themselves to be approached by
us, with some little tact and some little
diplomacy; If they will give the men in
the field the chance to surrender as men
aud as soldiers, to surrender and still
be able to look their countrymen in the
eve. to still retain some honor (and II
would take such Insignificant concessions
on your part to make this posslble). / as
sure YOU that peace will be question
of few weeks only.
"Aguinaldo is sim the leader and the
idol of the Filipino people. If your Civil
Commission will give an official and le-
gal and binding assurance 90 him that
the individual and personal rights of the
Filipino people will be assured and pro-
tected, leaving the determination of their
political status entirely to your Congress.
neace will at once be effected. We rec
ognize your sovereignty throughout these
islands; you have forced us 10 do that.
What we now crave is your fairness and
your Justice. The Filipino question no
| longer calls for violence and bloodshed.
II is now a question Of Justice, of peo-
pies inherent rights and Of their right