The Atlanta constitution., 1900-09-03
PEACE PARTY lNTIMIDATED.
FILIPINOS TIRED OF THE WAR
FEAR THE WAR PARTY.
Islanders Opposed to American Rule
Kill Their Countrymen Who De-
sire Peaceful End.

Manila, September 2.-The Filipinos seem
incapable Of realizing the scope and pur-
pose of the legislative functions Of the
commission Of peace There IS no Dossi-
bilItv of separating the legislative from
the executive branches Of the government.
and therefore the commissions announce
ment of its assumption of power ycster-
cay has met with childish com,acnrs at
the hands of the Spaniards and foreigners
who jealousy sneer at the new arrange
ment as they are apt to DO at every bene-
fetal innovation on the part Of the United
States authorities.
The commission enters upon the govern
mentaI field under the following condi-
ticns:
A majority Of the islanders desire peace
and the resumption of business under the
Americans; but they are so cowed by
long series of murderOus atrCcltieS anu
obstruction of property Icy their armed
countrymvn that they dare not actNey
show their feelings. especially because eA-
perIcace has taught them what such an
expre5si0a OF sentiment will bring upon
them from the mercilessly revengefui
rebels \ genuine reign OF terror IS cN-
ercised by insurgents and LadroneS over
the revenue and recruits their operations
rtatlir.. and widespread veHgc ance Is
wrecked IN the vicinity of garrisontd
towns For example. the insursen; gen
eral. Cailles. IN the province OL LaSulIa''
put to death the president and once
holders oI The town OF Bay, on i@Suna
de say. officials who mad been Installed
bv tie Americans. and gave orders that a
similar fate should be meted out 10 oth-r
adhrrents of the American cause lie
also ordered that all Filipino soldiers who
sold their rifles to the Americans should
be killed.
Anv charge of policy involving the with
draUal Of the United States troops. wi IL
cut substituting for them an adequate
defensive force, is certain TO result IN
fearful retaliation at the expense OF th9
friendlies. The approaching eX-patrlauoh
cf the volunteers tends to influence the
situation unfavorably.
In northern I.uzon the status quo IS
fairly well maitained. and the people IN
that quarter are quiet and engaged IN
planting except In the provinces OF
Nueva Eciia and Buucan, where there mas
been q recent outburst of rebel aud Lad
rome activity. But in southern Luzon con
Gilions are far from satisfactory. Iiie
there is not safe outside the garrlsohed
towns. Travellers are subject to ambush
by guerrillas. Rarely does day pass
without an encounter between the United
States troops and the InsurSentS or
Ladr1nes, resulting n casualties lhefS
are 1890 troops in that district, Gehefdl
Bates commanding, and in three feSl-
mentS over third of the men are SICK
The activity vi the enemy increased last
month. There is evidence that tle III
surgents Gave come into possession oi n w
rifles. and that they wish to ahhiII'i~tG
some small American garrison.
Conditions in the NaSayans continue VIZ
tuaIly unchanged. The lack of troops IN
Samdr prevents aggression. Negros, Rom-
blon. Masbate, Sibuyan. Tablas and Bohol
are Tranquil, all desiring civil govern
ments. Mindanao IS also tranquil. *
Cepting the districts Of TeaSdyan ana
Surigam, where occasional encounters
with the Fi,ipinos occur. The enemy's
fighting force there is limited, but il mas
"A number of rifles
The surrenders. although they have no
ticeably decreased since May. continue.
The experience of northern LUzOn -hows
that the American occupation OF any 10
cality tends to its paciiieaion and "ell-
being. An unsettled American policy re
tardS the Investment Of capital Never
theless, the imports for the last quarter
and q half were greater than during any
period of the Spanish regime. No doubt
the needs of the army of occupation are
responsible for a very considerable frac-
tion nf the present commerce. The IL
ternal revenue collections are third
greater than those made by Spain. This
is due to an honest system of accounts. to
a lack of favoritism and to impartial en-
forcement OF the law. The military au-
thorities will turn over s6,000000 Mexican.
to the committee. and this will proba by
be expended I'm public improvements, no
tably in harbor developments. the need of
which IS today greatly hampcr.ug tho
shipping industry. The commission will
first organize municipalities I'm the
provinces, notably in Pampanga province
Subsequently it will turn its attention 70
needed reforms in the civil and criminal
codes. passing in due time to other fea-