The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1900-09-14

! quested the commission to return to the
| United States. Their most intelligent and
comprehensive report was submitted to
| congress. In March, 1900. believing that
the insurgent instruction was practically
! ended and earnestly desiring to promote
the establishment of stable government
In the archipelago, I appointed the fol-
/ lowing civil commission: William II.
Taft, of Ohio Prof Dean c. Worcester,
! of Michigan, Henry c. Ide. of Vermont
and Bernard Moses, Of California.
Second Commission Nou-Partisan.
Under their instructions the commits
sion, composed of representative Ameri-
cans of 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 participate, giving them
| opportunity to demonstrate how far they
are prepared for elf-government This
! commission, under date of August p,
1900 makes an interesting report, from
which I quote the following extracts:
Hostility against Americans originally
aroused by absurd falsehoods Of unscru-
| pulous leaders. The distribution of troops
in 300 posts has by contact largely dis
PEELED hostility and steadily improved
! temper of people. This Improvement is
| furthered by abuses of insurgents. Large
numbers of people long for peace and are
! Wiling TO accept government unuef the
! United States. Insurgents not surrender
ing after defeat, divided into small guer-
rilla bands under general officers or be-
come robbers. Nearly all of the prom
inent generals and politicians of the in
surrection except Aguinaldo have since
been captured or have surrendered and
taken the oath Of allegiance. All north
ern Luzon except two provinces substan-
TALLY free from insurgents. People busy
planting and asking for municipal or
ganization. Railway and telegraph line
from Manila to Dagupan, 100 miles, not
molested for five months. Tagalogs alone
active in leading guerrilla warfare. In
Negros Cebu. Romblon, Masbate-Sibu-
yam Tablas Bohal and other Philippine
islands little disturbance exists and civil
government eagerly awaited. Four years
of war and lawlessness in parts of is
lands have created unsettled conditions.
Native constabuary and militia, which
should be organized at once, Will end
this and the terrorism TO which defense
less people are subjected. The natives
desire to enlist in these organizations.
If judiciously selected and othcered will
be efficient forces for maintenance Of
order and will permit early material re-
duction of United states troops. Turning
islands over to coterie of Tagalog poll
ticians will blight fair prospects Of enor-
nous Improvement, drive out capital,
make life and property secular and re-
ligious. most insecure, Danish by fear Of
cruel prescription considerable body of
conservative Filpinos who have aided
Americans I'm well-founded belief that
their people are now fit for self-govern-
ment, and reiptroducc some oppression
and corruption which existed I'm all prov
inces under Malalos insurgent govern
. ment during the eight months of its
control. The result will be factional
strife between Jealous leaders chaos and
anarchy. and will require and Justify act
Too tat Hon % sFRFN ~ ..f
some other
Business interrupted by war much i'm
proved as peace extends. In Negros more
sugar in cultivation than ever before.
New forestry regulations give impetus
| to timber trade and reduce high price OF
lumber. The customs collections for last
. quarter 90 per cent. greater than ever in
Spanish history, and August collections
show further increase. The total revenue
for same period one-third greater than in
any other quarter under Spain, though
ccdula tax. chief source Of Spanish rev
enuc. practically abolished. Economy and
efficiency Of military government has
] created a surplus fund of $1,000 ca, which
] should he expended in much needed pub
lie works, notably improvements of Ma
] Mia harhor. With proper tarff ana fa-
( cilities Manila will become the great
port of the orient"
y" Aiinnce Of Nnv KIud
I Nobody who win avail himself Of the
. f0cts will longer hold that there WAS any
4 alliance between our soldiers and the I'M
D surgcuts, or th1t any promise OF illo-
. Ucudouoo was made To them Long h"-
" fore their leaders had reached Manila
- they had resolved 10 IN" commander OF
tine American navy would give them arms
with which Co fight the Spanish army
. they would inter turn upon ua, which
they asa Wur.lnruu- ,y and without Oh,
s shadow of cause or Justification. There
, may joe those without the means of fun
4 information who believe that we wore
- I'm allegiance with the insurgents and
| that we assured them that they should
r. have independence. To such let me repeat
7 the facts: on the 26th of May, 1895, Adj
q miral Dewey was instructed by me t1
{ make no alliance with any party or fac
+ lions I'm the Philippines that would i'm
. cur liability 20 maintain their cause i'm
y the future, and be- replied under date II
7 June 6, lSJS: "IlaVe acted according IA
I spirit of departments instruction from
the beginning. ana / have entered Into mo
alliance with the Insurgents or with any
1, faction. This squadron can reduce the
i dcfenscs of Manila at any moment, but II
Is considered useless until the arrival of
I sufficient United States forces to retain
c possession"
In the report of the first Philippine COM
+ mission, submitted on November 2, 1899
4 Admiral Dewey. one of its members, said
a ! mo alliance of any kind was entered
4 into with Agunaldo, nor was any prom
1, Use of independence made to him at any
. | time"
4 Gen. Merritt arrived in the Philippines
70 on July %, 1898, and dispatch from Ad-
a miral Dewey to the government at Wash
. | irgton said; Merritt arrived yesterday
, | Situation is more critical at Manila. The
Spanish may surrender at any moment
u Merritts most difficult problem will be
+. how to deal with the insurgents under
Il Agulnaldo who have become aggressive
and even threatening toward our army
n AGuinaldo's SelGh Demand Refused.
T. Here Is revealed the spirit of the In.
- surgents as early as July, 1898, before
> the protocol was signed, while We were
still engaged in active war with Spain
u Even then the insurgents were threat.
!, ening our army. on August IL Manila
t. was captured and of this and subsequent
! events the Philippine commission says
d "Whon the city Of Manila was taken
y August 49, the Filpinos took no part II