The Bemidji pioneer., 1900-08-16

naldo made up his mind that it would be
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
intended. to fight the Americans, but he
excited everybody, and especially the mill
itary men, by claiming independence, and
Ii is doubtful whether he had the power
to check or control the army at the time
hostilities broke out,
No Alternative Left.
'Deplorablc as war is, the one In which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by q bold, 7ad-
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left to us, except igno-
minious 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
,tions. to the friendly Filipinos and TO
ourselves and our nag demanded that
Force should be met by force.
sFW hateyer the future of the Philip.
pines may be, there is no course openst to
us 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 fhe country at the time o!
their arrival comparing it with condi'
itions existing when they left short time
ago. IA vivid picture is given OF the an
sarchy existing among the inhabitants IL
and about Manila during the early
spring.
The situation in the city," says the
commission, twas bad. Incendiary fires
occurred daily. The streets were almost
deserted. Half of the native population
had fed and most Of the remainder were
shut in their houses. Business was at s
standstill. Insurgent troops everywhere
faced our lines, and the sound of rifle lire
was frequently audible in our house. A
reign Of terror prevailed. Filipinos who
had favored Americans feared assasslna
ton, and few had the courage to come
out openly for us. Fortunately there
were among this number some Of the bes'
men Of the city,"
Restoring Public Condolences.
The report then speaks OF the issu
ance 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 bt
given them. As a result native law courts
were established and this greatly aidet
in the restoration Of public confidence
The flow of population soon began to Sc
toward the city. Natives who had fec
from their homes returned.
AS showing the limited scope Of tn.
rebellion the commission states:
I'VE learned that the strong anti-Amer
lean feeling was confined to the Tagalc
provinces, namely, Manila, Cayite, La
guna, Batangas, Morong, Bulacan
Nueya Ecija, Principe, Infanta and Fam
bales. 1t was strongest in the first 81.
named, and hardly existed in the las
four. 5
Revolt Not Popular.
The population of these provinces i
estimated to be about 1,500, 000. but !
should not be supposed that even in TIL
six provinces Immediately adjacent Il
Manila the people were united in thei
opposition to us. Even here there wa
a strong conservative element, consisting
Of people OF wealth and intelligence, op
posed to the war"
Under the head, The Rebellion not Il,
National Movement" the report treat
Of the rebellion outside Of the province,
Of Luzon, where, it is stated, the upris
ing was viewed at first with indifference,
and later with fear. Throughout til,
archipelago at large there was troubl,
only at those points to which armed Ia
galos had been sent in considerable mum
bers.
Ask American Help. Ne
The machinery Of insurgent govern
ment" served only for plundering thu
people under the pretext Of levying WA
contributions, while many of the insur
gent officials were rapidly accommodating
wealth. 1t is stated that the insurgen
administration 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.
4 In speaking Of Gen. MacArthur's
movement northward the report tells Of
the insurgent method Of intimidating 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 its au
thors. II
Troops Bring Peace. N
AS to the state of affairs when the
commission left the report says: z
Before the commission left the Philip
pines nearly all the inhabitants had re.
turned to those ruined villages. Many
of the houses had been rebuilt. Fields
that had lain ifallow for three years were
green with growing crops. Municipal
governments were established, and the
people, protected by our troops, were en-.
joying peace, security and degree OF
participation In their own government
previously unknown in the history of the
Philippines. ATTEMPTS OF the insurgents
to raise recruits and money in the prov.
inoe of Bulacan were proving abortive,
except when backed by bayonets and bul.
let's, and even IN such cases the natives
were applying ITO us for help to resist
them"
The chapter devoted to Establishment
~n1 ~ S..ft