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

them liberties which they had never be-
fore enjoyed. This scheme was adopted
and gave general satisfaction.
In every instance enthusiasm ran high
before the commissioners took their de-
parture, and cheers We're raised for Gen
LawtoL and for the country which LIE
represented,
Secure Good Rcsults.
w ita single exception the officials
elected proved worthy of the trust npos-
ed IN them. and conditions Very rapidly
improved N the newly organized towns.
Governments We're organized with more
satisfactory results in Pandacan. Santa
Ana. San Felipe, Meri. San Pedro and
Machei, while Il slightly different system
was put into effect in Malabon. Polo.
Orlando, Meycauya, Yang and Malolos.
The commission states that a large
amount of supervision over the affairs of
our new municipalities proved necessary,
as the officials We're timid and slow to
comprehend their new duties. At many
of the elections the voters went about
asking who they We're expected to vote
for. and it was only with great diff
Guilty that they We're persuaded to eNer-
else the right Of free suffrage.
Schools for Manila.
The commissioners sum up the situa-
ton at the time of their departure as
follows:
when we left Manila large volume
Of business was being done. and the
streets We're So crowded as to be hardly
safe The native population was quiet
and orderly and all fear of an uprising
had long since passed. An efficient corps
of native policemen was on duty \
system of public schools in which English
was taught had been advocated by the
commission and established by Gen. Otis.
Some 5000 scholars We're in attendance
I'm the Tagalo provinces of I.uZon,
where the anti-American feeling had been
strongest, public sentiment had greatly
changed. as evidenced by the fact that
the military governor of Batangas had
offered to surrender his troops and his
province il we would only send a small
force there. The Bicols. in southern Luz
ION, had risen against their Tagalo mas
ters. The Macabebes were clamoring for
an opportunity to fight in our ranks, and
native soldiers and scouts were already
serving under Gen. Lawton.
Rebellion Dying Out.
stories Of the corruption Of insurgent
officers We're becoming daily more COM
mon, and the disintesration of the enc
my'S forces was steadily progressing The
hope OF assistance from outside sources
seemed to be all that held them toseth-
err"
Having given so much attention to the
Island of Luzon. the commission then
takes up in detail the conditions in the
other islands. On this point it is stated
that tn" rebellion is essentially Tagalo,
and when it ends in I.nzon it must end
throughout the archipelago. The situa-
ton elsewhere than in Iuzon is summed
up as follows:
The only island. apart from Luzon,
where serious trouble threatens, is Pa
nay. to which a considerable force of Ia
gallo soldiers was sent before the out
break Of hostilites Many of the Visay-
ans Of this island are opposed to the Ia
galos, however. and it is not believed
that the latter can make formula Bile
resistance.
Oppose the Tagalos.
I'm Samar. Leyte and Masbato the Ia
gallo invaders are numerically few and
are disliked by the natives Of these ISL
ands, whom they have oppressed. We
We're assured that 300 men would suffice
to restore order in Mindoro. Bobol was
asking for troops. The Calamianes isl
anders had sent word that they would
welcome us. There can be no resistance
IN Falawan. Satisfactory relations had
already been established with the war
like Moros, whose sultan had previously
been concliated by a member of the COM
mission, and in Mindanao this tribe had
even taken up our cause and attacked
the insurgents, of whom there are very
few in the island
lin Cebu we have only to reckon with
tn" lawless element. which has never
been very formidable there
Special attention is given to the Island
of Negroes, as this seemed field we'll
adapted to the extension of an American
system. Here the natives have adopted
Il local form Of government. including a
congress, and had raised the American
flag. They believed themselves capable
of managing their own affairs and asked
for battalion Of troops to hold in check
a mountainous band Of fanatics. The
battalion was furnished, but the people
proved unable to carry out their program
owing to i'll feeling among their own Off
cias. The Americans remained popuIar
Need American Rule.
At the request Of Gen Otis new and
simplitied scheme of government for the
island. giving the people large voice in
their affairs, but placing an American in
full control, was put into operation. 1t
brought about satisfaction. and public Or
der is better in the island to-day than at
any time during the last twenty years.
Summarizing the failure of the native
form of government and the success of
the American control, the commission
says:
The fiat failure Of this attempt to es-
tablish an independent native government
in Negroes, conducted as it was under the
most favorable circumstances. makes If
apparent that here. as we'll as in the less
favored provinces. large amount Of
American control is at present absolutely
essential to a successful administratio
of public affairs"
Efforts for Peace.
The efforts at Cancellation with Agui-
naldo and his various commissions are
set forth in detail. These commissioners
We're assured Of the beneicenr purposes