The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1900-08-23

e~Auo AAAooe UP HIS WiHo tuat IL W0ulQ DC
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 mil
itary men, by claiming independence, and
1t is doubtful whether he had the power
to check or control the army at the time
hostiiities broke out
No Alternative Left.
"Deplorable as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by US. We were attacked by a bold, add
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left to US, except iguo-
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
tons, to the friendly Filipinos and to
ourselves and our flag demanded that
force should be met by force.
Whatever the future Of the Philip
pines may be. there is no course open 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 the country at the time of
their arrival, comparing it with condi-
tions existing when they left short time
ago. A vivid picture is given of the an
archy existing among the inhabitants in
and about Manila during the early
spring.
The situation in the city," says the
commission, was bad. Incendiary fires
occurred daily. The streets were almost
deserted. Half of the native population
had fled and most of the remainder were
shut in their houses. Business was at a
standstill. Insurgent troops everywhere
faced our lines, and the sound of rifle fire
was frequently audible in our house. A
reign Of terror prevailed. Filipinos who
had favored Americans feared assassina-
ton, and few had the courage to come
out openly for us. Fortunately there
were among this number some of the best
men Of the city"
Restoring Public Confidence.
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 be
given them. AS result native law courts
were established and this greatly aided
in the restoration of public confidence.
The flow of population soon began to set
toward the city. Natives who had fed
from their homes returned.
As showing the limited scope of the
rebellion the commission states:
I'VE learned that the strong anti-Amer-
lean feeling was confined to the Tagalo
provinces. namely, Manila, Cavite, La
guna, Batangas, Morong, Bulacan,
Nueva Ecija, Principe, Infanta and Fam
bales. 1t was strongest in the first six
named, and hardly existed in the last
four.
Revolt Not Popular.
'The population of these provinces is
estimated to be about 1,5OO,O 900, but it
ohOuiu AOt UC SupPOSCu tudt even III the
six provinces Immediately adjacent to
Manila the people were united in their
opposition to us. Even here there was
strong conservative element, consisting
of people Of wealth and intelligence, OPP
posed to the war"
Under the head, "The Rebellion not a
National Movement" the report treats
of the rebellion outside Of the provinces
of Luzon, where, it is stated, the upris-
ing was viewed at first with Indifference
and later with fear. Throughout the
archipelago at large there was trouble
only at those points to which armed Ia
galos had been sent in considerable num-
bers.
Ask American Help.
The machinery Of insurgent govern
ment'' served only for plundering the
people under the pretext Of levying "war
contributions, while many of the insur-
gent officials were rapidly accommodating
wealth." 1t is stated that the insurgent
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.
In speaking OF Gen. MacArthur's
movement nOrthward the report tells Of
the insMgent 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.
Troops Bring Peace.
As to the state of affairs when the
commission left the report says:
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 fallow 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
ince Of Bulacan were proving abortive,
except when backed by bayonets and bull
let's. and even in such cases the natives
were applying to us for help to resist
them"
The chapter devoted to establishment
Of Municipal Governments" gives in de-
tail the efforts in that direction. There
were many difficulties encountered. The