The times., 1901-05-26
CONDITIONS AT MANILA.
Rapid March of Events Changing
the state of Affairs.


the state of Affairs.
MANILA, April 19.-Since my arrival
in Manila, the BITTER part of February,
conditions have been changing so rapidly
that a new face has been put on the stu
alton almost daily. So rapidly, in fact.
have changes been made that l have
found it difficult tosarrive at a satisfac-
tory conclusion as to the true state of
affairs.
The trouble heretofore has evidently
been that the leaders of the insurrec-
tionary movement were each awaiting a
surrender on the part of the other.
Through the efforts of the Federal
party, General Trias, in command Of
southern Luzon, was induced to surren-
der. This was in the early part of March.
Up to this time the situation here was
as much clouded as at any time since the
-fnsurrection broke out, twenty-five
months ago.
Trias is man universally honored and
respected by the better element of his
people, and his surrender caused the in
surrection TO stand still for several days.
Before the insurgents recovered from
their surprise, General Geronimo sur
rendered with his command. again throw
ing the insurgents into disorder. This
render of some 1000 officers and men, to
be followed still! mere recently by the
capture of Aguinaldo by General Funston.
As evidence of the rapid changes taxing
place, Aguinaldo has just put another face
on the situation by taking the oath of al
legiance and issuing a proclamation call
ing upon his people to come in.
All Of Aguinaldo's generals desire to sur
render. And If the instruction continues
it will be the fault of the American au-
thorities here desiring to make scape-
goat of some one
Only three generals are now out of our
lines in Luzon-General Tinio in the north,
General Alejandrino in the east, and Cen
eral Cailles in the south. The two latter
named generals are ready to surrender.
only that the Information has reached
them that they will be tried for violating
the laws of war AS a matter of fact,
the insurgents have violated the laws of
war no more than the Americans. The
known cruelties pracuced by both are
sickening but if they are judged by their
light, the American is more to blame than
the Filipino. The Administration should
lose no time in instructing the authorities
here 10 permit every officer who desires
to do so to surrender. Those who wish to
surrender are the better element, not
ladrones. If they in a few instances have
transgressed our code of morals. they are
no more guilty toward us than we are to-
ward them. There are several thousand
ladrones in the field operating under the
disguise of insurgents.
The leaders, who have hitherto been
standing out against American authority
out of pure devotion to the cause of lib
erty, recognize that their cause is lost,
and that they are RAPIDLY losing the re-
spect and confidence Of their people, ow-
ing to the fact that the latter are unable
to distinguish between the insurgents and
the iadrones. For this reason the insur-
gent leaders desire to preserve their pres
tige with their people by surrendering
and Withdrawing from a movement which
mas degenerated into organized robbery
However. II through any foolish desire
on our part to make sCapegoats of the
officers who are willing TO surrender. they
be driven into the ranks of the ladrOnes
we nave only ourselves to blame. So
long as the names of such men as Tinio
AleJandrino, and Cailles dignity the pres
ent movement, it Will be difficult for the
tllpino people to distinguish it from a
patriotic cause.
The conviction is slowly being forced
upon the minds of all that a much better
feeling is the result of the relaxation of
military severity in Manila since the ad-
vent of Gen. George ". Davis as provost
marshal general of this city. His admin
istration is marked with the sense of a
man who can see beyond the narrow
limits of military discipline. He is looked
upon as the ablest man in the military
establishment, at least by all civilians
Editor Rice, of the Bulletin recently
depOrted, has little sympathy here. In
TACT, General Macarthur in view of
Rice, tender age, is universally com
81
than have him serve a term in Bilibid
hateVer charges yOung Rice may have
made against the captain of the port of
Manila which he could have substantiated,
l DO not feel called upon to mention, but
the bare facts in the case, which led up
TO his deportation, are that he published
statements which were false, and which
he knew to be false when ne published
them.
Before publishing these statements, Rice
went before the Civil Commission with
his charges and asked to have them in
vestigated. General Wright one of the
Commissioners, took up the matter, and
together, he and Rice went 20 the office
daily amounts carried into the treasury
by the captain of the port which Rice
claimed in his statement were being ilIe-
gally withheld. In the face of this knOwl-
edge, Rice deliberately published what he
knew to be false.
The known corruption in the commits
sary department is being aired here for
the first time. On the arrival of Major
West, depot cOmmissary, he refused TO re-
ceipt for stores until an inventory was
taken which would enable him to know
what he was receipting for.
The inventory began, and in less than
ten days many officers were under arrest,
to say nothing of numerous clerks. One
of the commercial firms here, Evans *
Co, was found to have on hand many
bacon, which resulted in a further investi-
cation Of this establishment. during the
course of which the authorities found af-
fairs in such a state that they were
shocked beyond measure.
S e DE RACKIN