The Portland daily press., 1901-01-26

o,,.s,uy /. repor, :s.ade BY the philippine
Commission on that date. but only recent
" received ct the War Department.. At
the same time 1 wish TO call attention
to some conditions existing in the Phil
ippins Islands, which indicate that the
development OF that country along the
lines OF peaceful Industrial progress now
rsquirss the exercise OF powers Of civil
government not vested In this depart
ment. or In you rs military commander,
bu. requiring grant Of authority from
the Congress.
1.-The -Commisson gives crafty ing
account or the progress made in the pa
cifioation of the country and this gradu
al sunsidenos OF guerilla warfare. In
formation received TO the date
OF the report. confirms the favorable an
ticipations OF the Comm ission.
A personal letter received by me from
Judge TAFT, dated December l4.lYD. says:
"Since writing you, about 500 insur-
gents In Ilocos Norte have surrendered,
and 10000 persons who were not we'll
affected towards us In Panay have taken
the oath OF allegiance. have already
received two papers from native priests,
eighteen In number, ana / am told there
will be o great many other papers signed
by a great many more native priests,
rendering their alles lance TO the United
States, and promising fidelity without
me N al reserve. Ths native priest are
thoss VINO have held out longest in favor
OF the insurgents ana against the Ameri-
cans, I'D 1 deem this action as OF great
Importance. Sincs the election there
has been great falling on In activity
of tie insurgents in aggressiveness, and
their sole activity. has been displayed in
avoiding the iighSs which small deia'h-
ments OF our troops have brought about. ="
A despatch from Judge TAFT dated
January 9th, 1901, says:
"Conditions rapidly improving. Riiies,
officers. privates, are being captured or
surrendered daily n considerable num-
bers in North and south Luzon. same
condisiors in PanAy, where more than
s3 COO have taken the oath OF allegiance.
The insurgent forces are completely
scatiered, and the leader, De9albo, is me-
go,isting for surrender. Favorable party
for peace; direct result Of election. Well
organized and rapidly increasing In
Manila, preparing to extend organization
to many provinces on pressing and nu-
merous invi tations from leading citi-
gems
The report shows that the Islands are
estimated to contain about 7S,OOO,OO1
acres of land, of which less than o,Ooo. :
O)U are held in private ownership. Mere
permanent laws than the military gov
eminent can supply ara nesded.
The report itsalf is very voluminous
production, divided into many heads, ex-
hibiting the progress made BY the COM
mission In carrying out it's plans for the
AmericanizRtion of the islands. par
ticularly Interesting section OF the report
introducing the whole subject OF Pniiip-
nina relations, deals with military and
political conditions, the effect OF an Amer
can election and Legislative procedure
ana acts
The commission says that examinations
of many witne sss as to the form OF gov
eminent best ADAPT ed to these isla1dI
and satisfactory to the people, show that
the masses OF the psople are ignorant,
crsduIous and ohild-like, and that under
any governments the electoral franchise
must tie much limited, because the large
majority VIII not, for time. be capable
OF intelligently exercising 1t. From all
the informal ion we can get, 1t SEEMS
clear that great majority of the people
long for peace, and are entirely willing
to accept the establishment of govern
ment uncer the supremacy of the United
Stltes. They are. however, restrained by
fear from taking any action to assist the
suppression of the insurrection. Any ons
suspected OF giving Information to the
Americans concerning the insurgents is
Immediately marked for assassination.
ANY statement of the conditions pre-
vailing in the islands during the past six
months which ignores the effect of the
American election as . controlling ele-
ment in the situation, is necessarily In
adequate. Since the result was an
nounced, there has been great decrease
/ In insurgent activity. The intensest
interest was felt by the insurgents 5efore
the election in the issue, and the intens-
est disappointment since, which will
certainly afIeot the COLLAPSE of the insur-
rect.on In the near future, From now on
the conditions in these islands VIII grow
| steadily better;