The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1901-09-04
SITUATION IN PHILIPPINES
General Macarthur Says Conditions:
in the Islands Ara Favorable.
Force, However, is Needed to Suppress
Bandits Who Prey on Amerl-
cans and the Natives.

San Francisco, Cal.-After an aD'
sence Of more than three years Major
General Arthur Macarthur, former
Governor of the Philippines, returned
to the United States on the transport
Sheridan. But for q slight loss OF
flesh General Macarthur looks the
same as when he left this city three
years ago. He had no serious sickness
during his stay in the Philippines,
and boasts that he was able to per.
form his regular duties every day Oh
the whole time.
After staying here several days
awaiting orders General Macarthur
expected to go to Washington to meet
the President and Secretary Root.
with whom he will confer in regard
to the situation in the Philippines.
On that subject he talked freely, say.
ing:
"A very satisfactory condition now
exists in the islands-not perfect, Of
course, but such that it is very grati-
flying to both military aId civil off,
GERS. The insurrecton is almost en-
tirely extinguished. A few groups OF
armed insurgents are still at large
and give us some trouble, but they
will undoubtedly surrender in a short
time. The campaigning Is practically
confined to scouting and an occasional
movement in force against some large
party. These movements generally
result in the surrender of the natives
with their rifles. Each such event
has the effect Of bringing in other
natives, who through fear have kept
away. The natives have. now learned
that to surrender does not mean death,
torture, or other punishment, but the
securing Of larger liberties and free
dom. am we'll satisfied with the con.
ditions.
"The civil administration vert into
Office on July 4 with impressive cere'
monies. I see no reason why the
Government and the Civil Commission
should not be entirely successful. The
change was q welcome one to army
officials, to whom the civil tasks were
hard and tedious, although no one
shirked his duty. The two depart
ments are we'll set apart.
conditions in the provinces are
much improved. There Is a great
deal of freedom in movements
throughout Northern Luzon, where
insurrection has been dead for some
time. We have had no trouble at
that end for so long that it has ceased
to worry US. I cannot say that it is
entirely safe for individuals as yet.
for there is a large criminal class
among the natives. Members of this
class wander about committing depre-
dations on both Americans and ma
tiyes. The latter suffer the most
from the marauders. But these Grim
inals are not insurgents and have
no connection with them. The In
surgent leaders repudiate the marau-
ders' actions.
"The situation in regard to the rob-
ber class arouses question Of i'm
portance, but it Is being very satis-
factorily worked out and solved by
the natives themselves. They seek
eagerly the establishment OF civil
governments, that they may take
measures against the criminals, and
native constables are doing the work
of dispensing them. There is every
reason to suppose that within short
time the whole archipelago will be safe
to travel through. Many parts are safer
to-day than they have ever been be-
fore.
1.-The whole country has been torn
and wrecked by war. Before we went
there the last vestige Of authority
was lost, and the people had relapsed
into q condition bordering on bar
barism. Society had been disorgan-
lied and freedom had given way to
tyranny. The best conditions now
exist in the provinces Of Northern
Luzon, where the whole territory is
pacifed, but not tranquilized. 1t is a
good deal like the ocean after a
storm. The worst is over, but the
surface is still swelling and heaving.
THE Civil Commission was about to
put in force some excellent ideas for
the municipal government Of the City
of Manila when left. The city is in
fine condition. Its business is enorm-
Gus and growing"