The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 6, 1899, Page 3

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 6, 1899, 8 tion by the Senate prior to its ad- rent on the 4th of March last. Some ing negotlations, however, lusion at that time, and ing conventions have since been the plenipotentiaries. Others, h the third d fourth sections constderation. al power of in respect to treattes, I 1t my duty while observilg of concession provided by ih section to bring to a conclu- 1 pending negotiations and submit the Senate for its advice and executive bave been % the Congressional recess tain for the respective colo- h Guiana, Barbadoes, Ber- a and Turks and Caic with the republic of Nica- reciprocal conventions have nelu wentine Republic, ¥ last annuul message the progress e work of the diplomatic con- vers in oollecting information commerce and Industries of ntriee and in the care and tude with which the reports are ted and distributed has continued ing the past year, with Increasingly ble results in suggesting new sources sand for American products and in out the obstacles still to be over- facilitating the remarkable ex- of our foreign Tt will doubt! tifying to Con- learn that the us agencies of the Department State rdial ree- Iness etv- n of aments. In nt of the omplicated rk of obtaining ofi- nomic Con- ake judgment, that the re- L & view t end increasing ut AMERICAN REPUBLICS various internati 1 union of the work ¢ Conterence pro- ational union of t should con- of ten years fon, and no o end and unless piration of d thereafter r successive fore assul few of th estions of general to all of the some of st inter- ally set- i then d seem ex- s republics consti- be invited to hold ference in ountries other which bhas al- this interna- racter of the done by the 1 the appre- £ 1ts val X us Gov- of the Latin- republics and atic repre- s in this cap- re now exhibiting end the gealons endeav- rs they are making to tend its feld of use- ss, to promote ugh its commercial teroourse, strengthen the bonds and y and confidence between its various iembers and the nations of this contl- EXPOSITIONS. he act to encourage the holding of the ne-American exposition on the fer, within the county of d Niagara, in the State of New 3 year 1%, was approved on ition, which will be held in ffalo, in the near ticinity of Niagara cataraet and within urney of which reside 40,000,000 ple, will be confined entirely to n hemisphere. Satistactory as ances have already been given by representatives of Great Mexican and the Central and an republics and most of th ates of the United States that their tr tates will make a unique istructive exhibit, pecu- of thelr material prog- entury which is about to provides an appropriation of of making an ox- »n by the™Sovernment stes from Its Ex n Institu. tion & sseum, the United Etate sh and Fishe! the I nd Bureau o Ar .cure & com- v > ement of this « board of manage- mie b reated and « t purchase, pr yrtation, arrangement " eeping of the articles aad mater be exhibited. This board Las t 1 has already entered or e of its duties, as pro- ! Ve every rea- . t this exposi- ¥ to cement the r en the nations on e with an act of Congress, . December 21, 158, and under the y slphia Commercial teresting and valuable cts and manufactures, ‘ ted to export trade, w phia from September " ember 1, 1899, The representa- t ter of the exhibiis and the » rest manifested in the e ects of the undertaking afford " ragement to those who look « to the steady growth of our - cxportation of manufactured e has been the most remark- able f in the economic fact in of ¢ the e United States In re- ture of this exposition become of permanent * to our Industries is umples of merchandise 15 countries, with spe- . o particular markets, pro- Tiding practical object lessons to United States manufacturers as to qualities, styles and prices of goods such as meet the epecial demand of consumers and may be exported with advantage. In connection with the exposition an International Commercial C Tess Was held, on the invitation of the P Commerctal Museum, transmitted by the Department of State to the various for- elgn Governments for an exch of in- formation and opinions, with a view to the promotion of international trade. This invitatdon met with general and cordial acceptance, gan its se tober 13, proved to be of great financ importance from the fact that it dev oped a general recognition of the inter- dependence of nations in trade, and a most gratifying spirit of accommodation remov: roc existing Impedimer tions, without injury terests of either party. CZAR'S CONFERENCE. In response to the Invitation of his Majesty Emperor of Russia, dele- gates from twenty-six countries were as- sembled at The Hague on the 18th of May as members of a conference in the in- I the terest of peace. The commission from the United States consisted of the Hon. irew White, the Hon. Seth Low, the Hon. Stanford Mahan of the U well, Captain Alford T. nited States navy, Cap- Crozier of tain Willlam T. the United States army and the Hon Frederick W, secretary. The sfon seemed to be opportune for the seri- ous consideration of a plan for the pacific ad- justment of interna- differences, a in which the people have ply interested : ¢ years, and a definite pro for a permanent internationat tribunal was included in the Instruction to the delegates to the United States. The includes final act of the upon conference conventions amelioration of the customs of war on land, t tion maritime warfare to »s of the Geneva conv the extension of jud: r The conven- n for the ¥ ent of inter- national conflicts emboc the leading features of the American plan, with such modifications as were rendered nec by the great adversity of v represented by the dele es of the convention pro nce of general peace, tt L f good offices and medlation, the formation of commissions of inquiry and international arbitra- tion The mediation provid- ¢4 for by the convention s purely voluntary and advisory and is intend- ed to avoid any inva- sion of lmitation of the sovereign rights of adhering s. The commissions on the inquiry proposed con- t of delegations to be ly constituted ular purposes of conven- the contest- exer- for part by means tions, but arbitration con- te > a permanent tribunal before which be brought for settlement by the mu consent of the litigants in each separ: The advantages of such a perma t tribunal over impromptu comml slons of arbitration are concelved to be the actual existence of a competent court prepared to administer justice, the greater economic resulting from a well devised system and the accumulated judicial skill and experience which such a tribunal would soon possess. While earnestly pro- moting the idea of establishing rr nent international t bunal the delegation of the United Stat not unmindful sputed cases ma ual ne of fnconveniences was fthe which might arise from an obtrusive exer- tise of mediation, and in signing the conv n sarefully guarded the historic position of the United States by the following declaration: othing contained In this convention shall be 20 construed as to re- quire the United States of America to depart {rom its traditional pol- lcy of mnot intruding upon, interfering with or entangling self in the political questions of policy or internal administration of any forelgn state; nor shall anything contained in the said convention be construed to imply relinquishment by the United States America of its traditoinal attitude toward ely American questions.” Thus Interpreted, the convention for the pacific settlement of international may be r rded as realizing the desire of great numbers of Ame ens whose deep sense of justice, in numerous resolutions and has urged them to labor for memorials, this noble achievement. The general character of this convention, already signed by the delegates of more thar nty sovereign States, further commends it to the favorable action of th Senate of the United States, whose ratification still awalts. THE NAVY. The navy has tained the =spirit high efficiency have always chi zed that 1t main- and which acter- service, and has 10st nome of the gallantry in heroic ac- tion which has signal- ized 1Its brilllant and glorious past. The na- tion has equal pride In its early and later achievements. Its habitual readiness for every emergency has wo the confidence and admiration of t} country. The people are interested in the continued preparation and prestige of the navy and will justify liberal appropria- tions for its maintenance and improve- ment. The officers have shown peculiar adaptation for the performance of new and delicate duties which our recent war has imposed. It cannot be doubted that Congress will at once make necessary provision for ar- mor plates for the vessels now under contract and building. Its attention is respectfully called to the report of the Secretary of the Navy, in which the sub- ject is fully presented. I unite in his recommendation that Congress enact such legislation as may be necessary to enable the department to make contracts early in the coming year for armor of the best quality that cen be obtained in this coun- try for the Maine, Ohio and Missouri, and that the provision of the act of March 3, 1899, lmiting the price -of armor to $300 per ton, be removed. In the matter of naval construction it is sald Italy and Japan of the great powers laid down less tonnage in the year 159 than this country, and Italy alone has less tonnage under construction. I heart- fly concur in the recommendations for the Increase of the navy as suggested by the Secretary. Our future progress and prosperity depend upon our ability to equal if not surpass other nations in the enlargement and advance of science, in- dustry and commerce. To Invention we must turn as one of the most powerful alds to the accomplishment of such a re- sult. The attention of Congress is direct- ed to the report of the Commissioner of Patents, in which will be valuable sugges- tions and recommendations. 0406090 ® 0 0® 0608090404 THE ARMY. o _ S President Commends Conduct of Offi- o @ o @ o @ o & o & cers and Men In Trying Situations ° and Unusual Difficulties. 4 0909090909 0@ OQOQ\O@OQO@‘ Since my last annual message and in obedience to the acts of Congress of April 22 and 26, 1868, the remaining volun- teer force enlisted for the Spanish war, consisting of 34834 regulars and 110,202 volunteers, with over 5000 volunteer offi- cers, has been discharged from the mili- tary service. Of the volunteers 667 offi- cers and 14,831 men were serving in the Philippines, and 1650 of the regulars, who were entitled to be mustered out after the ratincation of the treaty of peace, voluntarily remained at the front until their places could be filled by new troops. They were returned home in the order In which they went to Manfla and are now all of them out of the service and in the ranks of citizenship. I rec- ommend that Congress provide a speclal medal of honor for the volunteers, regu- lars, sallors and marines on duty in the Pihilippines, who voluntarily remained in the service after their terms of enlistment had expired. By the act of March 2, 1899, Congress has authority to increase the regular army to a maximum not exceeding £5,000 enlisted men, and to enlist a force of 35, 000 volunteers, to be recruited from the country at large. By virtue of this au- thority the regular army has been in- creased to the number of 61,99eenlisted men and 2248 officers, and new volunteer regiments have been organized aggregat- ing 33,050 enlisted men and 1524 officers. Two of these volunteer regiments are made up of colored men, with colored line officers. The new troops to take the places of those returning from the Phil ippines have been transported to Manila to the number of 381 officers and 28,3 listed men of the regular army and 594 officers and 15,388 enlisted men of the new volunteer force, while officers and 14,- 118 men of the volunteer force are on the ocean en route to Manila. The force now In Manila consists of %05 officers and S regulars and 5% officers and 15358 of the volunteers, making an aggregate of 14w officers and 45,966 men. When the troops now under orders shall T h Manila, the force in the archipelago will comprise 2051 officers and 63,483 men. The muster out of the great volunteer army organized for the Spanish war and the creation of a new &rmy, the transporta- tion to Manila to San Francisco of those en. titled to discharge and the transportation of the new troops to take thelr places have been a work of great magni- tude, well and ably done, for which too much credit cannot be glven the War Depart- ment. During the year we have reduced our force in Cuba and Porto Rico. In Cuba we now have officers and 10, enlisted men; Porto Rico § officers and 1856 sted men, and a battalion of 400 men composed of native Porto Ricans; while stationed throughout the Unjted States are 910 officers and 17,317 men, and in Hawall 12 officers and 453 enlisted men. The operations of the army are fully presented in the report of the Secretary of War. I cannot withhold from officers and men the highest commendation for their soldierly conduct In trying situa- tions, their willlng sacrifices for their country and the intgrest and ability with which they have performed unusual and difficult duties in our island possessions. In the organization of the volunteer regiments authorized by the act of March , it was found that no proviston had 1 made for chaplains. This omission was doubtles# from inadvertence. I rec- imend the early authorization for the pointment of one chaplain for each of said regiments. These regiments are now in the Philippines and it is important that immediate action be had. POSTAL SERVICE. In restoring peaceful conditions, order- Iy rule and civic progress in Cuba, Porto Rico, and, so far as practicable, n the Philppines, the rehabilitation of the pos- tal service has been an important part of the work It became nec ary to pro- vide malil facilities both for our forces of occupation and for the native population. To meet this requirement has involved a substantial reconstruction. The existing systems were so fragmentary, defective and inadequate that a new and compre- hensive organization had to be created, American trained officials have been as. signed to the directing and executive posi- tions, while the natives have been chiefly employed in making up the body of the force. In working out this plan the merit rule been rigorously and falthfully applied. The appointment of Director General of Posts of Cuba was given to an expert, who has been Chlef Postoffice Inspector and Assistant Postmaster General, and who united large experfence with capaci- ty. For the postmastership of Havana the range of skilled and available men was scanned, and the cholce fell on one who had been twenty years in the service as deputy postmaster and post- master of a large city. A This principle governed g and determined the se- lectlon of the American officials sent, not only to Cuba but to Porto Rico and the Philip- pines, and they were in- structed to apply it as far as practicable in the employment of the na- tives as minor post- masters and clerks, The postal system in Cuba, though re- maining under the general guidance of the Postmaster General, was made essen- tially independent. It was felt that it should not be a burden on the postal sery- ice of the United States, and provision was made that any deficit In the postal revenue should be a charge upon the general revenue of the island. Though Porto Rico and the Philippines held a dif- ferent relation to the United States, yet, for convenience of administration, the same principle of an autonomous system has been extended to them. Development of the service in all of the islands has been rapid and successful. It has moved forward on American lines, with free de- livery, money order and registry system, and has given the people mail facilities far greater and more reliable than they have ever before enjoyed. It Is thus not only a vital agency of industrial, social and business progress, but an important Influence in diffusing a just understanding of the true spirit and character of Ameri- can administration. The domestic postal service continues to grow with extraordinary rapidity. The expenditures and the revenues will exceed $100,000,000 during the current year. For- tunately, since the revival of prosperous times the revenues have grown much faster than the expenditures, and there fs every indication that a short perfod will witness obliteration of the annual defictt. In this connection the report of the Post- master General embodies a statement of some evils which have grown up outside of the contemplation of law in the treat- ment of some classes of mall matter which wrongly exercise the privilege of the pound rate, and shows that if this matter had been properiy classified and had paild the rate which it should have pald, instead of a postal deficit last fiscal year of $5,610,000, there would have been on one basis a surplus of $17,637,570, and on another $5,733,83. The reform thus sug- gested, in the opinion of the Postmaster General, would not only put the postal service at once on a self-sustaining basls, but would permit great and valuable im- provements, and I commend the subject to the consideration of Congress. PENSIONS. On the 20th of June, 1899, the pension roll of the United States numbered 991,519, These include the pensioners of the army and navy in all our wars. The number added to the rolls during the year was 40, The number dropped by reason of death, remarriage, minors by legal lim- {tations, fallure to clalm within three vears and other causes was 43,183, and the number of claims disallowed was 107,91 During the year 89,064 pension certificates were issued, of which 37,077 were for new or original pensions. The amount dis- bursed for army and navy pensions dur- ing the year was $138,355,052 95, which was $1,651,461 61 less than the sum of the ap- propriations. The Grand Army of the Re- public at its recent national encampment held In Philadelphia has brought tomy at- tention and to that of Congress the wis- dom and justice of a modification of the third section of the act of June 27, 159, which provides pensions for the widows of officers and enlisted men who served ninety days or more during the war of the rebellion and were honorably dis- charged, provided that such widows are without other means of support than thelr dally labor and were married to the sol- dler, sailor or marine on account of whose service they claim pension prior to the date of the act. The present holding of the department is that if the widow’s income aside from her dally labor does not exceed in amount what her pension would be, to- wit., $% per annum, she would be deem- ed to be without other means of support than her dafly labor and would be en- slon under this act, while ‘s income independent of the amount received by her as the result of her daily labor, exceeds $%, she would not be pensionable under the act. I am advised by the Commissioner of Pensions that the amount of the income allowed® before title to pensicn would be barred has varfed widely under different admin- istrations of the Pension Office, as well as during different periods of the same administration and has been the cause of just complaint and criticism. With the approval of the Secretary of the Inte- rior, the Commissioner of Pensions rec- ommends that, in order to make the prac- tice at all times uniform and to do jus- tice to the dependent widow, the amount of income allowed independent of the proceeds of her daily labor should be not less than 3250 per annum and he urges that Congress shall 8o amend the act as to permit the Pension Office to grant pensionable status to widows under the term of the third seetion of the act of June income aside from the proceeds of daily labor is not in ex- cess of $230 per annum. I belleve this to be a simple act of justice and I heartily recommend 1t. DAWES COMMISSION. The Dawes Commission reports that gratifying progress has been made in its work during the preceding year. The field work of enrollment of four of the nations has been completed. I recommend that Congress at an early day make liberal appropriation for educational purposes in the Indian Territory. ©20$090409 06 09 0906000606@ @ 9 THE C_E_NSUS. § $ Certaln That It Wil Emphasize ths o 2 RemarkableAdvance of National 5 Progress. : o 9904080604049 020% 0@-0@0@0@3 In accordance with the act of Congress approved March 3, 189, the preliminary work In connection with the twelfth ~en- sus is now fully under way. The officers required for the proper administration of the duties imposed have been selected. The provision for securing a proper enumeration of the population, as well as to secure evidence of the industrial growth of the nation, is broader and more comprehensive than any similar legisla- tion in the past. The director advises that every needful effort is belng made to push this great work to completion n the time limited by the statute. It is be- lived that the twelfth census will em- phasize our remarkable advance in all that pertains to national progress. PACIFIC RAILROADS. Under the authority of the act of Con- gress approved July 7, 189, the commis- slon, consisting of the Secretary of the Treasury, Attorney General and Secre- tary of the Interior, has made an agree- ment of settlement, which has had my approval, of the indebtedness to the Gov- ernment growing out of the issue of bonds to aid in the construction of the Central Pacific and Western Pacific railroads. The agreement secures to the Govern- ment the principal and interest of said bonds, amounting to $8,812,715 48. There has been paid thereon $11,762,543 12, which has been covered into the Treasury and the remainder, payable within ten years, with Interest at the rate of 3 per cent per annum, payable semi-annually, is secured by the deposit of an equal amount of first mortgage bonds of the Pacific rafl- ‘way companles. The amounts paid and secured to be paid to the Government on account of the Pacific rallway subsidy claims are: Union Pacific, cash, $58,448,223 T5; Kansas Pacific, cash, $6,303,000; Central and West- ern Pacific, cash, $11,798, 314 14, Notes, secured, $47,050,172 36. Kansas Pacific dividends for deficlency, due .United States, cash, $521,891 70, mal Ing a total of $124,421,607 1. The whole indebtedness was about $130,- 000,000, more than half of which consisted of accrued interest, for which sum the Government has realized the entire amount, less about $6,000,000, within a period of two years. FOREST RESERVATIONS. On June 30, 1898, there were thirty for: reservations (exclusive of the Afogne forest and fish culture reserve in Alaska), embracing an estimated area of 40,719,174 acres. During the past year two of the existing forest reserves, the Trabuco Canyon (California), and Black Hills (South Dakota and Wyoming) have been considerably enlarged; the area of the Mount Ranier reserve, in the State of Washington, has been somewhat re- duced, and six additional reserves have been established, namely, the San Fran- cisco Mountaln (Arizona), the Black Me:a (Arizona), Lake Tahoe (California), Gal- latin (Montana), Gila River (New Mexico) and Fish Lake (Utah), the totul estimated area of which is 5,025,772 acres. This makes at the present time a total of thirty-six forestry reservations, embrac- ing an estimated area of 46,0218 acres. This estimated area is the aggregated areas within the boundaries of the re- serves. The lands actually reserved are, however, only the vacant public lands therein, and these have been set aside and reserved for sale or settlement in order that they may be of she greatest use to-the people. Protection of the national forests, in- augurated by the Department of the In- trior in 1897, has Increased during the past year, and much has been accom- plished in the way of preventing forest fires and the protection of the timber. There are now large tracts covered by forests which will eventually be reserved and set apart for forest uses. Until that can be done Congress should increase the appropriations for the work of protecting the forests. AGRICULTURE. The Department of Agriculture is con- stantly consulting the needs of producers in all the States and Territories. It is in- troducing seeds and plants of great value and promoting fuller diversification of crops. Grains, grasses, fruits, legumes and vegetables are imported for all parts of the United States. Under this encour- agement the beet sugar factory multiplies in the North and far West, semi-tropical plants are sent to the South, and conge- nial climates are sought for the choice productions of the far East. The hy- bridizing of fruit trees and grains is con- ducted in the search for varieties adapted to existing conditions. The introduction of tea gardens into the Southern States promises to provide employment for idle hands, as well as to supply to home mar- ket with tea. The subject of irrigation where it is of vital importance to the people is being carefully studied, steps are being taken to reclaim injured or abandoned lands, and information for the people along those lines is being printed and distributed. Markets are being sought and opened up for surplus farm and factory products in Europe and In Asia. The outlook for the education of the young farmer through agricultural college experiment stations, with opportunity given to specialize in the Department of Agricul- ture, is very promising. The people of Hawail, Porte Rico and the Phiiippine Islands have been helped by the estab- lishment of experiment stations to a more scientific knowledge of the production of coffee, indla rubber and other tropleal products, for which there is demand in the United States. There Is widespread interest in the im- provement of our public highways at the present time, and the Department of Ag- riculture is co-operating with the people in each locality in making the best pos- sible roads from the local material, and in experimenting with steel tracks. A more intelligent system of managing the forests of the country is being put in operation, and a careful study of the whole forestry problem is being conducted throughout the United States. A very ex- tensive and complete exhibit of the ag- ricultural and horticultural products of the United States Is being prepared for the Paris Exposition. @2060506080 90§06 08060606@ THE PHILIPPINES. No Promise of Independence to Aguln- aldo—The Islands Are Ours and Cannot Be Abandoned. @P0#0905080 S0 S0 @ 0402040 % On the 10th of December, 1898, the treaty of peace between the United States and Spain was signed. It provided, among other things, that Spain should cede to the United States the archipelago known as the Philippine Islands; that the United States should pay to Spain the sum of $20,000,000, and that the clvil rights and political status of the native inhabitants of the territories thus ceded to the United States should be determined by Con- gress. - The treaty was ratified by the Senate on the 6th of February, 1899, and by the Government of Spain on the 19th of March following. "The ratifications were exchanged on the 11th of April and the treaty publicly proclaimed. On the 2d of March Congress voted the sum contemplated by the treaty, and the amount was pald over to the Spanish Government on the 1st of May. In this manner the Philippines came to the United States. The islands were ceded by the Government of Spain, which had been In undisputed possession of them for centuries. They were accepted not merely by our authorized commissioners in Paris under the direction of the execu- tive, but by the constitutional and well- considered action of the representatives of the people of the United States in both houses of Congress. I had every reason to believe, and I still believe, that this transfer of sovereignty was in accordance with the wishes and the aspirations of the great mass of the Filipino people. From the earliest moment no opportunity was lost of assuring the people of the islands of our ardent desire for their wel- fare and of the intention of this Govern- ment to do everything possible to advance their interests. In my order of May 19, 1898, the commander of the military expe- dition dispatched to the Philippines was instructed to declare that we came not to make war upon the people of the country, “nor upon any part or faction among them, but to protect them in their homes, in their employments and in their per- sonal and religlous rights.” That there should be no doubt as to the paramount authority there, on August 17 it was di- rected that “there must be no joint occu- pation with the insurgents”; that the United States must preserve the peace and protect persons and property within the territory occupied by their military and naval forces; that the insurgents and all others must recognize the military oc- cupation and authority of the United States. As early as December 4, and be- fore the cession, and In anticipation of that event, the commander in Manila was urged to restore peace and tranquillity and to undertake the establishment of a beneflcent government, which should af- ford the fullest security for life and prop- erty. On December 21, after the treaty was signed, the commander of the forces of occupation was instructed “to an- P0H0H02060@ 02090 S0$O0 S ‘AID OUR MERCHANT MARINE, BUILD NICARAGUA CANAL, LAY PACIFIC CABLE nounce and proclaim in the most public manner that we come, not as invaders and conquerors, but as friends to protect the natives in their homes, in their em- ployments and In their personal and reli- glous rights.” The same day while ordering General Otis to see that peace should be preserved in Ilollo, he was admonished that “It is most important that there should be no conflict with the insurgent: On the 1st day of January, 1599, your geieral orders were refterated that the kindiy intentions of this Government should be in every possible way communicated to the insur- gents. On the 2ist of January I announced my intention of dispatching to Manila a com- mission composed of three gentlemen of the highest character and distinction, thoroughly acquainted with the Orient, who, in association with Admiral Dewey and Major General Otls, were instructed to “facilitate the most humane and effect- ive extension of authority throughout the islands and to secure, with the least pos- sible delay, the benefits of a wise and generous protection of life and property to the inhabitants.” These gentlemen were Dr. Jacob Gould Schurman, president of the Cornell Uni- versity: the Hon. Charles Denby, for many years Minister to China, and Pro- fessor Dean C. Worcester of the Univer- sity of Michigan, who had made a most careful study of life in the Philippines. ‘While the treaty of peace was under con- sideration in the Senate these Commis- sfoners set out on their mission of good- will and liberation. Thelr character was a sufficlent guaranty of the beneficent purpose with which they went, even If they had not borne the positive instruc- tions of this Government, which made their errand pre-eminently one of peace and friendship. But before their arrival at Manila the sinister ambition of a few leaders of the Filipinos had created a situation full of embarrassments for us and most grievous in its consequences to themselves. The clear and impartial preliminary report of the Commissioners, which I transmit herewith, gives so lucid and comprehen- sive a history of the present insurrection- ary movement that the story need not be here repeated. It is enough to say that the claim of the rebel leader that he was promised independence by any officer of the United States In return for his assist- ance has no foundation In fact and is categorically denied by the very witnesses who were called to prove it. The most the insurgent leader hoped for when he came back to Manila was the liberation of the islands from the Spanish control, which they had been laboring for years without success to throw off. The prompt accomplishment of this work by the American army and navy gave him other ideas and ambitions, and insidious suggestions from various quar- ters perverted the purposes and intentions with which he had taken up arms. No sooner had cur army capturéd Manila than the Fillpino forees began to assume an attitude of suspicion and hostility which the utmost efforts of our officers and troops were unable to disarm or mod- ity. Thelr kindness and forbearance were taken as proof of cowardice. The aggres- sions of the Filipinos continually in- creased, until finally, just before the time set for the Senate of the United States for a vote upon the treaty, an attack, evi- dently prepared in advance, was made all along the American lines, which resulted in a terribly destructive and sanguinery repulse of the insurgents. BARBAROUS REBEL ORDER. Ten days later an ori-r of the insur- gent Government was issued to its adher- ents who had remained in Manila, of which General Otis justly observes that “for barbarous’ intent It is unequaled in modern times.” It directs that at 8 o'clock on the night of the 4th of Februaryethe territorial militia shall come together in the streets of San Pedro, armed with their boles, with guns and ammunition, where convenlent; that Filipino families oply shall be respected; but that all other individuals, of whatever race they may be, shall be exterminated without any assion after the extermination of army of occupation, and adds: “Brothers, we must avenge ourselves on the Americans and exterminate them, that we may take our revenge for the in- famies and treacheries which they have committed upon us. Have no compassion upon them: attack with vigor. A copy of this fell by good fortune into the hands of our officers and they were able to take measures to control the ris- ing, which was actually attempted on the night of February 22, a week later than as orginally contemplated. A consider- e number of armed insurgents entered the city by waterways and swamps and in concert with confederates Inside at- tempted to destroy Manila by fire. They were kept in check during the night and the next day driven out of the city with heavy loss. This was the unhappy condition of af- fairs which confronted our Commission- ers on their arrival in Manila. They had come with the hope and intention of co- operating with Admiral Dewey and Major General Otis in esfablishing peace a order in the archipelago and the largest measure of self-government compatible with the true welfare of the people. What they actually found can best be set forth in their own words: “Deplorable as war is, the one in which we are now engaged was unavoidable by us. We were attacked by a bold, adven- turous and enthusiastic army. No alter- native was left to us except retreat. “It is not to be conceived of that any American would have sanctioned the sur- render of Manila to the insurgents. Our obligationa to other nations and to the friendly Fillpinos and to ourseives and our flag demanded that force should be met by force. Whatever the future of the Philippines may be, there is no course open to us now except the prosecution of the war until the insurgents are reduced to submission. The commission is of the opinion 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 Inhabitant: “RIGHTEOUS CAMPAIGN.” The course thus clearly indicated has been unflinchingly pursued. The rebel- lion must be put down. Civil government cannot be thoroughly established until or- der is restored. With a devotion and gal- lantry worthy of its most brilliant his. tory, the army, ably and loyally assisted by the navy, has carried on this unwel- come but most righteods campaign with richly deserved success. The noble self- sacrifice with which our soldiers and safl- ors whose terms of service had expired refused to avail themselves of their right to return home as long as they were needed at the front forms one of the brightest pages In our annals. Although their operations have been somewhat in- terrupted and checked by a rainy season of unusual violence and duration, they have gained ground steadily in every di- How good can an overcoat at that price be ? We will answer for ours : It’s an overcoat plenty good enough for every-day wear—to and from busi= ness ; it looks well and keeps its look for a long while; fits like higher-priced coats; wears as an overcoat should—until you are thoroughly convinced of getting your money’s worth. Made from cheviot, covert, kersey and melton. We think its best feature is the economical price. Boys’ Reefer Top Coats, Materials—frieze and astrakhan; ages 3 to 8 years; former prices $4, $5 and $6, now each coat has been reduced to $3.85. Out-of-town orders filled—write us for our new illustrated catalogue No. 2. 4 S.N.WOOD & €O gf- TI8 MARKET-