Heading: (Philippine-American War)
Author: Taft, William Howard; Elihu Root, et al
Title: War Department Telegram to Philippine Commission...in regard to general condition of Philippine Islands, and reply of commission thereto...
Place Published: Washington, D.C.
Publisher:War Department
Date Published: Aug. 20, 1900
Description:

4 pp.

A blatant apologia for the Republican Administration's imperialist policy in the Philippines, by the Commission headed by future President Taft. The commission was established by President McKinley in 1900 to gauge the progress of American counterinsurgency operations against the ongoing native uprising led by the rebel Aguinaldo.

While the Commission's complete report was not published until 1901, Secretary of War Elihu Root cables Taft and his fellow commissioners a few months after their arrival on the islands asking for a preliminary report "on the general conditions of the islands...disposition of the people toward the United States" and "the present extent of the insurrection..."

The Commissioners report that the insurrection was on its last legs: "Nearly all prominent generals and politicians of insurrection except Aguinaldo have...been captured or have surrendered..." and if the American election "confirms present policy remnant of insurrection will disappear within sixty days by surrender of leaders and fading out of rank and file..." Despite the power of the insurgents among the "mass of people" who were "ignorant, superstitious and credulous" - and "terrorized by cutting out tongues, cutting off limbs, burying alive, murder and plunder" - a "considerable body of conservative Filipinos...have aided Americans in well-founded belief that their people are not now fit for self-government...." and a "large number of people long for peace and are willing to accept government under United States..." which will bring them "contentment, prosperity, education and political enlightenment..."

Very good.