This was the unhappy condition of affairs which confronted our Commissioners on their arrival in Manila.  They had come with the hope and intention of co-operating with Admiral Dewey and Major-General Otis in establishing peace and 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, adventurous, and enthusiastic army.  No alternative was left to us except ignominious retreat.

It is not to be conceived of that any American would have sanctioned the surrender of Manila to the insurgents.  Our obligations to other nations and to the friendly Filipinos and to ourselves 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 island either with honor to ourselves or with safety to the inhabitants.

The course thus clearly indicated has been unflinchingly pursued.  The rebellion must be put down.  Civil government cannot be thoroughly established until order is restored.  With a devotion and gallantry worthy of its most brilliant history, the Army, ably and loyally assisted by the Navy, has carried on this unwelcome but most righteous campaign with richly deserved success.  The noble self-sacrifice with which our soldiers and sailors 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 interrupted and checked by a rainy season of unusual violence and duration, they have gained ground steadily in every direction, and now look forward confidently to a speedy completion of their task.

The unfavorable circumstances connected with an active campaign have not been permitted to interfere with the equally important work of reconstruction.  Again I invite your attention to the report of the Commissioners for the interesting and encouraging details of the work already accomplished in the establishment of peace and order and the inauguration of self-governing municipal life in many portions of the archipelago.  A notable beginning has been made in the establishment of a government in the island of Negros which is deserving of special consideration.  This was the first island to accept American sovereignty.  Its people unreservedly proclaimed allegiance to the United States and adopted a constitution looking to the establishment of a popular government.  It was impossible to