THE PHILIPPINES UNDER THE UNITED STATES Relations between the Americans and the Filipinos were un friendly and steadily grew worse. On Jan. 23, 1899, the Malolos Constitution, by virtue of which the Philippines were declared a republic, and which had been approved by the assembly on Nov. 29, and by Aguinaldo on Dec. 23, was proclaimed. Aguinaldo, who had been president of the provisional government, was elected president. On the night of Feb. 4, the inevitable conflict between the Americans and Filipinos surrounding Manila was precipitated. Morning found the Filipinos, who had fought bravely, even reck lessly, defeated at all points. While the fighting was in progress, Aguinaldo issued a proclamation of war against the United States. On Feb. 6, the U.S. Senate ratified the treaty, and reinforcements were immediately sent to the Philippines. Antonio Luna, the best trained military man among the Filipinos, was given charge of military operations, but seems to have been greatly hampered by the jealousy and distrust of Aguinaldo, which he fully returned. Luna was murdered, and on March 31, 1899, Malolos was cap tured by the American forces. The Filipino Government fled northward. In Nov. 1899, the Filipinos resorted to guerrilla war fare, with all its devastating, barbaric features. The capture of Aguinaldo by Gen. Frederick Funston in March 1901 virtually ended the real insurrection, although the last surrender was that of Gen. Miguel Malvar in Samar on April 16, 1902. The major operations of the insurrection were conducted in Luzon, and throughout the army was assisted materially by the Makabebe scouts, who remained loyal to the Americans.
Negotiations looking toward the purchase of friar lands (some 400,000 ac.) were carried on personally with the pope by Mr. Taft. The contract for the purchase for approximately $7,250,000 was signed on Dec. 22, 1903. Since then a considerable portion of the estates-much of them fine agricultural land-have been sold to Filipinos. The papacy also assigned an American arch bishop and American bishops to the sees in the archipelago and accepted the doctrine of the separation of state and church. In
1905, Mr. Taft, as secretary of War, and a party of senators and representatives visited the islands. On Oct. 16, 1907, the legisla ture was convened by Mr. Taft. It voted to continue the use of Spanish jointly with English as an official language until 1913, when English was to become the sole official language. On Aug. 6, 1909, Congress, by the Payne Bill, granted a fuller meas ure of free trade between the U.S. and the Philippines. The Underwood Tariff Act of 1913 brought in complete free trade between the U.S. and the Philippines.
During the term of W. Cameron Forbes as governor general (Nov. 11, 1909-Oct. 6, 1913), emphasis was laid upon the con struction and maintenance of roads and bridges; the extension of education and the construction of concrete schoolhouses; agri culture ; the eradication of rinderpest ; the development of Ba guio as a summer capital; and on health. The proportion of Fili pinos in the civil service in 1903 was 49% of the whole, 71% in 1912, almost 79% in 1914, over 94% in 1919, and almost 98% in 1926. Under the first five American governors there were con flicts between the two houses of the legislature, and for two years the Philippine assembly failed to vote an appropriation for carry ing on the functions of government.
On his arrival in 1913, Governor General Harrison delivered a message from the president promising that "every step we take will be taken with a view to the ultimate independence of the Islands and as a preparation for that independence." On April 7, 1900, President McKinley had said in his instructions to the Taft Philippine Commission : ". . . the Commission should bear in mind that the government which they are establishing is designed not for our satisfaction or for the expression of our theoretical views, but for the happiness, peace, and prosperity of the people of the Philippine Islands. . . ." Assuming that the time had come to give greater autonomy to the Filipinos, President Wilson by new appointments gave them a majority on the Philippine Com mission. On Dec. 31, 1927, there were 470 Americans and 18,246 Filipinos in the Government service.