THE ISLAND OF NEGROS: NOVEMBER, 1898, TO JULY 4, 1902

THE ISLAND OF NEGROS: NOVEMBER, 1898, TO JULY 4, 1902.

On November 5, 1898, the Spanish officials and the small force in the island of Negros surrendered to the leaders of the revolutionary movement, apparently without resistance (P. I. R., 77.4). Two days afterwards a provisional government was established with Aniceto Lacson for president, and secretaries of war, of the treasury, of justice, of commerce, of agriculture, and a military commander. Copies of the act establishing it were sent to the revolutionary government of the Philippines and to the centre committee of the Visayas and Mindanao in Iloilo. This form was decided upon by the principal men of western Negros, who assembled and elected delegates who were charged with deciding upon the form of government. Then each town elected its own local authorities.

In January, 1899, the government of the federal state of the Visayas informed Aguinaldo that the federal republic had been proclaimed in the island of Negros, and that the island had been established as a state or canton with two provinces, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental. As early as February 3, 1899, General Miller reported from Iloilo that the inhabitants of Negros and Cebu realized that they could not successfully establish a separate government, and wished the United States to exercise control [10]. Upon General Miller's report that he had held a conference with some of the principal citizens of the island of Negros and that they had raised the United States flag, that they wished a few troops to protect them from the Tagalogs, whom they had declined to receive in the island, and desired to send representatives to Manila to present conditions and solicit aid, instructions were given for a compliance with their request, whereupon a committee of four gentlemen arrived in Manila on the 21st of February. Several conferences with General Otis followed. They had, they said, established a crude temporary government, appointing a governor who was one of their number; that if permitted to arm a small battalion of natives to be placed under the direction of the United States officers and to receive the assistance of a few United States troops, they were confident that the quiet of the island could be maintained and the Tagalog element successfully restrained. A great deal of conversation followed, consuming portions of several successive days. They were eager to be informed of the purposes of the United States, and were informed that a military government with general supervision of their affairs

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