War and pestilence had destroyed many of the work animals, and those which remained continued to perish from disease.

Asiatic cholera was sweeping through the archipelago, and consternation and disorder followed in its wake.
Under such circumstances the organization of a rural police force was imperatively necessary.

Unfortunately the most critical situation which it was to be called upon to meet had to be faced at the very outset, when both officers and men were inexperienced and before adequate discipline could be established.
The law providing for its establishment was drawn by the Honourable Luke E.Wright, at that time secretary of commerce and police and later destined to become governor-general of the Philippines and secretary of war of the United States.
It was intended that the constabulary should accomplish its ends by force when necessary but by sympathetic supervision when possible, suppressing brigandage and turning the people towards habits of peace.

The fact was clearly borne in mind that the abuses of the _guardia civil_ had not been forgotten and the new force was designed to meet existing conditions, to allay as rapidly as possible the existing just rancour against the similar organization established under the Spanish regime, and to avoid the evils which had contributed so much toward causing the downfall of Spanish sovereignty.

The law was admirably framed to achieve these ends.
The officers of the constabulary were selected chiefly from American volunteers recently mustered out and from honourably discharged soldiers of the United States army.