The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-12-06
Burden of Government

careful consideration of the advisory couh-
Gil
Burden of Government
Tho burden of government must be dis
tributed equally and equitably among The
people. The military authorities will col
lect and receive the custom revenue and
I'll control postal matters and Philippine
inland trade and commerce. lie military
government, subject to the approval OF the
military governor of the Philippines, de-
te1mines all questions not specifically pro-
yided for and whiGh don't come under the
jurisdiction of the advisory council
1he authorities of the Sulu islands have
accepted the succession of the United
States to the rights of Spain. and our flag
floats over that territory. On the I0aA OF
August, 1899 gadier-General J. c.
Bates, Z. S. V, negotiated an agreement
with the sultan and his principal chiefs
which l transmit herewith By article l..
the sovereignty of the United States over
the Whole archipelago Of Jolo and its de-
pehdencles Is declared and acknowledged.
| The United States flag will be used in the
| archipelago and its dependencies on land
| and sea. Piracy is to be suppressed and
| the sultan agrees to cooperate heartily
| with the United States authorities to that
| end and to make every possible effort to
| arrest and to bring to justice all persons
| engaged in piracy. All trade in domestic
| products of the archipelago of Jolo when
| carried on with any part of the islands and
| under the American flag shall be free I'M
| limited and undutiable TIE United States
| will give full protection to the sultan in
| case any foreign nation should attempt to
| impose upon him. The United States will
not sell the island of Jolo or any other
island of the Jolo archipelago to any for
eign nation without the consent of the sui
tan. Salaries for the sultan and his asso-
cates in the administration of the islands
have been agreed upon to the amount of
$760 monthly.
Article 10 provides that any slave in the
archipelago of Jolo shall have the right to
purchase freedom by paying to the master
the usual market value. The agreement by
General Bates was made subject to confir-
nation by the president and future modif-
cations by the consent of the parties in in
terest L have confirmed said agreement
subject to the action of the congress and
with the reservation which | have directed
shall be communicated to the sultan of Joo,
| that this agreement is not to be deemed in
any way to use or give the consent of the
United States to the existence of slavery
in the Sulu archipelago. l communicate
these facts to the congress for its Informal
| ton and action. Everything indicates that
| with the speedy suppression of the Tagalo
! rebellion, life in the archipelago will soon
resume its ordinary course under the pro-
lection of our sovereignty and the people
of those favored islands will enjoy pros
perity and a freedom which they have never
before known. Already hundreds of schools
| are open and filled with children. Religious
freedom is sacredly assured and enjoyed
The courts are dispensing justice. Business
is beginning to circulate in its accustomed
channels.
Manila, whose inhabitants were fleeing to
the country a few months ago, is now
populous and thriving mart of commerce.
The earnest and unremitting endeavors of
the commission and the admiral and majcr-
general commanding the Department of the
Pacific to assure the people Of the bene-
ficient intentions of this government, have
had their legitimate effect in convincing the
great majority of them that peace and
safety and prosperity and stable govern
ment can only be found in a loyal accept
anee OF the authority of the United States
Government OF Philippines
The future government of the Philippines
| rests with the congress of the United
States. Fewer graver responsibilities have
ever been confided to us. If we accept them
in spirit worthy of our race and our ira
ditions, a great opportunity comes with
them. The islands lie under the shelter of
our flag They are ours by every title of
law and equity. They cannot be abandon
| ed If we desert them we leave them at
once to anarchy and finally to bar5arism.
| We fling them, golden apple of diseord,
among the rival powers no one of which
| could permit another to seize them I'M
| questioned. Their rich plains and valleys
would be the scene of endless strife and
DiOOdSned. Inc advent oil Dewey 5 Meet IN
Manila bay instead of being, as we hope,
the dawn of a new day of freedom and
progress, win have been the beginning Of
| an era of misery and violence worse than
any which has darkened their unhappy
past. The suggestion has been made that
we could renounce our authority over the
| islands, and, giving them independence.
| could retain protec tCrate over them. This
proposition will not be found, | am sure,
| worthy of your serious attention. Such
| cruel breach of faith. It would place the
pea BILE and loyal majority, who ask for
| nothing better than to accept our author
| ity, at the mercy of the minority armed
| insurgents. 1t would make responsible
| for the acts of the insurgent leaders, and
| give us no power to control them. 1t would
charge us with the task of protecting them
against each other and defending them
against any foreign power with which they
chose to quarrel. In short, 1t would take
| from the congress of the United States the
| power of declaring war and vest that tre-
| mondous prerogative in the Tagal leader
| of the hour
1t does not seem desirable that 1 should
recommend a this time a specific and final
| form of government for these Islands.
When peace shall be restored it will be the
| duty of congress to construct 2 plan OF
| government which shall establish and
| maintain freedom and order ard peace in
| the Philippines The Instruction Is still
| existing, and when it terminates further
| information will be required as to the act
ual condition of affairs before inaugurat!ng
| a permanent scheme of civil government
The full report of the commission, now in
| prepara ton, will contain Information and
| suggestions which viii be of value to con-
| gress, and which 1 will transmit as
| soon as it is completed AS long as the in
| surrection continues, the military arm must
| necessarily be supreme. But there is no
| reason why steps should not be taken from
| time to time to inaugurate governments
| essentially popular in their form as fast
| as territory is held or controlled By our
| tr,ons To this end / am considering the
| adyisability of the return of the commission
| of such of the members thereof as can be
| secured to aid the existing authorities and
| facilitate this work throughout the ISLANDS.
| I have believed that reconstruction should
not begin by the esta blishment of one CEN
| trail civil government for the islands with
| its seat at Manila but rather that the work
| should be commenced by building up from
| actahlichinU Tn1I0iniual