The record-union., 1899-12-06
FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF PHIL
IPPTNF,S

FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF PHIL
IPPINES.
The future government of the Phil
ippineS rests with the Congress of the
United States. Fewer sraver respon-
Isibilities have ever been confided to US.
If we accept, them in spirit worthy of
our race and our traditions, great OPP
portunity comes with them The ISL
ands lie under the shelter of our fag.
They are ours by every litle of law and
lequity. They cannot be abandoned. II
We desert them, we leave them at once
to anarchy, and, finally, to barbarism
We fling them, a golden apple of dis
cord, among the rival Powers no one
of which could permit another to seize
them unquestioned. Their rich plains
and valleys would be the scene of end
less strife and bloodshed. The advent
of Dewey's fleet in Manila Bay, instead
of being, as we hope the dawn of a
new day of freedom and progress. will
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 independ-
ence, could retain a protectorate over
them. This proposition will not be
found, I am sure, worthy of your Sc
rious attention. Such an arrangement
would involve at the outset a cruel
breach of faith. 1t would place the
peaceable and loyal majority who ask
no better than to accept our authority
at the mercy of armed insurgents. 1t
would make us 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, it
would take from the Congress of the
United States the power of declaring
war and vest that tremendous oreroga-
tive in the Tagalo leader of the hour.
1t does not seem desirable that l
should recommend at this time a spe-
ciflc and final form of government for
these islands. When peace shall be re-
stored it will be the duty of Congress
to construct plan of government that
shall establish and maintain freedom,
order and peace in the Philippines. The
msurrection is still existing and when
1t terminates further information viii
be required as to the actual condition
OF affairs before inaugurating a per-
manent scheme of civil government.
The report Of the commission now in
preparation will contain information
and suggestions which will be of value
to Congress, and which I will transmit
as soon as it is completed AS long
as the Instruction continues the mill
But there is no reason why steps should
not be taken from time to time to in
augurate governments and make pop
ular in their form as fast as territory
is held or controlled by our troops To
this end I am considering the advisa-
bility of the return of the commission.
or such of the members thereof as can
be secured, to aid the existing authori
ties and facilitate this work through
out the island.
| / have believed that reconstructions
should not begin by the establishment
of central civil government for all the
islands, with it's seat at Manila. but
rather that the work should be COM
menced by building up from the bot
tom, first establishing municipal gov
ernments and then provincial govern
ments, central government at last
to follow. Until Congress shall have
made known the formal expression of
its will l shall use the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and statutes
to uphold the sovereignty of the United
States in those distant islands. and in
all other places where our flag right
fully floats. I shall put at the disposal
of the army and navy all the means
which the liberality of Congress and
the people have provided to cause this
unprovoked and wasteful insurrection
to cease. If any orders of mine were
required to secure the merciful conduct
of military and naval operations they
would not be lacking; but every step
of the progress of our troops has been
marked by a humanity which has sur
prised even the misguided insurgents
The truest kindness to them would be
the swift and effective defeat of their
present leader The hour of victory
will be the hour of clemency and re-
construction.
No effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by war and
by long years of misgovernment. We
shall not wait for the end of the strife
to begin the benefcent work. We shall
continue, as we have begun, to ope;'
the schools and the churches, to set the
courts in operation, to foster industry
and trade and agriculture. and in every
way in our power to make these people
whom Providence has brought within
our jurisdiction feel that it is their
liberty and not our power, their well
fare and not our gain, that we are seek
ing to enhance. Our flag has never
waved over any community but in
blessing. I believe the F'ilipinos will
soon recognize the fact that it has not
lost it's gift of benediction in it's world
wide journey to their shores.
s, HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.