The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-05

PiNPcoitfoh VII not DC IOOu0s
sure, worthy OF your serious attentio11<
Such an arrangement would involv0 a.
the outset a cruel breach OF faith. 81
would place the peace able and loyal mo>.
jority. who ask nothing better than to|
accept our authority. AT the mercy o(|
the minority OF armed insurgents I1
would make us responsible for the acts
OF the insurgent leaders and give ~
no power 10 control them. II would
charge us with the task OF protecting
them against each other. and defending
them against any foreign power with
which they chose - quarrel. In short.
IL would take from the congress of tho
United states the power OF declaiirya
war and invest that tremendous pre-
rogative in the Tagal leader OF the hour.
IT. does not seem desirable that Il
should recommend at this time a ape-
cihc and final form OF government for
these islands. When peace shall be
restored 1t Will be the duty of congress
10 construct plan OF government
which shall establish and maintain free
dom and order and peace In the Phil
ippines. The insurrection is still ex-
listing, and when IL terminates further
information will he required as to the
actual condition Of affairs before inau-
gurating a permanent scheme OF civil
government. AS long as the insurrec-
tion continues the military arm must
necessarily be supreme but there il
no reason why steps should not be
taken from time TO time To inaugurate
governments, especially popular I'm their
form, as fast as territory is held and
controlled by our troops To this end
i am considering the advisab bility OF the
return OF the commission. or such OF the
members thereof as can be secured. to
aid the existing authorities and faciIi-
tate this work throughout the islands.
l have Believed that reconstruction
should not begin by the establishment
of one 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 bottom,
first establishing municipal Sovern-
ments, and then provincial governments.
central government at last to fol-
low.
Until congress shall have made known
! the formal expression OF its VIII, shall
use the authority vested in me by the
constitution and statutes to uphold the
sovereignty of the United States in
those dist-nt islands, as in all other
places where our flag rightfully floats
shall put at the disposal Of the army
and navy all the means which the lib
! erality of congress and the people have
provided To cause this unprovoked and
wasteful insurrection to cease III
any orders of mine were required to
insure the merciful conduct of military
and naval operations, they would not
be lacking. but every step Of progress
of our troops has been marked by :
humanity which has surprised even the
misguided insurgents. The truest
kindness TO them will be a swift and
effective defeat of their present frrtfer.
The hour ~ victory will be the hour OF
slemency and reconstiue.iea.
HAWAII.
Concerning Hawaii. the message says:
1t is manifestly important that an act
shall be passed as speedily as possible
erecting these islands into a judicial
district. providing for the appointment
4 OF a judge and other proper officers, and
! methods of procedure in appellate pro-
ceedings, and that the government Of
this newly acquired territory under the
federal constitution shall be fully de- :
fined and provided for.
ALASKA.
A necessity for immediate legislative
relief exists In the territory of Alaska.
Substantially the only law providing a
civil government for this territory is the
act of May Z, 1884. This is meagre in
it's provisions, and is fitted only for the
pf a ire in,
sparsely inhabited by civilized people
and unimportant in trade and produce
tion. as was Alaska at the time this act
was passed. There is no authority, ex-
cept in congress. to pass any law, no mat
ter how trivial see no reason
why more complete form of territorial
organization should not be provided. en-
bodying system of laws providing for
the incorporation and government OF
towns and cities having certain popu-
lation, giving them the power to estab-
lish and maintain system OF educa-
ton to be locally supported. and ord
inances providing for poliee, sanitary
and other purposes.
PORTO RICO.
l recommend that legislation to the
same end be had with reference TO the
government of Porto Rico. The time
is ripe for the adoption OF temporary
form of government for this island. The
system Of civil Jurisprudence now
adopted by the people of this iaiand Is
described by competent lawyers, who
are familiar with it. as thoroughly
modern and scientific, as far as II re-
lates to matters of internal busress,
trade, production and social and rri-
vate rights in general. The cities OF the
island are governed under charters.
which probably require little or no
change. So that with relation to mat
ters of local concern and private right.
II Is not probable that much. IL any, Leg
islation is desirable; but with reference
to public administration and the rela-
tions of the island TO the federal govern
ment, there are many matters which are
OF pressing urgency. Since the cesslon
Porto Rico has been denied the prin-
cipal markets she has long enjoyed. and
our tariffs have continued against
her products as when she was under
Spanish sovereignty.