The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1899-12-14
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.

our race and our traditions, D great OPP
DOrtupity comes with them. The ls
lands lie under the shelter OF our nag
They are ours by every title OF la" "h1 y
equity. They cannot be "o""doneo. ~
we desert hem, we leave tGem at once
TO anarchy and finally 10 b"roarish l.
We fling them, q golden apple OF ais,
cord. among the rivl powers, 10 one u
which could permit smother 10 se'Z'
them uEQucstlOhcc.
Their rich plains and valleys would
be the scene Of endless ana oIoou'
she'd The az vent OF Dewcy's hect in
Mapila bay instead OF being, as VIC
hone, the dawn Of ~ new d"y Oi irec-
dom and progress, VIII have hccn thr
bCeinning Of nn era OF misery ana
violence worse than any when ma
Carkcned their unhappy past. me
suggestion has been made lh"1 We
could rcnouncc our authority over the
islands and giving them lndcpcnuehce
could retain pr0teclor"tc over tncih,
This proposition Will NOT nc Ionhu'
am sure, worthy . your serious at'ch
tion. Such an arrange mtnt would IN
volve a. the outset a cruel oreach OF
faith. It would place the peaceful and
better than TO accept our authority, st
the mercy Of the minority armed in
surgents. 1t would make us rc;ponst-
bic for the acts Of the inSurGcnt lead
crs 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. Iii short, IL would take
from the CouErrsS OF Tie United States
the power Of declaring war ana Vcst
that tremt ndOus prCroEntlVc IN INC
ragalo leader OF the hour.
1t does not seem desirable that |
should recommend at this time spcci-
tc and final form OF government for
these islands. When peace shall be
restored, it will be the Nuty OF Con
gress 10 construct q plan OF govern
mcnt which ehall establish and main
t8ia freedom and order and peace 1t
Tie Philippines. The insurrcctiun i
still existing and when 1T terminate
further Information will be rtuuircI
as to the actual condition OF affairs be
fore inanguratinE permanent scheme
OF civil government. The full report
Of the commission, now In preparation
will contain Information and suggoa
tions which will be Of value to Congress
and which will transmit as soon a.
it is completed. As long ~ the insur
recLiOn continues, the military arm
must necessarily be supreme. Blu,
there is no reason why steps should not
be taken from time to time TO inaugur
ate governments essentially popular ir
their form DIS fast rs territory is lc!C
or controlled by our troops. 70 th!.
end, an considering the advisabilitS
OF the return OF the commission, or
such OF tie members thereof as can be
secured, to aid the existing authorltic.
and facilitate this work throug hOu>
the islands.
| have believed that reconstruction
should not begin by the establishment
OF central government on tho island
with It's seat at Manila, but rather tha
the work should be commenced b,
building up from the bottom, first es
taoilshlng municipal governments anC
then provincial governments II ccntra
government at as. to follow.
Until Congress shall have made
known the formal express ion Of its will
shall use the authority vested in me
by the constitution and the stntntes tn
uphold the sovereignty OF the United
States in those III. tant islands, as well
as IN all other places where the Aag
rigbtfully loats. l shall put At the
disposal OF the army and navy ali She
means which the liDerality OF Congress
and the people have provided to cause
this unprOvOkcd end wa5tcful iusur.
rcction to cease. II any orders OF mine
were required TO insure the mcrcifui
conduct OF military and naval opera
J.,