The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1899-12-02

PreSident-G GOVernmen for Porto
RIcans Is. OutIined-Mr. Root Fa--
vors Increase of the Army-Pre-
pnratOry College Proposed.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 1.-Dealing as 1t
does with large questions of insular pol
ley, of army reorganization, of the future
of Cuba and of the campaign in the
Philippines, the first annual report of
Secretary Root, just made public, is of
exceptional interest.
The report begins with a recital of the
policy followed in reorganizing the
army. in accordance with the necessities
arising from the discharge of the state
volunteers and of the men enlisted for
the Spanish-American war, and gives
statistics of the past and present strength
of the organization, covering in that re-
Epect matters dealt with in the reports
of the major general commanding and
Rdjutant general 1t is stated that at
present all of the new regiments of vol
unteers are in the Philippines or on their
way there.
Operations in those islands are next
taken up, and the report again points
out that the outbreak of last February
was provoked by the insurgents them
selves, and was, from our standpoint
unavoidable. Frequent reference Is
made to the report of Gen. Otis to show
the magnitude of the task set for him
with the inadequate forces at his COM
mand when the outbreak came, and a
high tribute is paid to the courage Of
the troops who, in the face of great
hardships, voluntarily consented to fore
go an immediate return to their homes
upon the expiration of their terms of
service.
The history of the operations Of the
past season is recounted, and the secre-
tary outlines the plan of the present cam
paign, which began in October. This in
volved the movement of three separate
forces. One was to proceed up the Rio
Grande along the northwestern borders
of the plains and strike across to the
Gulf of Lingayen. Another was to land
on the gulf shores by transports and pro-
ceed along the coast road to unite with
the first force. A third column was to
strike straight along the railroad to
Dagupan. The secretary says these
movements were executed with energy
rapidity and success, notwithstanding
ever the permanent occupation of orr
troops has extended in the Philippines
civil law has been put in operation, courts
have been established and education in
troduced, until at present iH Manila there
are now better facilities for primary edu-
cation than ever before
ARMY IN CUBA.
A chapter tells of what has been done
IN Cuba by the army during the past
year. Order has been maintained, social
distress has been alleviated, sanitation
has been instituted, and in all respects
satisfactory progress has been made and
Ine part played by our troops now is but
the restraining influence of their pres
ence The revival of industry has been
SLOW put has also made gratifying prog
ress, and the reconcentrados have been
returned to the cultivation of their lands
though the complete recovery of the
sugar industry has been seriously ham
pered by the lack of capital AS orfer
mas been restored the force of troons has
been reduced, and orders have been re-
Gently given for the withdrawal of eigh+
companies OF infantry and eight troops
of cavalry.
In Porto Rico the year has been devoted
10 administering and improving the civil
government of the island, and Instructive
.he people in the rudirnents Of self-gnvo,.,1,
meht at every step in conference with
the leading citizens. This work has been
retarded by the unfortunate Industrial
conditions, owing to lack Of markets for
the Island products, and to the distress
caused by the great hurricane Never
theiess' much has been done 10 correct
abuses, the courts having been reorgan-
iZed' the writ of habeas corpus has bean
restored and arrangements have been
made for taking the census.
A compliment is paid to Gen. Iuding-
tons administration of the quartermas-
ter's department. and 1t is said that ow-
Ing to the experience acquired the entire
movement involved in the transnOrta +ion
of large army to the Philippines has
been accomplished practically without
loss of life, disease or injury to health
he clothing Of the army, too, was salts
factory, and the food of good quality and
furnished promptly.
The health Of the army has been re-
r2rkably good, and the report shows that
the death rate among the soldiers In the
philippines from disease is only 1720, con-
siderably less than in Washington. Bos-
ton. San Francisco New York and ra1ti
more. The soldiers killed In battle and
dying Of wounds numbered All, and the
entire mortality was SAG for the past ten
months
INSULAR GOVERNMENT.
The secretary deals at great length with
the problem of insular government. He
recalls the fact that the treaty Of Paris
places in congress alone the ,ietermina-
tion Of the civil rights and political status
Of the native inhabitants of the terri
q tories ceded to the United States. He
argues that this Limitation completely de-
prives these people of the right to have
the Islands treated as states, or as fer
ritory previously acquired has been treat
ed, or even to assert a legal right under
the provisions of the constitution, which
was established for the people Of the
United States themselves Nevertheless.
he assumes that the intention Is to give
them, to the greatest possible extent in
dividual freedom, self-goVernment in ac-
cordance with their capacity, just and
equal laws, an opportunity for education,
for profitable industry, and for develop
ment and civilization.
He takes up Porto Rico first, as pre-
senting the simplest problem, and after
discussing the present conditions there.
emphasizing the ignorance of the people
of any modern system of government, he
holds that they should be provided with
the kind Of administration to which we
have been accustomed with just as much
participation On their part as is possible
without enabling their inexperience to
make 1t ineffective, and with opportunity
for them to increase their capacity for