Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1899-12-08


country few months a'o is now populous
and thriving mart OF commerce. The earnest
and unremitting endeavors OF the commission
and the admiral and major general command
ing the department OF the Pacific to assure the
people Of the beneiicent intent ons OF this gov
ernment have had their Legitimate effect In
convincing the great mass Of them that peace
and safety and prosperity and stable govern
ment can only be found In loyal acceptance OF
the authority OF the United States.
The future government Of the Philippines
rests with the congress Of the United States.
Few graver responsibilities have ever been
confded to us. If we accept them In spirit
worthy OF our race and our traditions, 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 abandoned. II we desert them we leave
them at once to anarchy and finally to barbar-
ism. We fling them, golden apple OF discord,
among the rival powers, no one OF which could
permit another to seize them unquestioned
Their rich plains and valleys would be the
the scene of endless strife and bloodshcd. Tho
advent OF Deweys feet in Manila bay instead
OF being as we hope, the dawn OF new day OF
freedom and progress, will have been the begin
ming 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 give them independence, could retain pro.
tectorate over them. This proposition will NOT
be found, am sure, worthy of your serious at
tention. Sucn an arrangement would involve
at the outset cruel breach OF faith. 1t would
place the peaceable and majority, who ask moth
ing 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 IL 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 con-
gress Of the United States the power OF declar-
ing war and vest that tremendous prerosative
in the Tagalo leader Of the hour NusS,
1t does not seem desirable that should rec.
ommend at this time specific and final form
OF government for these islands. When peace
shall be restored 1t will be the duty Of congress
to construct plan OF government which shall
establish and maintain freedom and order and
peace in the Philippines. The insurrection Is
still existing and when 1t terminates further in
formation will be required as to the actual con-
dition Of affairs before inauyurating perma-
nent scheme Of civil government. The full re-
port OK the commission, now in preparation.
will contain Information and suggestions which
will be Of value to congress and which will
transmit as noon as IL Is completed.
AS long as the instruction continues the mil
itary arm must necessarily be supreme. Buo
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 ter
ritory is held or controlled by our troops. To
this end 1 considering the ACCESSIBILITY Of
the return of the commission, or such of the
members thereof as can be secured. to aid the
existing authorities and facilitate this work
throughout the islands. 1 have believed that
reconstruction should not begin by the estab-
lishment Of one central civil government for all
the islands with its seat at Manila, but rather
that the work should be commenced by Building
up from the bottom first establishing mupici-
pal governments and then provincial govern
ments, q central government at last to follow.
Until congress shall have made known tho
formal expression OF its will I shall use the au-
thority vested in me by the constitution and the
statutes to uphold the sovereignty Of the United
States in those distant islands and in all other
places where our flag rightfully floats.
Ishall put at the disposal of thu army and
navy all the means which the liberality Of con-
gress and the people have provided to cause
this unprovolied and wasteful insure ,tion to
cease. If any or lers OF mine were required to
insure the merciful conduct OF military and
naval operations, they would not be lacking;
but every step OF the pro yress Of ouI troops has
been marked by q humanity which has sur
prlsed even the Misguided insurgents. The
truest kindness to them will be a swift and ef-
fective defeat OF their present leader The
hour of victory will be an hour of clemency and
reconstruction.
No effort will be made to build up the waste
places deSolatcd by war and long years OF mis-
government We shall not wait for the end Of
the sUrife to begin the beneflcent work. We
shall continue Us we have begun, to open the
schools and the churches to set the courts in
operation to foster industry and trade and to
riculture and in every way providence has
make these people Wsdicton feel that 1t is
brought wlulI ILr 9aot our power, their welfare
men ~ " Our gain that we are seeking 10
enhance Our flag has never waved over any
community but in blessing. lbeheve tne RIM
pinos will soon recognize the fact that IL mas
not lost its gift OF benediction In itS worlu"iu'
Journey to their shores.
Recommendations for Porto Rico.
Tine system of civil Jurisprudence now adopted
bv the people of Porto Rico is described by
comuetent lawyers who are familiar win IL as
tborou hlv modern and scientific, so far as IL re-
lates to matters of internal business, trade
production and social and private rights In gen.
craL The cities of the island are governed I'M
der charters which probably require very little
or no change. So that with relation to matters
of local concern and private right It is not
probabie that much If any legislation Is desir-
able: but with reference to public admlnlstra-
ton and the relations OF the Islands TO the leu-
eral government there are many matters which
are of pressing urgency.
i
land under the law of beliigerent right, now
maintained through the executive department.
should be superseded by an administration en-
tirely civil in it's nature. For present purposes
| I recommend that congress pass law for the
organization of a temporary government, which
| shall provide for the appointment by the presl-
dent. subject to confirmation by the senate, OF a
| governor and such other officers as the general
administration of the island may require, ana
that for legislative purposes on subjects OF To-
| cal nature not ptrtaking of a federal character.
a legislative council. composed partly OF Porto
Ricans and partly of citizens OF the United
States shall be nominated and appointed oy
the president, subject to confirmation by the
senate. In the municipalities and other local
subdivisions l recommend that the principle
| of self-government be applied at once so as to
enable the intelligent citizens of the island 10
participate in their own government ana 10
| learn by practical experience the duties and re-
ouirements of u self-contaned and self-gov-
erning people.
The fundamental requirement. for these peo-
ple as for all people, is education. Sys-
| TENS of education in these new possessions
founded on common sense methods adapted to
existing conditions and looking to the future
movement and industrial advancement OF the
people will commend to them in peculiarly
effective manner the blessings of free govern
ment.
U~..I~. Wna n in