Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1899-12-07

them against any foreign power with
which they chose to quarrel. In short,
! ii would take from the congress of the
| United States the power of declaring
war and vest that tremendous preroga-
tive in the Tagalo leader of the hour
1t does not seem desirable To the
president that he should recommend
at this time a SPECIFIC ana nnal form
| of government for these islands
When peace shall be restored it win
be the duty of congress to construct
a plan of government which shall es-
/ tablish and maintain freedom and or
der and peace in the Philippines.
| The insurrectiou is still existing, and
when ii terminates further mforma-
ton VII, be required as TO the actual
condition of affairs before inaugural
| ing a permanent scheme of civil gov
ernment As long as the lnsurrectiou
continues the military arm must neces-
! sarily be supreme. But there is no
reason why steps should not be taken
from time to time to inaugurate gov
ernments essentially popular in their
form as fast as territory is held or con-
trolled by our troops. To this end the
president is considering the advisable
ity 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. The president believes
that reconstruction should not begin
by the establishment. 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, hrst es-
tablishing municipal governments and
then provincial governments, a central
government at last to follow.
Until congress shall have made
known the formal expression of its
will | shall use the authority vested in
me by the constitution and the statutes
to uphold the sovereignty of the United
States in those distant 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 liberality of congress and
the people have provided to cause this
Iunprovoked and wasteful insurrection
To cease. If any orders of mine were
required to insure the merciful con
duct OF military and naval operations,
they would not be lacking; but every
step Of the progress of our troops has
been marked by humanity which has
surprised even the misguided insur4
gents. The truest kindness to them
will he swift and effective defeat of
their present leader The hour of vic
tory will he the hour of clemency and
reconstruction.
No effort viii be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by war and
by long years Of disagreement We
shall not wait for the end of strife to
begin the benefcent work We shall
continue, as we have begun, to open
the schools and the church. to sci
the courts In operation. tC
foster industry and trade and agricul-
ture, and In every way In our power to
make these people whom Providence
feel that it is their liberty and not our
power their welfare and not our gain,
we are seeking to enhance Our flag
has never waved over any community
but In blessing ! believe the Filipinos
viii soon recognize the fact that it has
not lost its gift Of benediction in its
worldwide journey to their shores.
Hawaii
While the municipal laws of the
Hawaiian Islands not enacted for the
fuifllment of treaties and not incon-
sstent with the joint resolution or
contrary to the constitution OF the
! United States or any Of its treaties re-
main in force, yet these laws relate
only to the social and internal affairs
Of the islands and do not touch many
subjects Of Importance which are OF a
| broader national character BY the
resolution OF annexation the president
was directed to appoint five commits
sioners to recommend to congress such
| legislation concerning the Islands as
| they should deem necessary or proper.
These commissioners were duly ap-
| pointed and after a careful inyestiga-
ton they prepared a bill to provide a
government under the title OF the
territory Of Hawaii" The report Of
the commission, with the bill which
they prepared, was transmitted by me
to congress on Dec. 6, 1893. but the bill
Isull awaits final action II IL mani
testify important, therefore, that an
act shall be passed as speedily as pos
sble erecting these islands into a
judicial district providing for the APP
pointment Of a Judge and other proper
officers anu methods Of procedure In
appellate proceedings and that the
government Of this newly acquired
territory under the federal constitu-
ton shall be fully defined and pro-
vlded for.
Turning to Alaska the president de-
clares that he can sec no reason why a
more complete form of territorial or
RanizatiOn should not be provided.
/ Porto Rico Again