Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1899-12-07

inaugurating permanent scheme OF
civil government. The full report of the
commission, now in preparation, will con-
tain information and suggestions which
will be of value to Congress, and which
will transmit as soon as it is completed.
As long as the insurrection continues tho
military arm must necessarily be SUI
preme But there is no reason why
steps should not be taken from time to
time to inaugurate governments essen
TALLY popular in their form as fast as
territory is held and controlled by our
troops. To this end / am considering
the ACCESSIBILITY of the return of the COM
mission, or such of the members thereof
as can be secured, to aid tue existing
authorities and facilitate this work
throughout tho island. | have believed
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
1 from the bottom, first establishing
municipal government and then pro-
visonal government, u central govern
ment Mt 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
these 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 the
Congress and the people have provided to
cause this unprovoked and wasteful in
surrection 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 sur
prised even the misguided insurgents.
The truest kindness to them will be
swift and effective defeat of their present
leader. The hour of victory will be the
hour of clemency and reconstruction.
No effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by war and
long years of misgovernment We shall
not walt for the end of strife to begin the
beneficent work. We shall continue, as
we have begun, to open the schools and
churches, to set the courts in operation,
to foster industry and trade and agricul.
ture and in every way in our power to
make these people whom Providence has
brought within our jurisdiction feel that
it is their liberty and not our power, their
| NGIlhlC anu lOL Jul Sulu, WthiC W
TO enhance. / believe the Filipinos will
soon recognize the fact that it has not lost
its gift of benediction in its world wide
journey to their shores.
GOVERNMENT FOX HAWAII.
Some embarrassment in administration
has occurred by reason Of the popular
, status which the Hawaiian Islands az
present occupy under the joint resolution
| pf tif,f ~, J,tltr 1909
While by that resolution tho republic oil
Hawaii as an independent nation was ex-
, tinguished, its separate sovereignty de-
stroyed, and its property and possessions
vested in the United States, yet a com
! plete establishment for its government
under our system was not effected. While
, the municipal laws OF the islands not en-
| acted for the fulfiiment of the States
/ | and not inconsistent with the joint reso-
/ luton or contrary to the Constitution
of the United States or any OF its treaties
remain in force, yet these laws relate
only to the social and internal affairs OF
i the island, and do not touch many sub.
e jects of Importance which are of broader
, national character For example, the
G Hawaiian republio3 was Invested of all
G title to the public lands in the island and
t Is not only unable 70 dispose of lands tt
: settlers desiring to take up homestead
g sites, but is without power to give com
Q plete title in cases where lands have beer
G entered upon under lease or other condi
: tions which carry with them the right Il
/ the purchaser, lessee or settler 10 have ,
Y full title granted to him upon compliance
t with the conditions prescribed by law o.
i by his public agreement of entry.
: Questions of doubt and difficulty have
r also risen with reference TO the collection
of tonnage tax on vessels coming from
Hawaiian ports; with reference to til,
status of Chinese in, the islands, their en-
trance and exit therefrom; as to patent
! and copyrights; as to the register of YES
! sells under the navigation laws; as to til,
: necessity of holding elections in accord
ance with the provisions Of the Hawaiian
:, statutes for the choice of various officers
and as to several other matters of detail
i touching the interests both of the isiant
y and of the Federal government.
by resolution of annexation the Presi
y dent was directed to appoint five com
. missioners to recommend toCongress sucl
legislation concerning the islands as the,
:, should deem necessary or proper. Th
y commissioners were duly appointed an,
y after n careful investigation of the sys
:, tenn of laws and customs prevailing in til
II islands and the conditions existing there
y they prepared a bill to provide govern
= ment under the title the "Territory C
!, Hawaii" The report of the commission
" with the bill which they prepared, wa
y transmitted by me to Congress on De
!, cember 9th, 1898, but the bill still await
~ final action.
u The people of these Islands are entitlc
to the benefits and privileges of our con
j. stitution. but, in the absence of any &C
e of Congress providing for Federal court
J.. in the islands, and for procedure b
II which appeals, writs of error and othe
IT judicial proceedings necessary for the er
i forcement of civil rights may be prose
lie cuted, they are powerless TO secure thei
fe enforcement by the Judgment of tn
y. courts of the United States. 1t is man
III testify important, therefore, that an ~
y shall be passed as speedily as possibl
n, creating these islands into judicial di!
10 trict, providing for the appointment of
!, judge and other proper officers an
ID methods of procedure in appellate pre-
'e ceedings, and that the government Of tn
q. newly acquired territory under the Fec
Ia eral constitution shall be fully define
and provided for.
q THE SITUATION IN ALASKA.
~ A necessity for immediate legislat,
4 relief exists in the territory of Alask
~ Substantially the only Jaw providing
"a civil government for this territory is I'll
a act of May 18th, 1884. This is meagre
n It's provisions, and is fitted only for I'll
M administration of affairs in a coul
n try sparsely inhabited by civilize
at people and unimportant in trat
II II and not productive, as was Alaska at til