The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1899-12-06

The military governor was authorized to
! appoint secretaries of the treasury, in
terror, agriculture, public instruction, an
| attorney general and an auditor The
| seat of government was fixed at Bacolod.
/ The military governor exercises the SUI
preme executive power. He Is to see that
| the laws are executed. appoint to office
\ and fill all vacancies in office not other
wise provided for, and may, with the APP
! prevail of the military governor of the
Philippines remove any officer from
| office. The civil governor advises the
| military governor on all public civil
| questions and presides over the advisory
! council. He in general performs the du
| ties which are performed by secretaries
| of state in our own system of govern
ment The advisory council consists of
eight members elected by the people
within territorial limits which are de-
fined in the order of the commanding
general.
SULU ISLAND TREATY.
The authorities of sulu Islands have
| accepted the succession of the United
States to the rights of Spain, and our flag
floats over that territory. On the 10th of
August. 1899, Brigadier General J. C.
Bates, L. s. V, negotiated an agreement
with the sultan and his principal chiefs,
which l transmit herewith. BY article
the sovereignty of the United States over
the whole archipelago of Jolo and its de-
tendencies is declared and acknowledged.
The United States flag will be used in the
archipelago and its dependencies, on land
the sultan agrees to cooperate heartily
with the United States authorities to that
end and to make every possible effort to
arrest and bring to Justice all persons en-
gagged in piracy. All trade in domestic
products of the archipelago of Jolo, when
carried on with any part of the Philip
pine Islands and under the American flag
snail be free, unlimited and undutiable.
The United States will give full protection
to the sultan in case any foreign nation
should attempt TO impose upon him. The
mi tod a will h,a Gle IF
Jolo or any other island of the Jolo archi-
pelago to any foreign nation without the
consent of the sultan. Salaries for the
sultan and his associates in the admin
istration of the islands have been agreed
upon to the amount of S76O monthly.
PRESIDENT REFUSES TO CONSENT
TO SLAVERY.
Article 10 provides that any slave in the
archipelago of Jolo shall have the right
| to purchase freedom by paying to the
master the usual market price The agree
| ment by General Bates was made subject
| to confirmation by the president and to
! future notifications by the consent of the
parties in interest. / have confirmed said
| agreement, subject to the action of the
! congress, and with the reservation. which
l have directed shall be communicated to
the sultan of Jolo that this agreement is
| not to be deemed in any way to authorize
or give the consent of the United States to
| the existence of slavery in the Sulu archi-
| pelago. communicate these facts to the
| congress for its information and action.
TAGALO REVOLT ABOUT OVER.
Everything indicates that with the
speedy suppression of the Tagalo rebellion
life in the archipelago will soon resume its
ordinary course under the protection of
our sovereignty, and the people of those
favored islands will enjoy a prosperity
and freedom which they have never be-
fore known. Already hundreds Of schools
! are open and filled with children Relig-
ions freedom S9prp6lV
Joyed. The courts are dispensing justice.
Business is beginning to circulate in its
accustomed channels. Manila, whose in
habitants were fleeing to the country a
lew months ago, is now populous and
thriving mart of commerce. The earnest
and unremitting endeavors of the COM
mission and the admiral and major gem
eral commanding the department of the
Pacific to assure the people of the bene-
lcent intentions of this government 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 a loyal accept
ance of the authority of the United States.
FUTURE OF THE ISLANDS.
The future government of the Philip
pines rests with the congress of the United
States. Few graver responsibilities have
ever been confided to us. If we accept
them in spirit worthy of our race and
traditions great opportunity comes with
them; The islands lie under the shelter of
law and equity They cannot be aban-
doned. If we desert them we leave them
at once to anarchy, and finally to bar
parish. We fling them golden apple of
discord among the rival powers, no one of
winch could permit another to seize them
unquestioned. Their rich plains and val
leys would be the scene of endless strife
and bloodshed. The advent of Dewey 5
fleet in Manila bay, instead of being, as
we nope the dawn of a new day of free
dom and progress, will have been the be-
If of
worse than any which has darkened their
unhappy past. The suggestion has been
made that we could renounce our au-
thorfty over the islands, and, giving them
independence, could retain a protectorate
over them. This proposition will not be
found, am sure, worthy of your serious
attention. Such an arrangement would
involve at the outset a cruel breach of
faith. 1t would place the peaceable and
loyal majority who ask nothing better
than to accept our authority, at the mer-
cy of the minority of Irmed insurgents.
1t would make us responsible for the acts
of the insurgent leaders 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. In short, it would
States, the power, of declaring war and
vest that tremendous prerogative in the
Iagal leader of the hour.
COMMISSION TO BE SENT BACK.
1t does not seem desirable that I should
recommend at this time a specific and
final form of government for these ISL
amos; When peace shall be restored it
will be the duty of congress to construct
! and maintain freedom and order and
peace in the Philippines. The insurrec-
con IS still existing, and when it termi-
mates further information will be required
as to the actual condition of affairs be-
lore 1nauguratng permanent scheme Of
clvll government. The full report of the
= IN,
contain Information and suggestions
which will be of value to congress. and
; which | will transmit as soon as 1t is
| completed. AS long as the insurrecfior
continues the military arm must neces-
sartly be supreme But there is no rea-
son why steps should not be taken from
) Tune to time to inaugurate governments
essentially popular in their form as fast
as territory is held and controlled by our
t | troops. To this end l am CONSIDERING the
| adylsabllity Of the return of the com
mission, or such of the members thereof
as can be secured to aid the existing an
thorities and facilitate this work through
out the Islands. have believed that re-
! construction should not begin by the es-
Establishment of one central civil govern
ment for all the Islands, with its seat
at Manila, but rather that the work
should be commenced by building IN from
the bottom, first establishing mllnicinai
governments and then provincial govern
ments, central government at last In
follow ~
WITH VICTORY WILL COME RECON
STRUCTION.
Until congress shall have made known
/, the formal expression of it's 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 liberal
ity of congress and the people have pro
wasteful instruction to cease II anv
orders of mine were REQUIRED to insure