Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-05

known. Already hundreds of schools are
open and filled with children. Religious
freedom is sacredly assured and enjoyed.
The courts are dispensing justice. Bus ness
Is beginning to circulate in its accust om-d
channels. Manila, whose inhabitants were
fleeing to the country few months ago. IS
now pOpulous and thriving mart of com
merce- The earnest and unremitting en-
deavors of the Commission and the Admiral
and MajOr-General Commanding the De
partmen1 of the Pacific to assure he people
of the benefcent intentions of this Govern
ment have had Their legitimate effect IN
convincing the great mass of them that
peace and safety and prosperity and stable
government can only be found in a loyal
acceptance of the authority of the United
States.
Responsibility of Congress.
The future government of the Philippines
rests with the Congress of the United
States. Few graver responsibilities have
ever been confidad to US If we accept
them in a 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 can not be aban-
doned. If we desert them We leave them at
orce to anarchy and finally to barbarism.
We fling them, a go den apple Of discord
among the rival powers, no one of which
could permit another TO seize them unques-
toned. Their rich plains and valleys would
be the scene of endless strife and blood
shed. The advent of Dewey's fleet in Ma
Mia Bay instead of being as we hope the
dawn of a new day of freedom and pro-
SreSs, Will have been the beginning of an
era Of misery and violence worse than any
which has darkened their unhappy mast
The suggestion has been made that we
could renounce our authority over the is
lands and, giving them independence. could
retain Il prOtectOrate over them This
proposition vii. not be found | am sure.
worthy Of your serious attention. Such an
arrangement would involve AT the outset
cruel breach of faith. 1t would place
the peaceable and loyal majority who ask
nothing better than to accept our AUTHORITY
at the mercy of the minority of armed in
Surgents. 1t would make us responsible for
the acts of the insurgent leaders and give
us no power TO control them. II 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
take from the Congress Of the United
states the power of dec airing war and vest
tlldI tremendous perogative in the Tagal
leader of the hour,
1t does not seem desirable thar T Sb,,,1s
recommend at this time a specific and final
FORM OF government for these islands
men peace shall be restored it will be
the duty of Congress to construct a nlan
OF government which shall establish ami
MAINTAIN freedom and order and peace i'm
the PhlllpplneS. The inSurrecrion iS stilI
existing, and when it terminates furthar
iilIorhaton VIII be required as to the ac-
tuai condition of affairs before iuaug1Irat-
ing permanent scheme of civil govern
hleht The full report of the Commission
now IN preparation. will contain informa
tion ana suggestions which will be of value
10 congress, and which | will transmit a
soon as 1t Is completed As long as the
instruction continues the military arm
must necessarily be supreme But there Is
40 reason why stems Should h.
from time to time to inaugurate govern
nlents essentially popular in their form as
Iast as territory is held and controlled by
our troops To this end | am considering
the adVlsability of the return of the Conn
mission, or such of the members thereof
as can be secured, to aid the existing au-
thorltles and facilitate this work thr0urh
out the islands. 1 have believed that re-
construction should not begin bv the s.
IaDnshment of one central civil government
Tor all the islands, with its seat at Manila
put rather that the work should be com
menced by building up from the bottom.
nfst establishing municipal governments
ana 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 Com
stitution and the statutes to uphold the
sovereignty of the United States i'm those
distant islands as in all other places whore
our flag rishtfully floats. l shall put at the
disposal of the Army and Navy all the
means which the Gberality of Congress and
the people have provided to cause this un-
provoked and wasteful insurrection TO
cease. If any orders of mine were required
to insure the merciful conduct of military
and naval operations, they would not he
lacking; but every step of the progress of
our troops has been marked by a humanity
which has surprised even the misguided in
surgents. The truest kindness to them will
be a swift and effective defeat of their
present leader. The hour of victory will
nd yFEr,g.
ton.
No effort will be spared to build up the
waste places desolated by war and by long
years of miSgOVernment. We shall not
wait for the end of strife to begin the
beneficent work. We shah continue, as we
have begun, to open the schools and the
churches, to set the courts in operation, to
foster industry and trade and agriculture,
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 welfare
and not our gain, are seeking to en-
nance. Our flag has never waved over any
community but in blessing. ] believe the
Filipinos will soon recognize the fact that
it has not lost its gift of benediction in its
worldwide journey to their shores.
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Some embarrassment in administration
has occurred by reason of the peculiar
status which the Hav allan Islands at pres
ent occupy under the joint resolution of
annexation approved July Z, 1898. While
by that resolution the Republic of Hawaii
as an independent nation was extinguished.
it's separate sovereignty destroyed, and its
property and possessions vested IN the
United States. yet complete establishment
for its government under our system was
rot effected. While the municipal laws of
the islands not eracted for the fuif.lment
of treaties and not inconsistent with the
joint resolution or contrary to the Consti-