Hopkinsville Kentuckian., 1899-12-08

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an era of misery. and violence, worse than any
which has darkened their unhappy past.
me iny suggestion has been made that we
could renounce ur-authorlty over the Isl.
nnds, and, eivinR them Independence, could
rethln protectoratc over them. This
propqsition Will not be found, | am sure.
worthy OF your selection. Such an ar
rnngemcnt would Involve at the outset a
cruel ,lreach of faith. II would place the
pesscsable and loyal majority. who ask FOR
nOthing better than 20 accept our authority.
nt the mercy Of the. minority OF armed In
surFcnts. IL would mako us responsible
for the acts OF the insu gent leaders. and
would charge us With the task OF protect. \
Ing them against cHch other. aud defend.
ing them against any foreign nower with I
winch 'hey choose to uuarrel In short. t
would inke from the Congress Of the Uni,
ted states tn" power OF declaring war an
vest that tremendous prerogative In en-
lngnl leader OF the hour II does not secmN
desirable that | should recommend at thiai
time n specific aud flnnl form OF govern
rient for these Islands. When peace shall
be restored. II Will be the duty OF Con
Sicss 10 construct plan Of government
which shall establish and maintain free
dom and order and pence Ia the Philip
tiutli Congress shall have made knoYM
the Formal expression OF It's viii. | slkll
use the authority ycsr ed IN me by the CM
stltutiun and the slptutps 10 uphold the
sovereignty " the United States In those
distant islnnds. us In all other places whore
nur nag rightfully floats. shall put at the
means which the liberality of Congress and
the people have provided to cause this un-
provoked aud wastefu lnsurrectlon to
cease.
Our flag has never waved over any com
nunity hut In blessing. ! believe the Fill
pinos will soon recognize the fact that II
has not lost its gift Of benediction I'm its
world wide Journey to their shores.
FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF THE HA-
WAIIAN ISLANDS.
Some embarrassment In the adminlstra
status which the Hawaiian Islands AT pres
Ont occupy under the joint resolution OF
annexation approved July I. 1898. While
by that resolution the Repubic Of Hawaii
as an independent nation was extingulshed
its separate sovereignty DESTROYED and its
property aud possessions vested In the Uni
TED States, yet a complete establishment
for It's government under our system was
not effected. While the municipal laws of
the Islands, not enacted for the fulfllment
Of treaties and not inconsistent with the
Joint resolution or contrary to the Consti
tuition Of the United States or any of its
treaties, remain I'm force, yet these laws
relate only TO the social and international
ahairs Of the Islands, and do not touch
many subjects of Importance which are
OF broader national character, and sew
eral other matters of detail touching the
eral government.
BY the resolution OF annexation the Pres
tdent was directed to appoint FIVE Commits
SiOners, to recommend TO Congress such
legislation concerning the islands as they
should deem necessary or proper. The re-
port of the Commission was transmitted
to Congress on December 6, 1905 but the T
bill still awaits final action
The people Of these islands are entitled to
the benefits and privileges of our Constitu-
tion. It Is manifesty important that an
hct shall be passed as speedily as possible
erecting these Islands into a judicial xls
trlct, providing for the appointment oNa
Judge and other proper officers and methods
Of procedure In appellate proceedings. and
that the government Of this newly ac-
quired territory under the federal consti-
tuition shall be fully defined and provided
ALASKA IN NEED or BETTER LAWS.
A necessity for immediate legislative re
lief exists In the Territory of Alaska The
Increase in population by immigrant tion dur
Ing the past few years, consequent upcn
the discovery Of gold. has produced such
condition as calls for more ample facilities
Tor local self-government and more numer-
ous conyeniences OF civil and judicial ad-
There is practically no organized form w
government In the Territory. There Is 10
authority. except in Congress. to pass any
law, no matter how local or trivial. and the
or conveying to the Congress an
adequate conception and understanding Of
the various needs OF the people In the diff
ferent communities is easily understood. I
see no reason why a more complete form
OF territorial organization should not be
provided
The President here cites the-temporary
government. which was provided for the
mends the same legislation for Alaska.
AS TO THE FUTURE GOVERNMENT
OF PORTO RICO.
| recommend that legislation to the same
end be had with reference to the govern
ment of Porto Rico. The time is ripe for
The adoption of temnorarv> Norm OF gov
arnment for this island. and many sugges
Ions made with reference to Alaska are ap
Dcable to Porto Rico
The system OF civil jurisprudence now
adopted by the people OF this island is dis
mlliar with 1t. as thoroughly modern and
so far as il relates to matters of
business, trade production.
and social and private, rights in general.
Ibr cities OF the Islands are governed un-
charters which probably require very
little or no change. so that, with relation
% matters of local concern and private
light, 4 is not probable that much If any
egislation is desirable; but with reference
70 public administration and the relation
II the Islands to the federal government,
ng urgency. 1t must be borne in mind
hat since the cession Porto Rico has been
ienied the princlpal' markets she had long
enjoyed. and our tariffs have been contn-~
red against her products as when she was
inder Spanish sovereignty.
1t Is desirable that the government Of the
low maintained through the executive de-
should be superseded by an ad-
ninistration entirely civil in Its nature.
congress pass a law for the organization
II temporary government, which shall
provide for the appointment by the Presi-
lent. subject to confirmation by the Sen
tie, OF government and such other officers
IS the general administration of the island
nay require, and that for legislative pur-
'oses, on subjects Of local nature. not
,artaklng Of n federal character egisla
I've council, composed partly Of Porto
.icans and partly Of citizens Of the United
'tates, shall be nominated and appointed
~ the President subject to confirmation
" the Senate. their acts to be subject 10
he approval of Congress or the President.
riOr to going into effect. In the munlei-
altics and other local subdivisions. | rec
mmend that the principle OF local self
Oyernment be applied at once. ~
Why CIVIL SERVICE ORDER WAS AMI
MENDED. M
The executive order of May O. 1896. ex-
ending the limits of the classified service,
rOught within the operation OF the civil
eryice law and rules nearly all Of the ex-