Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1899-12-15

/
| words:
| "Deplorable is. the one in which We
are now engaged was unavoidable by u.s. We
we're attacked by q bold. adventurous and en-
| thusiastic army. No alternative was left to US,
except ignomfnOus retreat
! "It is not to be conceived Of that any Ameri-
| can would have sanctioned the surrender OF
Manila to the insurgents Our obligations to
other nations and to the friendly F'ilipinos and
] to ourselves and our flag demanded that force
| should be met by force Whatever the future
| OF the Philippines may be, there is no course
open TO US now except TO prosecute the war un-
| til the insurgents are reduced to submission.
| The commission is Of the opinion that there has
| been no time since the destruction of the Span
| ish squadron by Admiral Dewey when it was
possible to withdraw forces from the is
| lands, either with honor to ourselves safety
| to the Inhabitants
The course thus clearly indicated has been
unfiinchingly pursued. The rebellion must be
put down Civil governments cannot be thor
ough1y established until order is restored. With
| devotion and gallautry worthy of its most
| brilliant history. the army, ably and Loyalty
sisted by the navy, has carried this unwel-
come, but most righteous campaign, with richly
deserved success The noble self-sacrihce with
which our soldiers and sailors whose service
had expired refused to avail themselves OF their
right to return home as long as they were need
ed at the front forms one of the brighte pages
in annals. Although their operations have
been somewhat interrupted and checked by
rainy season OF unusual violence ana duration.
they have gained ground steadily In every direc-
ton, and now look forward confidently to a
speedy completion of their task
communicate these facts to the congress for
| its information and action. Everything indi-
Gates that with the speedy suppression OF the
Tagalo rebellion, life in the archipelago will
soon assume its ordinary course under the pro-
lection Of our sovereignty and the people Of
| those favored islands will enjoy q prosperity
and a freedom which they have never before
known. Already hundreds Of schools are
open and filed with children. Religious free
dom &c dtxT and ar1frl T-nd ThG
courts are dispensing Justice Business is be-
ginning to circulate in its accustomed channels
Manila, whose inhabitants were fleeing to the
country a few months aZo, is now populous
and thriving mart Of commerce. The earnest
and unremittlng endeavorS OF the commission
and the admiral and major general command
ing the department of the Pacific to assure the
people OF the benehcent intentions OF this gov
eminent, 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 acceptance Of
the authority of the United States.
The future government OF the Philippines
rests with the congress of the United States
Few graver responsibilities have been
confided to II we accept them in spirit
worthy of our race and our traditions, great
opportunity comes with them The islands lie
under the shelter of our flag. They ours by
every title of law and equity. They cannot
be abandoned II desert them leave
them at once to anarchy and finally to barbar-
ism. We fling them, golden apple of discord,
among the rival powers no one OF which could
permit another to seize them unqueStioned.
Their rich plains and valleys would be the
the scene of endless strife and bloodshed- The
advent of Dewey's feet in Manila bay instead
OF being. as we hope the dawn OF new day of
freedom and progress, VIII have been the begin
ming OF an era OF misery and violence worse
than any which has darkened their unhappy
past. The suggestion has been made that we
could renounce our authority the islands
and give them independence, could retain a pro-
tectorate over them. This proposition will not
be found, am sure, worthy of your serious at
tention. Sucn an arrangement would involve
at the outset cruel breach of faith. It would
place the peaceeble and majority, who ask moth
ing better than to accept our authority, at the
mercy OF armed insurgents. It would make US
responsible for the acts OF the insurgent leaders
and give us no power to control them It would
charge US with the task Of protecting them
against each other. and defending them against
any foreiRn power with which they chose to
quarrel. In short. it would take from the con-
gress OF the United States the power OF declar-
ing war and vest that tremendous prerogatiTe
in the Tagalo leader of the hour
It does not seem desirable that should rec
ommend at this time specific and final form
Of government for these islands. When peace
shall be restored it will be the duty of congress
to construct plan of government which shall
establish and maintain freedom and order and
peace In the Ph1i1pplneS The 1nsurrectlon Is
still existing and wnen it terminates further in
formation will be required as to the actual con-
dition of affairs before inaugurating perma-
Z.
port OF the commission, now in preparation
will contain information and suggestions which
Will be OF value to congress and which will
transmit soon as it is completed.
1Shan put at the disposal of the army and
navy all the means which the nberality of con-
greSS and the people have provided to cause
this unprovoked and waStefal insure :tion to
cease. If any orders of mine were required to
insure the merciful conduct 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 eff
fective defeat Of their present leader. The
hour Of victory will be an hour of clemency and
reconstruction.
No effort will be made to build up the waste
places desOlated by war and long years OF mis-
government. We shall not wait for the end of
the strife to begin the beneicent work. We
shall continue. as we have begun, to open the
schools and the churches, to set the courts in
operation, to foster industry and trade and ag
r1culture 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 that we are seeking to
enhance. Our flag has never waved over any
community but in blessing. believe the Fill
pinos will soon recognize the fact that it has
not lost its gift of benediction in its worldwide
journey to their shores.
Recommendations for Porto Rico.
The system Of civil Jurisprudence now adopted
by the people of Porto Rico is described by
competent lawyers who are familiar with it as
thoroughly modern and scientific, so far as it
lates to matters of internal business. trade
production and social and private rights in gen.
eraL The cities OF the island are governed I'M
der charters which probably require very little
change. So that with relation to matters
of local concern and private right it is not
probable that much if any legislation is desir-
able; but with reference to public administra-
ton and the relations of the islands to the fed
eral government there are many matters which
are of pressing urgency.
The fundamental requirement for these peo-
pie. for all people, is education. The free
schoolhouse is the best preceptor for citizen
ship In the Introduction of modern educa-
tional methods care however must be exer-
cised that changes be not made too abruptly
and that the history and racial peculiarities Of