Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1899-12-08


Of June a. 1890, which prescribes the
amount of income that determines PEN
sionable status of a dependent widow.
The president recommends that the
amount of income allowed independent
Of the proceeds of her daily labor should
not be less than $3.50 per annum, and he
urges that the congress shall so amend
the act as to make this provision.
THE PHILIPPINES.
The president introduces the subject
with a reference to the treaty of peace
between Spain and the United States
under the provision of which the Philip
pine archipelago was ceded to the United
Statessfor s2O,OOO,O 900. and says: have
every reason to believe, and l stiH be-
lieve, that this transfer Of sovereignty
was in accordance with the wishes and
aspirations of the great mass OF the
Filipino people. From the earliest mo-
ment no opportunity was lost Of assur-
ing the people of the islands of pur Lr-
dent desire for their welfare and Of the
intention of this government to DO every
thing possible to advance their interests.
The president quotes from various
orders issued to those in command of
the United States military and naval
forces at Manila to show that ii was the
object Of the United States to protect
the people and to establish benehcent
government, even before the treaty Of
peace was signed. After the treaty had
been ratified, the message says, orders
were sent to the commander to proclaim
the kindly intention of the government
and saying 1t was most important that
there should be no conflict with the in
surgents." The president then gives an
account of the appointment of the Philip
pine commission who, assisted by Ad-
miral Dewey and General Otis, were to
facilitate the most humane and effec-
tive extension of authority throughout
the islands" and says: But before their
arrival in Manila the sinister ambition
of few leaders of the Filipinos had
created a situation full of enlbarrass-
ment for US and most grievous in it's con-
sequences to themselves. The clear and
impartial preliminary report of the com
missioners which 1 transmit herewith
gives so lucid and comprehensive his
tory Of the present insurrectionary
movement that the story need not be
here repeated. 1t is enough to say that
the claim of the rebel leader that he was
promised independence by any officer Of
the United States in return for his as
sistance has no foundation in fact a nd is
categorically denied by the very wit
nesses who were called to prove it, No
sooner had our army captured Manila
than the Filipino forces began to assumL
an attitude of suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts of our officers
and troops were unable to disarm or
modify. Their kindness and forbear-
ance were taken as a proof OF cowardice
The aggressions OF the Filipinos con-
tinually increased until finally. just be-
fore the time set by the senate OF the
United States for vote upon the rea,y,
an attack. evidently prepared IN nd
vance. was made all along the Ameri AN
lines. which resulted in a terribly de-
structive and sanguinary repulse Of the
insurgents.
The president then gives the details
OF the uprising and slaughter proposed
by the insurgents in Manila, the success
OF which was prevented by General Otis.
Into whose hands fell a copy Of the order
OF the insurgent government, directing
the massacre. This. the president says,
was the unhappy condition OF affairs
which confronted our commissioners on
their arrival in Manila. What they
actually found can best be set forth in
their own words:
"Deplorable as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by a bold, adj
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left to us except igno-
minous retreat.
1T is not to be conceived of that any
American would have sanctioned the
surrender OF Manila to the insurgents
Our obligations to other nations and TO
the friendly Filipinos 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 the prose
cution Of the war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission"
The course thus clearly indicated, says
the message. has been unfiinchingly pur-
sued. Civil government cannot be
thoroughly established until order is
restored. Although operations have
been somewhat interrupted and checked
by a rainy season of unusual violence
and duration, our soldiers have gained
ground in every direction, and now look
forward confidently to a speedy compile
ton of their task. The unfavorable
circumstances connected with an active
campaign have not been permitted to in
terfere with the equally important work
OF reconstruction. Here, again, the
president invites attention to the re.
port of the commissioners for the in.
teresting and encouraging details of this
work already accomplished in the estab-
lishment Of peace and order, and th'
inauguration Of self-governing munici.
pal life in many portions of the archi.
pelago. The system of government es,
tablished In the Island of Negros, which
was the first to accept American sover'
eighty, is given in detail in the mes
sage.
The president then says: Everything
indicates that with speedy suppression
of the Tagalo rebellion. life in tn,
archipelago will soon resume its or
binary course, under the protection o.
our sovereignty, and the people of thos'
favored islands will enjoy a prosperit!
and freedom which they have neve
before known. Already hundreds o
schools are open and filed with children
Religious freedom IL sacredly assured
and enjoyed. The courts are dispensing
justice. Business is beginning to cir
culate in its accustomed channels.
The future government of the Philip
l I'M .agta. n. "A.