The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-12-06

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shail 50 aHleqq tAe aet as 80 permit
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statutes tQ widows Rndee iba terms Of
The tAlfq Seciagp "a rlRe api NJ June
9Th 1886 whose income aside from the
proceeds ~ daily iQbgy IS a0t iii excess
Of $3.50 Beg sHpRH : believe this 10 be
simple aet ~ justice. $50 heartily
recommend il
The Philippines.
4 considerable portion OF he message
is devoted - fle Philippine Islands.
The President reyiews tbe manner IN
which we acquired possession ~ fbesr
islands and says he had every reason ~
believe and stiIi believes that tl{s trans
fer Or sovereignty was ln accordance
with the wishes and aspirations 0f the
great mass Of the Philippine peon,o.
From the earliest moment 80 ofnorttIui.
ty was lost Of assuring the people Of
the islands of orr ardent desire for their
welfare and Of The intention 0f tliis gov
eminent 10 do everything possible "a ia
vance their interests
The President quotes from llis ealRy
orders TO the commanders OF the forces
Of occupation 10 impress this fact mon
the people, and reviews at Some length
the appointment and work Of the philp-
pine Commission from whose report ne
quotes. A copy Of the report is transmit
ted to Congress. The claim of the rebel
leader that he was promised independ-
ence by any officer OF the United States
in return for his assistance has no foun-
dation In fact, and is categorically de-
rniad INV 4H1a
| called to prove it. The most the insllr-
gent leader hoped for when he came
back to Manila was the liberation of the
islands from the Spanish control. which
they had been la.boring for years without
success to throw Off Continuing the
President says:
| OUT ON REBELLION!
'TI'he rebellion must be put down. Civil
| Government cannot be thoroughly eS-
tablished until order is restored. With
a devotion and gallantry worthy of it's
mOts brilliant history the army, ably
and Loyalty assisted by the nav. has
| carried ON this unwelcome but most
| righteous campaign with richly deserved
success. The noble self-sacrifice with
which our soldiers and sailors whose
terms of service had expired refused to
avail themselves Of their right to return
home as long as they were needed at
/ the front forms one of the brightest
! pages ON our annals. Although their
| operations have been somewhat inter
rupted and checked by a rainy season Of
unusual violence and duration, they
have gained ground steadily in every di-
rection, and now look forward confident
ly to u speedy completion of their task
RECONSTRUCTION
''The unfavorable circumstances con-
nected with an active campaign have
not been permitted to interfere with the
! equally important work of reconstruc-
| ton Again invite your attention to
| the report of the commissioners for the
interesting and encouraging details OF the
work already accomplished in the estab-
| lishment of peace and order and the in
auguration Of self governing life in many
portions of the archipelago. A notable
beginning has been made in the estah-
| lishment of a government in the Island
of Negros which is deserving of special
consideration. This was the first island
to accept American sovereignty. Its peo-
| pie unreservedly proclaimed allegiance
to the United States and adopted a
constitution looking to the establishment
of a popular government. 1t was inn
| possible to guarantee to the people of
| Negros that the constitution so adopted
should be the ultimate form of govern
ment. Such question, under the treaty
with Spain and in accordance with our
own constitution and laws came exclu-
siyely within the jurisdiction of the
| Congress. The Government actually set
up by the inhabitants of Negroes eYentu-
! ally proved satisfactory to the natives
themselves A new system was put into
force by order of the Major General com
manding the department.
| (This system mas been previously pub
lished.
OUR SULTAN.
''The authorities of the Sulu Islands
| have accepted the succession of the
| United States to the rights of Spain.
| and our flag floats over that territory.
On the tenth of August. 1899, Brigadier
| General J. c.. Bates, United States Vol
unteers, negotiated an agreement with
the Sultan and his principal chiefs
which / transmit herewith BY article /
the sovereignty of the United States
over the whole archipelago Of Jolo and
its dependencies is declared and ac-
lmowledged
Ihe UNITED States flag will be used
in the archipelago and its dependencies,
ON land and sea. Piracy is to be sup
pressed, and the Sultan agrees to CO oper-
ate heartily with the United States atl-
thorities to that end and to make every
possible effort to arrest and bring to
Justice all persons engaged in piracy.
All trade in domestic products of the
| archipelago of Jolo when carried on with
any part of the Philippine Islands and
under the American flag shall 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 Unit
ed States will not sell the Island of JolO
or any other island of the Jolo archipela-
go to amy foreign nation without the com
sent 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 $760 monthly.
MARKET VALUE OF FREEDOM.
article X provides that any slave in