The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1899-12-08

itflluN OF our sovereignty fnN tie lrUUiC
Tn Sc favored islands will enjoy "a prosperity
and freedom which they have never before
known Alreudy huudred> NJ schools are
open and filled with children Religious free
dom is sacredly assured ana cujDycL The
courts are dispensing Justice Business Is be-
ming to circulate IN it's accustomed channels.
Manila, whose inhabitants were fleeing 10 the
country few months aeo is now pOpulous
and thriving mart Of commerce. The earnest
and unremitting endenvors OF the commission
and the admiral and major general commando
ing the department OF the Pacific t. 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 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 ever been
confded to us II accept them In u spirit
worthy Of our race and our traditions, u great
opportunity comes with them. The islands lie
under the shelter Of our hag. They are ours by
every title Of law and equity. They cannot
be abandoned. II we desert them we leave
them at once to anarchy and finally to barbar-
ism. We fling them golden apple Of discord,
among the rival powers, 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 fleet in Manila bay instead
| OF being as we hope, the dawn Of new day OF
freedom and progress W II 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 over the islands
| and give them independence, could retain pro-
| tectorate over them Vhi, proposition will not
be found am sure worthy Of your serious at
| tention. Sucn an arrangement would involve
at the out,e "a cruel breach of faith. II would
place the peaceable and majority, who ask moth
! ing better than TO accept our authority, at the
mercy OF armed insurgents. II would make US
responsible for the acts Of the lnsurgent leaders
and give us no power to control them. 1t 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 II would take from the con-
gress OF the United States the power OF declar-
ing and vest that tremendous prerogative
in the TaRalo leader OF the hour.
As long as the insurrection continues the mil
itary arm must necessarily be supreme But
there is no reason why steps should not be taken
| from time to time to inaugurate governments
essentially popular in their form as fast as ter
! ritory is held or controlled by our troops. To
| this end l am considering the advisability Of
the return OF the commission. or such OF the
| members thereof as can be secured, TO aid the
| existing authorities and facilitate this work
| throughout the islands. / have believed that
reconstruction should not begin by the estab-
| lshment Of one central civil government for all
| the islands with its seat at NJ inila, but rather
| that the work should be c mmenced by building
| up from the bottom first establishing munich
pal governments and then provincial govern
| ments, a central government at last to follow.
Until congress shall have made known the
formal expression OF its will | shall use the au-
thoritv vested in me by the constitution and the
| statutes TO uphold the sovereignty OF the United
States in those distant islands and in all other
places whore our flag rightfully floats.
1t does not seem desirable that should rec
| ommend NJ this time a specific and final form
| Of government for these islands. When peace
shall be restored 1t will be the duty Of congress
TO construct plan Of government which shall
| establish and maintain freedom and order and
| peace in the Philippines The instruction is
| still existing and when it terminates further in
formation will be required as to the actual con-
dtion of affairs before inaugurating a perna-
nent scheme of civil government The full re-
| port Of the commission, now in preparation,
will contain information and suggestions which
| Will be OF value To congress ana which l will
transmit as soon as 1t is completed.
l shall put at the disposal Of the army and
navy all the means which the liberality Of con-
gress and the people have provided to cause
this unprovoked and wasteful insure ,tion to
cease. II any or iers Of mine were required to
insure the merciful conduct of military and
naval operations, they would not be lacking;
hut every step OF the pro 'reSs of our troops has
been marked by humanity which has sur
priSed even the mis- GUIDED insurgents The
truest blindness TO them vii, be "a swift and ef-
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 desolutcd by war and long years Of mis-
government We shall not wait for the end OF
the strife TO begin the benehcent work We
shall continue, rs we have begun, TO open the
schools and the churches, to set the courts in
operation, to foster industry and trade and az
riculture and in every way in our power to
make these people whom Providence has
brought within our jurisdiction feel that il is
their liberty and not our power, tleir welfare
ana not our gain that we are seeking to
enhance Our lug has never waved over any
community but in blessing. | believe the Fill
pinOs will soon recognize the fact that 1t has
not lost its gift OF bcnediction 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 II re-
lates TO matters of internal business, trade
production and social and private rights in gem
eraL The cities OF the island are governed un-
der charters which probably require very little
or no change. SO that with relation to matters
of local concern and private right It is not
probable that much II any legislation is desir-
able; but with reference to public administra-
ton and the relations OF the islands 10 the fed
eral government there are many matters which
are OF pressing urgency
1t is desirable that the government of the is
land under the law Of beigerent right now
maintained through the executive department,
should be superseded by an administration en-
trely civil In its nature. For present purposes
| recommend that congress pass law Tor the
organization Of u temporary government which
shall provide for the appointment by the presi
dent, subject to confirmation by the senate, OF a
governor and such other officers as the general
administration Of the island may require and
that for legislative purposes on subjects OF To-
cal nature, not partating OF a federal character,
a legislative council composed partly Of Porto
RicanS and partly OF citizens OF the United
States, shall be nominated and appointed by
the president, subject TO confirmation by the
senate. In the municipalities and other local
subdivisions | recommend that the principle
OF self-government be applied at once so as TO
enable the intelligent citizens OF the island TO
participate In their own government and to
learn by practical experience the du les and re-
quirements of elf-contained ana a solf-gov-
ernng people.