The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1899-12-08


found, / am sure, worthy of your serf
u attention. Such an arrange
ment would involve at the outset a
cruel breach of faith. IL would place
the peaceable and loyal majority. who
ask nothing better than to accept our
authority. at the mercy OF the minori-
ty of armed insurgents. 1t would
make us responsible for the acts of
the insurgent leaders and give us no
Fower to control them. 1t would
charge US with .he task OF protecting
them against each other N defend
ing them against n foreign power
with which they chose to quarrel. In
short, ii would take. from the congress
OF the United States the power of de-
claring war and vest that tremendous
p~rerogative in the Tagal leader of the
hour.
NO FINAL FORM OF GOVERN
MENT YET CHOSEN.
1T does not seem desirable that I
should recommend 1t this time n spe-
cifc and final form Of government for
these islands. When peace shall be
restored Ii will be the duty OF con-
gress 10 construct a plan Of govern
ment which shall establish and main
tain freedom n order and peace in
the Philippines. The instruction In
sun existing, and when IL terminates
further information viii be required as
to the actual condition OF affairs be-
fore tnaugurating n permanent scheme
or civil government. The full report
OF the commission, now in preparation.
Will contain information and surge
ions which will be OF value tn con-
gress. and which | will transmit as
soon rs Ii is completed. As long as
the insuTrection continues. the milf
tary arm must necessarily be SUI
preme. But there is no reason why
steps Should not be taken from time
TO ttme 10 inaugurate governments es-
s~entialiy popular in their form M fast
as territory is held and controlled by
our troops. To this end am consid-
ering the ACCESSIBILITY of the return or
the commission. or such or the MEM
bers thereof as can be secured. Ia aid
the existing authorities and facilitate
this work throughout the island I
nave believed the reconstruction should
not begin by the establishment Of one
central civil government for all the
islands. with its seat at Manila. but
rather that the work should be COM
menced by building up from the bot
tom, first establishing municipal gov
ernments and then provincial govern
ments' a central government at last
to follow.
known the forma expression of It's
will | shall use the authority vested
In me by the constitution and the
statutes TO uphold the sovereignty OF
the United States In those distant is
lands as in all other places where our
flag r~ightfully floats. | shall put at the
disposal of the army and navy all the
means which the liberality OF congress
and the people have provided TO cause
this unprovoked and wasteful insur-
rection TO cease. II any orders OF
mine were required TO insure the mer-
cifui conduct of military and naval op-
erations. they would not be lacking
but every step of the progress Of our
troops has been marked by a humanity
which has surprised even the misguid-
ed insurgents. The truest kindness to
them will be a swift and effective de-
feat Of their present leader. The hour
or victory will be the hour of clamen-
cy and reconstruction.
TO BUILD UP THE WASTE PLACES
n effort will be spared to build UP
the waste places desolated by war and
by long years Of misgovernment. We
shall not wait for the end of strife TO
begin the beneficent 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 agriculture, and in ev-
cry way in our power to make these
people whom Providence has brought
within our Jurisdiction feel that IL liz
their liberty and not our power, their
welfare and not our gain, we are seek
ing to enhance. Our flag has never
waved over any community but In
blessing. / believe the Filipinos will
soon recognize the fact that IL has not
lost it's gift of benediction In it's
worldwide journey to their shores"
THE HAWAIIAN ISLANDS.
Concerning the Hawaiian islands the
president says
THE people Of these Islands are en-
titled to the benefits and privileges OF
our constitution, but in the absence OF
any act OF congress providing for fed
eral courts in the islands. and for n
procedure by which appeals. writs OF
error and other judicial proceedings
necessary for the enforcement Of civil
rights may be prosecuted, they are
powerless to secure their enforcement
by the judgment of the courts OF the
United States. 1t Is manifestly i'm
portant, therefore, thaA- an act shall
be passed as speedily as possible erect
ing these islands into a judicial dis
trict, providing for the appointment OF
a Judge and other proper officers and
methods Of procedure in appellate pro-
ceedings. and that the government OF
this newly acquired territory under the
federal constitution shall be fully de-
fined and provided for"
THE GOVERNMENT OF PORTO,
RICO.
For the government OF Porto Rico
the president recommends that con-
gress pass a law for the organization
OF a temporary government which shall
provide for the appointment by the
president, subject to confirmation by
the senate. of a governor and such
other officers as the general admins
tration OF the island may require. and
that for legislative purposes upon
subjects OF a local nature not partak-
ing OF q federal character a legislative
council, composed partly of Porto Ric-
ans and partly OF citizens Of the Unit
ed States. shall be nominated and ap-
pointed by the president subject TO
confirmation by the senate. their acts
to be subject to the approval OF the
congress or the president prior to GO
ing into effect. In the municipalities
and other local subdivision he recon-
49,