The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-04

dicial Jurisdiction over the Philippines
was vested absolutely in spain, 80 the
legislative and administrative branches
OF the government were, with the eN-
ception Of the lowest officials, conf
pletely In Spanish hands.
1t goes without saying that the gov
ernor general was appointed by the
Spanish government. He was assisted
by a council of administration, whose
members were in part appointed by the
Spanish government and in part elect
ed by the provincial juntas, which the
Spanish government controlled spain
also appointed the governor OF every
province and of the council or tunta,
which assisted the governor. Only the
minority OF the members were elected
and these not by the people at large,
but the heads or mayors Cmunicipal
captains'D of the towns of the prov
ince. Thus it was that neither in the
government of the province nor In the
general government of the archipelago
had the Inhabitants of the philippines
any control and scarcely even voice.
Indeed, these provincial councils, tor
which the heads OF the municipalities
were permitted to elect minority OF
the members. had only advisory pow
ers in relation to the governor, whose
decision in all matters was supreme;
ana besides advising the governor, the
councils had no other function but %
inspect the administration of the az
fairs of the municipalities.
Even the municipal councils We're
therefore, not bodies controlled by the
people. In addition to constant inSpec-
tion and direction from the proVlnclal
junta, every municipal council was
liable to warning, admonition, fines,
and suspension at the hands OF the
governor of the province. And to make
the control from above still more ell
fective, the Governor General exercised
Jurisdiction over all the municipal
tribunals and was vested with power
to discharge members or even the en-
tire tribunal itself.
Even when municipal government
had been thus circumscribed the
masses of the people had no share IN
It. Suffrage was limited to the "prin-
cipal people" of the town, and elections
We're indirect. The principal people
were present and past office-holders
and persons paying fifty dollars land
tax. The principal people as thus
constituted, elected by ballot twelve
delegates, and these elected the munich
pal tribunal, which actually governed
the town.
This is all the training in sef-govern-
ment which the inhabitants of the
Philippine Islands have enjoyed. Their
lack of education and political eXper-
ience, combined with their racial and
linguistic diversities, disqualify them
in spite of their mental gifts and DO
| mestic virtues, to undertake the task
of governing the archipelago at the
present time. The most that can be
expected of them is to cooperate with
the Americans in the administration OF
general affairs from Manila as a centre
and to undertake, subject to American
control or guidance( as may be found
necessary, the administration of pro-
vinCial and municipal affairs. FOrtu-
nately, there are educated Filipinos
| though they do not constitute a large
| proportion of the entire population,
| and their support and services will be
| of incalculable value in inauguratinS
| and maintaining the new government
| AS education advances and experience
ripens the natives may be entrusted
with a larger and more Independent
| share of government; self government
| as the American ideal, being constant
| ly kept in view as the goal. In this way
| American sovereignty over the archi-
| pelago will prove great political boor
to the people.
! ANARCHY WOULD FOLLOW OUR
WITHDRAWAL.
Should our power by any fatality be
| withdrawn the Commission believes
| that the government of the philippines
| would speedily lapse into anarchy
| which would excuse, if it did not neces-
| state, the intervention of other pow
ers, and the eventual division OF the
| islands among them. Only through
| American occupation, therefore, is tht
! idea of a free, self-gOverning and
! united Philippine commonwealth al
all conceivable. And the indispensable
need from the Filipno point OF view
! of maintaining American sovereignty
over the archipelago is recognized by
| all intelligent FilipinOs and even by
those insurgents who desire an Ameri-
can protectorate. The latter, 1t is true
| would take the revenues and leave us
the responsibilities. Nevertheless, they
recognize the indubitable fact that the
Filipinos cannot stand alone. Thus
the welfare of the Fiipinos cOincide'
with the dictate of national honor il
| fOrbidding our abandonment of the
| archipelago. We cannot from any
point of view escape the responsibilities!
of the government which our sovereign
ty entails, and the commission is
strongly persuaded that the perform
ance of our national duty will prove
the greatest blessing to the people o.
the Philippine Islands.
| OUR SOLDIERS AND SAILORS IN
| THE WAR.
| The Commission is not willing to Clos'
| this statement without eYiuE just tribute
| to our sailors ana soldiers. The presence
| Of Admira. Dewey az a member of thi'
| body makes it uniting to dwell on hi
| personal achievements, but he joins will
| us in eulogy Of his comrades. We wer,
| fortunate In witnessing some of the brav'
| deeds of our soldiers All that skill
courage and patient endurance can dt
| has been done in the Philippines. w,
| are aware that there are those who hav
seen fit to accuse our troops of desc
| Grating churches, numbering prisoner
and committing uncomfortable crimes
| TO those who derive satisfaction trOn
Seizing on Isolated occurrences, regretta
| bic, indeed, hut incident TO every war
and making them the basis of sweepin'
| accusations, this commission has moth
| ing to say. Stlll less do we feel Callo,
| upon TO answer idle tales without founda
| tiOn in fact But, for the satisfaction
| Of those who have found it difficult l.
| understand why the transportation @
| American citizens across the PaCil
| ocean should change their nature w
| are glad to express the belief that a wa
| was never more humanely conducted, In
| surgcnt wounded were repeatedly sue
| cOred on. the field by cur men at the risl
| Of their lives. Those who had a chanC