Reporter and farmer. [volume] (Webster, Day County, Dakota [S.D.]) 188?-1946, 1899-12-14
of the highes, character and distinction.

= nisnest character and distinction,
Thoroughly acquainted with the Orient,
"no' il association with Admiral Dewey.
anu MAJ. Gen. Otis, were instructed to
iacilltate the most humane and effective
SNSeitslon or authority Throughout the ISL
anus and to secure with the least possible
ueiay the benefits Of a wise and generous
proIecuon OF life and property to the in
While the treaty of peace was Under
SohSlueFillon In the senate these commits
sioners set out on their mission of good
WI. ana liberation. Their character was
9uiiclent guaranty of the heneicent mr.
pose OIL which they went, even IL they had
not borne the positive Instructions of
lnls government which made their errand
ship. ~
But before their arrival at Manila the
S,nster ambition Of a few leaders of the
rilipFinos had created a situation full of
shparrassments for us and most grievous
IN .s consequences to themselves. The
c.ear and Impartial preliminary report OF
the commissioners, which / transmit
herewith, gives so lucid n comprehen-
SlVe a history Of the present Instruction
airy movement that the story need not be
here repeated.
IL Is enough to say that the claim of
the rebel leader that he was mis-
independence by any officer Of the United
states IN relation fer his assistance has
no in fact and is categorically
denied by the very witnesses who were
called to prove 1t.
Inc most the insurgent leader hoped
Tor when he came back to Manila was
the liberation Of the islands from the
spanish control, which they had been
laboring for years without success to
throw on. The prompt accomplishment
or this work by the American army and
navy gave him other ideas, and ambitions
and insidious suggestions from various
quarters perverted the purposes and in
tentions with which he had taken up
arms.
The rebellion must be put down, civil
government cannot be Thoroughly estab-
llshed until order is restored.
With a devotion and gallantry worthy
of its most brilliant history, the army,
ably and Loyalty assisted by the navy,
has carried on this unwelcome but most
righteous campaign, which richly de-
served success. The noble self-sacrifc
with which our soldiers aud 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 in
our annals. Although their operations
have been somewhat interrupted and
checked by a rainy season Of unusual
violence and duration. they a gained
BIOuHu Sledully III every ulTSCllOn anu
now look forward confidently to a speedy
completion Of their task.
The unfavorable circumstances con-
nected with an active campaign have not
been permitted to interfere with Unequal
iy important work of reconstruction.
Again l invite your attention of the re-
port Of the commissioners, giving interest
Ing and encouraging details of the work
already accomplished in the establishment
Of peace and order and the Inauguration
of self-governing municipal life in many
portions Of the archipelago. A notable
beginning has been made in the establish
ment of a government in the island OF
Negros, which is deserving of special con-
sideration. This was the first island to
accept American sovereignty. It's people
unreservedly proclaimed allegiance to the
United States and adopted a constitution
looking to the establishment of a popular
government.
The authorities of the Sulu islands have
accepted the succession of the UnHed
States to the rights of Spain, and our nag
floats over that territory.
Concerning the future government OF
the archipelago the president says:
The future government Of the Philip
pines rests with the congress OF the
United States. Few graver responsible
ties have ever been confided to US. II
we accept them in a spirit worthy OF
OuI dSC dllu ONI -
portunity comes with them.
The islands lie under the shelter OF
our flag. They are ours by every title
Of law and equity. They cannot be
abandoned. If we desert them we leave
them at once to anarchy and finally to
barbarism. We fling them, a colder apple
of discord. among the rival powers, no
one of which could permit another to
seize them unquestioned.
Their rich plains and valleys would be
the scene Of endless strife and bloodshed.
The advent of Dewey's fleet IN Manila
bay, instead of being as we hoped, the
down of a new day of freedom and pro-
gress, will have been the beginning of
an era Of misery and violence worse than
any which has darkened their unhappy
past. The suggestion has been made that
we C., uld renounce our authority over the
island.
This proposition will not be found, I
am sure, worthy of your serious atten-
ton. Such an arrangement would involve
AT the ouset a cruel breach of faith.
1t would take the peacable and loyal
majority who ask nothing better han to
accept our authority at the mercy OF the
minority of armed insurgents. 1t would
make us responsible for the acts or the
insurgent leaders, and give us no power
with the task of protecting them against
each other and defending them against
any foreign power with which they chose
TO quarrel. In short, IL would take from
the congress of the United States the
power of declaring war and vest that tre-
mendous p~rerogative in the legal leader
Of the hour. =.
It does not seem desirable that I should
recommend at this time q specific and
final form of government for these is
ands. When peace shall be restored 1t
will he the duty of ongress TO construct
a plan of government which shall estab-
fish and maintain freedom and order and
peace in the philippines.
Until congress shall make known tho
formal expression of its will. / shall use
the authority vested in me by the con-
stitution and the statutes to uphold the
Sovereignty of the United States in those
distant islands as in all ether places
where our nag rightfully floats.
/ shall put at the disposal of the army
and navy all the mean which the liber-
atty of congress ard the people have
provided to cause this ~unprovoked and
wasteful instruction to cease. IL any or
ders of mine were required to insure the
merciful conduct of military and naval
operations they would not be lacking; but
every step of the progress of the troops
has been marked by a humanity which
hos SURPRISED even the misguided insur-