Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-05

tack, evidently prepared in advance, was
made all along the American lines, which
resulted in a terribly destructive and san
culinary repulse of the Insurgents"
Grave Responsibilities.
The message enters into the method Of
warfare taken up by the insurgents and of
the way in which it was met by Ameri-
can arms, of the only alternate that was
left to put down the rebellion, of the
operation of American forces, of the es-
Enlistment of a government III the Is
land OF NegrOs, the plan of the same, OF
the acceptance by the authorities of the
Sulu Islands, OF the succession of the
United States and the floating of the
American flag over the territory. The
president includes the treaty with the
Sulu kingdom, the terms of which have
been heretofore described. The president
expressed mis- confidence in the speedy
suppression of the Tagalo rebellion and
the resumption of life in the archipelago
III its ordinary course under the prJtec
ton of our sovereign. The future govern
ment of the Philippines the president says
rests with congress. Few graver Ie-
Sponsibilities have ever been contided to
Us. If we accept them in a spirit worthy
OF our race and our traditions, n great
opportunity comes with them. The is
lands 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 golden apple 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 hope, the
dawn of 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 could renounce our authority over the
islands and, giving them independence.
could retain a protectorate over them.
This proposition will not be found, am
sure. worthy of your serious attention.
Such an arrangement would involve at
the outset Il cruel breach of faith. 1t
would place the peaceable and loyal ma
jority, who ask nothing better than to
accept our authority, at the mercy of the
minority of armed insurgents. 1t would
make us responsible for the acts of the
insurgent leaders and give us no power
to control them. 1t would charge us with
the task of protecting them against each
ether. and defending them against any
foreign power with which they choose
10 quarrel. In short, it would take fror
the congress of the United States the
power of declaring war and vest that tire
mendOus prerogative in the Tagalo leader
OF the hour. 1t does not seem desirable
that | should recommend at this time
specific and final form of government for
these islands. When peace shall be re-
stored it will be the duty of congress to
construct a plan IF government which
shall establish and maintain freedom and
order and peace in the Philippines"
Military Arm Supreme.
While the rebellion exists the president
says the military arm must be supreme
and until congress shall have made known
the formal expression of its will the presi-
dent says he will use the authority inye t
ed in him by the constitution to uphold
the property of the United States He
states, however, that it may be deemed
prudent that the peace commission be re.
turned to the Philippines to set mp gov
eminent in the islands as fast as they
are abandoned by insurgents.
Int Af.K fnla Of Il.