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

turn Tor MS assistance mas no IOunua-
ton in "a and is categoricaily de-
MED by the very witnesses who were
called to prove it. The most the in
surgent leader hoped for when he
came back to Manila was the liberia
ton of the stands from the Spanish
control, which they had been laboring
for years without success to throw off.
Continuing, the president says:
THE rebellion must be put down.
Civil government cannot be thorough
ly established until order is restored.
With a devotion and ~gallantry worthy
Of its most brilliant history. the army,
ably n loyalty assisted by the navy,
has carried on this unwelcome but
most righteous campaign with richly
deserved success. The noble self-sacri-
fee with which our soldiers and sail.
ors whose terms of service had expir-
ed refused to vai 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
n rainy season of unusual violence and
duration. they have gained ground
steadily in every direction. and now
look forward confidently TO a speedy
completion Of their task.
PROGRESS IN ESTABLISHING
CIVIC GOVERNMENTS.
The unfavorable circumstances
/ connected with an active campaign
have not been permitted TO interfere
with the equally important work of
reconstruction. Again, | invite your
I attention to the repor Of the commits
sioners for the interesting and the
encouraging details of the work al
ready accomplished in the establish
ment of peace and order and the in
auguration Of self-governing munich
pal life in many portions Of the archi-
pelago. A notable beginning has been
made in the establishment OF a gov
m in the island OF Negroes
which is deserving of special consid-
Grafton. This was the first island to
accept American sovereignty. Its peo-
pie unreservedly proclaimed allegiance
to the United States and adopted a
constitution looking to the establish
ment of a popular government. 1t was
impossible to guarantee to the people
of Negroes that the constitution so
adopted should be the ultimate form
of government. Such a question, I'M
der the treaty with Spain and in &C
cordance with our own constitution
and laws, came exclusively within the
jurisdiction of the congress-. The gov
eminent actually set up by the inhabi-
tants of Negros eventually proved un-
satisfactory to the natives themselves.
y new system was put into force by
order of the major general command
ing the department. (This system has
been previously published.)
THE SULU ISLANDS.
"The authorities of the Sulu islands
have accepted the succession of the
United States to the rights of Spain,
and our flag floats over that territory.
On the 10th of August, 1899, Brigadier
General J.. c. Bates, United States vol
u%nteers, negotiated an agreement with
the sultan and his principal chiefs,
which l transmit herewith:
by Article / the sovereignty of the
United States over the whole archipei-
ago of Jolo and it's dependencies is
declared n acknowledged.
THE United States flag will be used
in the archipelago and it's dependen-
cies, on land and sea. Piracy is to be
suppressed, and the sultan agrees to
cooperate heartily with the United
States authorities to that end and TO
make every possible effort to arrest
and bring to justice all persons engag-
ed in piracy. All trade in domestic
products of the archipelago of Jolo,
when carried on with any part of the
Philippine stands and under the
American flag shall be free, unlimited
and undutiable. The United States
will give full protection to the sultan
in case any foreign nation SHOULD at
tempt to impose upo him. The Unit
ed States will not sell the island of
Jolo or any other island of the Jolo
archipelago to any foreign nation
without the consent of the sultan. Sal
aries for the sultan and his associates
in the administration of the islands
have been agreed upon to the amount
of $3.50 monthly.
SLAVES TO PURCHASE FREEDOM
article X provides that any slave
in the archipelago of Jolo shall have
the right to purchase freedom by pay
ing to the master the usual market
value. The agreement by Genera.
Bates was made subject to confrma-
ton by the president and to future
notifications by the consent Of the
parties in interest. / have confirmed
said agreement, subject to the actor
of the congress-, n with thu
reservation which 1 ave di.
rected, sha be communicated
to the sultan of Jolo. that thi:
agreement is not to be deemed in any.
way to authorize or give the consen'
of the United States to the existencs
of slavery in the Sulu archipelago.
communicate these facts to the con
gress for it's information and action.
SPEEDY SUPPRESSION OF THE
REBELLION.
INcIylul16 luolCdlES tIdL Al IA
speedy suppression of the Tagalo re
bellion, life in the archipelago will
soon resume its ordinary course undel
the protection Of our sovereignty, anc
the people of those favored islands
will enjoy a prosperity and a freedom
which they have never before known
Already hundreds Of schools are oper
and filled with children. Religion
freedom is sacredly assured, and en-
joyed. The courts are dispensing jus
tice. Business is beginning to circu
late in its accustomed channels. Ma
Mia, whose inhabitants were fleeing
to the country a few months ago, 4
now a populous and thriving mart o
The earnest and unremit
{ ting endeavors of the commission In
the admiral and major general com
handing the department OF the Pacif,
to assure the people Of the benefcen
{ intentions Of this government hav
T had their legitimate effect in convinc
: ing the great mass Of them that peac