The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1899-12-05


sel.6l less than the appropriations. The
president. In accordance with the wish
or the national encampment. G.. A. r..
recommends the modification OF the act
or June "a 1890. which prescribes the
amount OF income that determines pen-
sionable status OF dependent widow.
The president recommends that the
amount Of income allowed independent
OF the proceeds of her daily labor should
not be less than $3.50 per annum, and he
urges that the congress shall so amend
the act as to make this provision.
THE PHILIPPINES.
The president Introduces the subject
with reference TO the treaty of peace
between Spain and the United States
uhuer the provikon Of which the Philip
pine archipelago was ceded to the United
states for $4,000, 900. and says: have
every reason to believe. and l stlH be-
heFe, that this transfer OF sovereignty
was In accordance with the wishes aud
aspirations Of the great mass Of the
Hh1pino people From the earliest me-
| nleht no opportunity was lost of assur-
ing the people Of the islands OF sur Lr-
ueht desire for their welfare and of the
.n.ehVioh OF this government TO do every
'Nlns possible to advance their interests.
l"e president quotes from various
oiuels ISSUED to those in command of
she United States military and naval
iVi0es al Manila TO show that II was the
| op1ee' Oh the United States TO protect
the people and TO establish a beneficent
| government. even before the treaty. az
peace was signed. After the treaty had
| Deeh ratined the mesrage saws order.
| were sent TO the commander 10 nrociair,
| the kindly intention OF the eovern,,ant
| ana saying 1t was most importan, ma
F! there should be no conflict with tho ir-
| surgents." The president then gives an
account or the appointment of the philsn-
| pine commission who, assisted by Ad-
miral Dewey and General Otis were Tn
Facilitate the most humane and e.fec-
i've extension OF authority throughout
the ISLANDS, and says: But before their
arrival in Manila the sinister anbition
OF few leaders of the Fiipinos had
created situation full OF eulbarrass-
ment for US and most grievous in it's con-
sequences to themselves. The clear and
impartial preliminary report of the com
missioners which / transmit herewith
T. "A s.
tory of the present insurrectionarv
movement that the story need not be
here repeated. 1t is enough to say that
the claim OF the rebel leader that he was
promised independence by any officer of
the United States i'm return for his as
sistance has no foundation in fact and il
categorically deed by the very wilt
nesses who were called to prove IT, No
sooner had our army captured Manila
than the Filipino forces began TO ass,:mc
an attitude OF suspicion and hostility
which the utmost efforts of our officers
and troops were unable TO disarm or
modify. Their kindness and forbear-
ance were taken as a proof of cowardice.
The aggressions of the Filiplnos con-
tinually increased until finally, just be-
fore the time set by the senate Of ,he
United States Cor vote upon the .rea.,,
an attack. evidently prepared IN ad-
vance, was made all along the Ameri AN
lines. which resulted in q terribly de-
structive and sanguinary repLlse of the
insurgents.
The president then gives the details
Of the uprising and slaughter proposed
| by the insurgents in Manila. the success
, of which was prevented by General Otis,
into whose hands fell a copy of the order
of the insurgent government, directing
the massacre. This, the president says,
was the unhappy condition OF affairs
which confronted our commissioners on
their arrival in Manila. What they
actually found can best be set forth in
their own words:
Deplorable as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by US. We We're attacked by a bold, ad-
venturous and enthusiastic army. No
alternative was left to us except igno-
minous retreat
1T is not TO be conceived OF that any
American would have sanctioned the
surrender OF Manila to the insurgents.
Our obligations to other nations and TO
the friendly Filipinos and to ourselves
and our flag demanded that force should
be, met by force. Whatever the future
of the Philippines may be- there is no
course open TO us now except the prose-
cution of the war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission
The course thus clearly indicated, says
the message. has been unfiinchingly pur-
sued Civil government cannot be
thoroughly established until order is
restored. Although operations have
been somewhat interrupted and checked
by a rainy season of unusual violence
and duration. our soldiers have gained
ground in every direction and now look
forward confidently to a speedy compile
tion of their task. The unfavorable |
circumstances connected with an active |
campaign have not been permitted TO in |
terfere with the equally important work !
OF reconstruction. Here, again. the |
president invites attention to the re-
port of the commissioners for the in |
terestng and encouraging details of the |
work already accomplished in the estab-
lishment of peace and order. and the |
Inauguration OF self-governing munich
pal life in many portions OF the archi-
pelago. The system of government es-
tabished in the Island OF Negros. which |
was the first to accept American sover-
eighty, is given in detail in the mes
sage.
The president then says: Everything
indicates that with speedy suppression |
OF the Tagalo rebellion. life in the !
archipelago Will soon resume it's or