The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1899-11-04
The Presidents Embarrassment.

The Presidents Entertainment.
The President il confronted with a
very delicate problem ~ Writing 90
Congress on the Philippine question.
The situation Is such 49, not To admit
Of his Ignoring this subject m hi~ an
naul message too lngress yet the Work
~ establishing the authority nt TINS
government over the Islands has not
progressed far enough g. justify ms
making dehnltc recommendations As to-
the adoption Of n permanent form OF
government for them Unless very
great progress is made IN the military
operations during this month, "" can
not report n great advance beyond the
condition existing when Congress al
burned by reason ~ the report al
the commission aud ~ the military au-
thOrlties, much Information can, now
ever. be supplied as 30 the Islands
themselves. and the inhabitants, ana
there are Liable ~ Ice developments 60
show the imp rthuce at Nur ret aiming
possession I'm combating the m'fc-
ment that Will be made o. compel the
REIMBURSEMENT II authority Co the ma
tives, II Is thought that an alternative
declaration or action equivalent % surn
declaration ~ policy VIII nave to De-
made Before any action ~ taken nh
this proposition however. the slll %
Of the administration II likely O. be
strengthened by devel. pments IN an
other direction which VIII demonstrate
the necessity 4 our haginga firm foot
hold in the Philippines IN order q"
maintain our prestige IN the orient
ONE EMBARRASSMENT
one enhancement the President Will
probably have - contend with IN max
ing Recommendation % Congress giows
OUT Of the uncertainty ~ policy at the
time Of making the peace treaty with
Spain The treaty left An open link IN
she chain that binds the Philippines 10
the United States. and II viii be- neccs-
sary for this link o. be welded by Con
gress At the time Of making the
treaty II WAS not anticipated that W."
would hive any serious trouble with
the natives. and II WAS thought that "e
would have plenty Of time IN when l.
determine what course we should pur
sue with respect 10 them. The admin
istratiOn was reluctant 10 assume soyeT-
eighty over the islands and provision
for casting them of at VIII WAS made
Sovereignty was left dangling IN md
air. Since then the exig, ncies OF the case
have compelled IA course Of conduct TO-
ward the islands based npIn the assump-
tion Of sovereignty. but 1t - doubtful
whether that assumption can be sus-
tanned indefinitely without aiiimalve
authority from Congress. During the
recess II Congress u IS FOR the Pfesl-
dent u decide what must be done va
the fulhllment Of his obligation a.
chief executive % preserve the rleh b
Of the government, but the terms II the
ire ~ may be construed 10 relieve hlm
Of this duty and the powers attending
II a. soon a. Congress couvencs, ur Jess
the authority Is directly conferred
THE TREATY PROVISIONS.
The last paragraph in article niue e
the treaty OF peace in which Spain ~.
linQuishes 20 this government her SOW
erelgnty in the Philippines pruyld.
that the civil rights and p.litictl status
u the natives which involves spver-
eighty shall be determined by Con.
gtess. Congress has not yet taken Any
action on this question. and the state
Department has held that. became
sovereignty over the islands has no'
yet been accepted by Legislative act thr
native Philippines are not subjects 90
citizens II the United states IN" ~
too ION claimed by them under th-
usage II international law and under .
decision 4 the Supreme Court has been
denied them on this ground IN specific
case an Interpretation being thus ~ De-
tally given - the clause u the treaty
which Is said O. h.li sovereignty 80
suspense
To RECOGNIZED AFFIRMATIVE AcTioN.
II is inferred. therefore. that tho
President will IN his first message o.
the ti.ty-siKth Congress recommend Of
frmative action coniirmatory II our
sovereignty. regardless u what deter
mination may be reached by Congress
later on as 10 the deposition % b
made II the islands