Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1899-12-07

loyal acceptance of the authority of tn
United States.
Government of the Philippines.
The future government of the Philip
pines rests with the congress of tn,
United States Few graver response
bilities have even been confided to us
If we accept them in a spirit worthy o
our race and our traditions, a great op
portunity comes with them. The isl
ands lie under the shelter of our flag
They are ours by every title of law anC
equity. They cannot be abandoned
If we desert them we leave them al
once to anarchy and finally to barbar-
ism. We fling them a golden 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 end
less strife and bloodshed. The advent
Of DeWey's fleet in Manila bay, instead
of being as we hope, the dawn of a new
day Of freedom and progress, will have
been the beginning of an era of misery
darkened their unhappy past. The sug-
gestion 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, l am
sure, worthy of your serious attention.
Such an arrangement would involve at
the outset cruel breach of faith. 1t
would place the peaceable and loyal
majority, 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 other, and defending
them against any foreign power with
which they chose to quarrel. In short,
it would take from the congress of the
United States the power of declaring
war and vest that tremendous preroga-
tive in the Tagalo leader of the hour
1t does not seem desirable to the
president that he should recommend
at this time a specific and final form
of government for these islands.
When peace shall be restored it will
be the duty Of congress to construct
a plan of government which shall es
tablish and maintain freedom and or
der and peace in the Philippines.
The insurrection is still existing, and
when it terminates further informa-
ton will be required as to the actual
condition of affairs before inaugural
ing a permanent scheme of civil gov
eminent. AS long as the instruction
continues the military arm must neces-
sarily be supreme. But there is no
reason why steps should not be taken
from time to time to inaugurate gov
ernments essentially popular in their
form as fast as territory is held or con-
trolled by our troops. To this end the
president is considering the advisable
ity of the return of the commission, or
such of the members thereof as can be
secured to aid the existing authorities
and facilitate this work throughout
the islands. The president believes
that reconstruction should not begin
by the establishment of one central
civil government for all the islands,
with its seat at Manila, bur rather
that the work should be commenced by
building up from the bottom, hrst es-
tablishing municipal governments and
then provincial governments, a central
government at last to follow.
Until congress shall have made
known the formal expression of it's
will i shall use the authority vested in
me by the constitution and the statutes
to uphold the sovereignty of the United
States in those distant islands as in all
other places where our flag rightfully
floats. | shall put at the disposal of
the army and navy all the means
which the liberality of congress and
the people have provided to cause this
unprovoked and wasteful instruction
to cease. If any orders of mine were
required to insure the merciful con-
duct of military and naval operations,
they would not be lacking but every
been marked by humanity which has
surprised even the misguided insur-
gents. The truest kindness to them
will be a swift and effective defeat of
their present leader. The hour of vic
tory will be the hour of clemency and
reconstruction.
No effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by war and
by long years of miSgovernment We
shall not wait. for the end of strife to
begin the beneficent work. We shall
continue, as We have begun, to open
the schools and the church, to set
the courts in operation, to
foster industry and trade and agricul-
ture, and in every way in our power to
make these people whom Providence
has brought within our jurisdiction
feel that it is their liberty and not our
power, their welfare and not our gain,
we are seeking to enhance. Our flag
has never waved over any community
but in blessing. l believe the Filipinos
will soon recognize the fact that it has
not lost its gift of benediction in its
worldwide journey to their shores
Hawaii.
While the municipal laws of the
Hawaiian islands not enacted for the
fulfillment of treaties and not incon-
sistent with the joint resolution OF
contrary to the constitution Of the
United States or any of its treaties re
main in force. vet these laws relate