The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-12-05

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themselves Of their rieAt to return
hone a long = they were needed d
the front forms ono OF the brightesl
pages In our annals. Although thsil
operations have been somewhat inter
rupted and checked by rainy season
Of unusual violence and duration, they
have gained ground In every direction
and now look forward confidently Il
q speedy completion Of their task.
The unfavorable circumstances con
nected with an active campaign have
not been permitted to interfere with
the equally important work Of recon
struction. A notable beginning ha,
been made In the establishment of .
government 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 q
constitution looking to the establish
ment Of popular government. II
was impossible to guarantee TO the
people Of Negroes that the constitution
30 adopted should be the ultimate
form Of government. Such question
comes exclusively within the turisdic-
tion Of the congress.
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.
A Cheerful Predictions.
Everything indicates that. with the
speedy suppression of the Tasalo re-
bellion, life in the archipelago will
soon resume its ordinary course under
the protection Of our sovereignty, and
the people Of those favored islands
will enjoy q prosperity and freedom
which they have never before known.
Already hundreds Of schools are open
and filled with children. Religious
freedom III sacredly assured and en-
joyed. The courts are dispensing JUS
tice. Business Is beginning TO circu-
late in It's accustomed channels. Man
lila. whose inhabitants were fleeing to
the country a few months ago, is now
populous and thriving mart Of COM
merce.
The future government of the Phil
ipplnes rests with the congress of the
United States. Few graver RESPONSE
biTities have ever been confided to US.
II we accept them in spirit worthy Of
our race and our traditions, a great
opportunity comes with them. The
islands lie under the shelter of our
flag. They are ours by every title
of law and equity. They cannot be
abandoned II we desert them we leave
them at once to anarchy and finally to
barbarism. We fling them a golden
apple Of discord, among the rival pow,
ers, no one Of which could permit an
other to seize them unquestioned.
The suggestion has been made that
we could renounce our authority over
the islands and, giving them indie
pendence, could retain proteetorate
over them. This proposition will not
be found, am sure. worthy Of your
serious attention. Such an arrange
ment would involve at the outset a
cruel breach of faith. 1t would make
us responsible for the acts Of the In
surgent leaders and give lis no power
to control them.
Until congress shall have made
known the formal expression of its
will shall use the authority vested
in me by the constitution and the
statutes to uphold the sovereignty of
the United States In those diatant ISL
ands as in all other places where our
flag rightfully floats. Every step of
the progress Of our troops has been
marked by humanity which has sur
prised even the misguided insurgents
The truest kindness to them will be
a swift and effective defeat of their
present leader. The hour of victory
will be the hour of clemency and re-
construction.
Needed Lcsislation for Hawaii
The president urges speedy action
on the bill creating "the Territory Of
Hawaii" and calls attention to the
necessity for immediate legislative re-
lief for Alaska. He believes It would
be advantageous to confer greater
executive power upon the governor and
to establish, as was done in the case
of the territory Of Louisiana, an ex-
ecutive council having power to adopt
which shall extend to all
the rightful subjects of local legisla-
tion, such ordinances not to take eff
feet until reported to and approved
by the congress If in session, and II
that body is not in session, then by
the president"
The president also recommends sim
liar action for the government of Porto
Rico calling attention to the necessity
of establishing federal courts, ports
Of entry and delivery, the extension of
etc. and declares further:
1t must be borne in mind that since
the cession Porto Rico has been denied
the principal markets she had long en-
ioyed and our tariffs have been con-
tinued against her products as when
she was under Spanish sovereignty.
The markets Of Spain are closed to
her products except upon terms to
which the commerce of all nations Ia
subjected. The Island of Cuba, which
used to buy her cattle and tobacco
without customs duties, now imposes
The same duties upon these products
as from any other country entering her
ports. She has therefore lost her free
intercourse with Spain and Cuba with
out any compromising benefits in this
IluTket.
Anent lynchers the president says:
Those who, in disregard Of law and
he public peace, unwilling to await
he judgment of courts and jury, con-
stitute themselves judges and execu-
toners should not escape the severest
penalties for their crimes. The con-
authorities must be cheer
July and vigorously upheld. Lynch
ngs must not be tolerated In a great
country like the United States. Courts,
lot mobs. must execute the penalties
If the laws.
The Washington Celebration.
Referring to the celebration next
year Of the establishment of the seat
If government In Washington the
PRESIDENT strongly approves the erec-
ion OF the proposed memorial bridge
lcross the Potomac to the most con-
'enient point Of the Arlington estate
property.
Regarding the presidential order of
day 6. 1896, extending the limits of /.
he classified service. and subsequent
mendments Of May 20. 1899, the presi-
lent says:
All of the amendments had for their
main object more efficient and sat
sfactory administration of the sys-
EN- OF appointments established by the
1yll service law. The results at