The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-06

still believes thnt this transfer of
/ sovereignty was in accordance with
the wishes and aspirations of the
! great mass of the Philippine people.
/ From the earliest moment no opportunity
was lost OF assuring the people of the ISL
| ands of our ardent desire for their well
fare, and Of the intention Of this govern
ment to do everything possible to advance
! their interests.
The President quotes from his early or
| ders to the commanders of the forces Of
| occupation to impress this fact upon the
/ people, and reviews at some length the
appointment and work of the Philippine
| Commission, from whose report he quotes.
| A copy of the report is transmitted TO
| Congress. The claim of the rebel leader
| that he was promised independence by any
officer Of the United States in return for
| his assistance has no foundation in fact,
and is categorically denied by the very
witnesses who were called to prove it. The
most the insurgent leader hoped for when
he came back to Manila was the liberia
ton Of the islands from the Spanish con-
troll, which they had been laboTing for
years without success 10 throw off. Con-
tinuing, the President says:
"The rebellion must be put down.
Civil government cannot be thor
OughIy established until order is
restored. With a devotion and gal
Iantry worthy of its most brilliant
history, the army, ably and loyalty
assisted by the navy, has carried on
this unweIcOme but most righteous
campaign with richly deserved sue
cess.
THE noble self-sacrifce with which
l ~
| terms of service had expired
refused to avail themselves of their right
to return home as long as they were need
| ed at the front, forms one of the brightest
| pages in our annals. Although their OPP
| erationS have been somewhat interrupted
and checked by a 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
| The unfavorable circumstances con-
| nected with an active campaign have moi
| been permitted to interfere with the equal
| ly important work of reconstruction
Again / invite your attention to the re-
| port of the commissioners for the inter
| esting and encoUragin details of the work
already accomplished in the establishment
| OF peace and order and the Inauguration
| of self governing municipal life in many
| portions of the archipelago A nota bic
| beginning has been made in the estab-
lishment of government in the Island Of
Negros, which is deserving of special con
| sheraton. This was the first island K
accept American sovereignty Its people
unreservedly proclaimed allegiance to the
| United States and adopted a constitution
looking to the establishment of popular
| government. 1t was impossible to guar.
antee 10 the people of Negros that tbs
constitution so adopted should be the ul.
innate form of government. Such ques-
ton, under the treaty with Spain and ii
| accordance with our own constitution anC
| laws, came exclusively within the juris
dictioh of the Congress. The government
actually set up by the inhabitants of Ne
gros eventually proved unsatisfactory t
the natives themselves. A new system
was put into force by order of the ma.
jor general commanding the department
| (This sytem has been previously pub
| lished,)