The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-12-07

| with whiGn our soldiers and sailors whose
| terms of service had expired refused TO
| avail themselves of their right to return
home as long as they were needed at the
! front forms one of the brightest pages in
| our annals. Although their operations
| have been somewhat Interrupted and
| checked by a rainy season of unusual vio-
! lence and duration. they. have gained
ground steadily in every direction. and
| now lock forward confidently to a speedy
| completion OF their task.
Work of Reconstruction.
The unfavorabe circums tances connect
ed with an active campaign have not been
permitted to interfere with the equally i'm
portant work of reconstruction Again |
| commissioners for the interesting and en-
| couraging details of the work already &C
complished in the establishment of peace
| and order and the inauguration of self
| governing municipal life in many portions
| of the archipelago. A notable beginning
| has been made in the establishment of
government in the island of Negros, which
| is deserving of special consideration. This
| was the first island TO accept American
| sovereignty Its people unreservedly pro-
! claimed allegiance to the United States and
| adopted a constitution looking to the es-
| tablishment of popular government. 1t
was impossible to guarantee to the people
| of Negroes that the constitution so adopted
| should be the ultimate form of govern
| ment. Such question, under the treaty
with Spain, and in accordance with our
| own constitution and laws came eXclu-
| sively within the Jurisdiction of congress
| The government actually set up by the
inhabitants of Negros eventually proved
unsatisfactory to the natives themselves.
| A new system was put into force by order
of the major general commanding the de-
| partment,
The Sulu Islands.
| He refers to the government established
| in the island of Negros as successful, and
| outlines it's salient features OF the Sulu
| group he gives the features of the treaty
/ .t<,-l tf,tD hot hfr he
sultan, and of that portion of the treaty
relating to slavery in the islands says:
| Article X. provides that any slave in the
archipelago of Jolo shall have the right
| to purchase freedom by paying to the mas
| ter the usual market value. The agree
| ment by Gen. Bates was made subject to
confirmation by the president and to fu-
| ture notifications by the consent of the
| parties in interest. l have confirmed said
| agreement, subject to the action of the
| congress, and with the reservation, which
| / have directed shall be communicated to
| the sultan of Jolo, that this agreement is
| not to be deemed in any way to authorize
or give the consent of the United States
| to the existence of slavery in the Sulu
| archipelago l communicate these facts
to the congress for its information and
| action.
The United States flag will be used in
the archipelago and it's dependencies, on
| land and sea. Piracy is 20 be suppressed
| and the sultan agrees to cooperate heart
| lily with the United States authorities to
| that end and make every possible effort to
arrest and bring to justice all persons en-
gagged in piracy. All trade in domestic
| carried on with any part of the Philippine
| Islands and under the American flas shall
be free, unlimited and undutiable. The
| United States will give full protection to
the sultan in case any foreign ration should
attempt to impose upon him The United
States will not, sell the island of Jolo or
| any other island of the Jolo archipelago to
| any foreign nation without the consent of
the sultan. Salaries for the sultan, and his
associates in the administration of the is
| lands har> been agreed upon to the
amount o. $50 monthly.
Government of the Philippines.
The pres nent points to the recent vic
tories over the insurgent forces a. a proof
! that the Instruction In the islands is about
over, and says of their future government:
The future government of the Philippines
rests with the congress of the United
States. Few graver responsibilities have
ever been conflded to us. If we accept
traditions, a great opportunity comes with
them: The islands lie under the shelter of
law and equity They cannot be aban-
doned. If we desert them we leave them
at once to anarchy and finally to barbar-
ism. We fine them, a. golden apple of dis.
which could Kermit another to seize them
unquestoned Their rich PLAINS and val
leys would DO the scene of endless strife
The advent Of Dewey's fleet in Manila
bay, instead Of being, as we hope, the dawn
of a new day % freedom and progress, will
have been the beginning of an era of misery
and violence worse than any which has
darkened their unhappy past. The sugges-
nounce our authority over the islands and,
giving them Independence. could retain
protectorate over them. This proposition
will not be found, / am sure. worthy OF
your serious attention. Such an arrange
ment would involve at the outset cruel
breach of faith. 1t would place the peace
better than to accept our authorlty at the
mercy of the minority of armed insur-
gents. 1t would make us responsible for
| the acts of the insurgent leaders and give
us no power to control them. It 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, II would take
| from the congress of the United States the
power of declaring war and vest that ire
| mendous prerogative in the Tagalo leader
Of the hour.
Recommendations Not Needed Now.
He does not deem recommendations for
| the Philippines needed at the present time,
but will make them to congress when peace
time as congress shall legislate upon the
subject he announces that he will maintain
| the sovereignty of the United states in the
| islands, and put at the disposal Of the army
| and navy all the means possible to put
down the insurrection. OF the efforts to
| build up the waste places as fast as they
| shall come within our control he says:
No effort will be spared to build up. the
waste places desolated by war and by long
wears 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
churches 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.
| believe the Filipinos will soon recognize
| the fact that ii has not lost its gift of bene-
| diction in it's worldwide journey to their
| shores.
The Hawaiian Islands.
Regarding the Hawaiian islands he rec
| ommends speedy legislation and the estab
| lishment OF government under our sys-
| tenn. He recounts the possible difficulties
| that may he encountered, and says:
The people of these islands are entitled
| to the benefits and privileges of our con-
stitution, but in the absence of any act
| of congress providing for federal courts in
| the islands. and for procedure by which
appeals, writs of error, and other judicial
| proceedings necessary for the enforcement
| Of civil rights may be prosecuted, they are
poweress to secure their enforcement by
| the Judgment of the courts of the United
fer f,,.,, tap