The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1899-12-08

1 A copy OF this fell, BY good fortune. into the
hands OF our Officers and they we're able % take
: measures 70 control the rising which was actu-
ally attempted on the night OF February p,
. q week later than was originally contsm-
I plated Considerable number OF armed insur-
I gents entered the city by waterways and
| swamps and in concert with confederates inside
I attempted 20 destroy Manila BY IRE. They
/ were kept in cheek during the night and the
I next day driven out OF the city with heavy loss
This was the unhappy condition OF Affairs
I which confronted our commissioners on their
. arrival in Manila They had come with the
/ hope and intention OF cooperating with Ad-
D miral Dewey and MAI Gen Otis in establishing
I peace and order in the archipelago and the
! largest measure OF self-governmenJ compatible
I with the true welfare Of the people What they
actually found can best be set forth IN their own
\ words
/ -DeplorabIe as war Is. the one IN which we
E are now engaged was unavoidable BY US We
were attacked by bold adventurous and en-
/ thusia~tic army No alternative was left % US,
/ except iguominous retreat
1t IS not TO be conceived Of that any Aneri-
can would have sanctioned the surrender OF
I Manila 70 the insurgents Our obligations TO
I other nations and TO the friendly FiHpinOs and
/ 20 ourselves and our nag demanded that force
/ should he met by force Whatever The future
/ OF the Philippines may be. there is no course
/ open 70 us now except 70 prosecute the war
I I'll the insurgents are reduced 70 submission.
I The commission IS OF the opinion that there has
/ been no time since the destruction or the Span
/ ish squadron by Admiral Dewey when it was
possible 20 withdraw our forces from the is
I lands. either with honor % ourselves or safety
I 70 the inhabitants
/ The course thus clearly indicated has been
I unfilnchinEly pursued The rebellion must be
! put down Civil government cannot be thor
Ou-hly established until orderi IS restored With
a devotion and -allaEtry worthy OF its most
brilliant history. the army. ably and Loyalty
! sisted Bv the navy has carried on tniS unwel-
come but most righteous campaign. with richly
deserved success. The noble seif-slcrihCe with
which our soldiers and sailors whose service
had expired refused 10 avail themselves or their
right 20 return home as long as they were need
ed 1T 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 violence and duration,
they have gained ground steadily in every direC-
tiOn. and now look forward confidently 10 a
| speedy com pietiOu Of their task
The Unfavorable circumstances connected
With an active campaign have not been permit
ted 70 interfere with the equally important work
Of reconstruction Again, 1 invite your atten-
tion 70 the report Of the commissioners for the
: interesting and encouraging details Of the work
I already accomplished in the establishment OF
peace and order and the Inauguration OF self
governing municipal LIFE ID many portions Of
tue archipelago.
communicate these facts TO the congress for
its information and action Everything indf-
Gates that with the speedy suppression OF the
1ss-lo rebellion, LIE IL the archipelago VIII
soon assume its ordinary course under the pro-
lection OF our sovereignty and the people Of
those favored islands viii enjoy a prosperity
and freedom which they have never before
known Already hundreds OF schools are
open and filed with children Religious free
dom Is Sacredly assured and enjoyed The
courts are dispensing Justice. Business j. be-
si-ning ~ circulaJs I'm It's accustomed channels.
Manila. whose inhabitants were fleeing 70 the
country few months aEO. IS now q pOpulOus
and thriving mart Of commerce The earnest
and unremitting endeavOrs OF the commission
and the admiral and major general command
ing the department Of the Pacific % assure the
people Of the benefiCeuC intentions OF this gov
eminent have had their legitimate effect in
convincing the great mass OF them that peace
and safety and prosperity and stable govern
ment can only be found in q loyal acceptance Of
the authority OF the United States
The future government Of the Philippines
rests with the congress Of the United States
Few graver responsibilities have ever been
cOnfded 20 US II we accept them IN q spirit
worthy Of our race and our traditions. d 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 % anarchy and finally 70 barbar-
ism We fling them golden apple Of discord,
among the rival powers, no one OF which could
permit another 20 seize them unquesuOned-
Their rich plains and valleys would be the
the scene Of endless strife and blOOdshed- The
advent Of Dewey's feet In Manila bay instead
OF being. as we hope, the dawn q new day Of
freedom and progress. viii have been the begin
ming Of an era Of misery and violence worse
than any which has darkened their unhappy
past. The suggestion has been made that
could reuCunCe our authority over the Islands
and give them independence. could retain pro-
tectOrate over them This proposition VIII not
be found 1 am sure, worthy Of your serious at
uentiOu- SuCn an arrangement would involve
at the outset q cruel breach Of faith Il would
place the peaceable and majority, who ask moth
rng better than 10 accept our authority, a. the
mercy Of armed insurgents 10 would make US
a..
and give US no power 20 control them It would
charge Us VITA the task Of protecting them
against each other and defending them against
any foreign power with which they chOss %
quarrel In short. 10 would take from me con-
gress OF the United States the power Of decIar-
ing war and vest that tremendous prerogativs
In the Tagalo leader Of the hour.
As long as the Instruction continues the mill
itary arm must necessarily be supreme But
there is no reason why steps should not be taken
from time % time % iuauEurate governments
essentially popular in their form IS fast as ter
ritOry Is held or controlled by our troops To
this end am considering the advissbility Of
the return Of the commission. or such Of the
members thereof as can be secured 20 aid the
existing authorities and facilitate this work
throughout the Islands I have believed thai
reconstruction should not begin by the esta0-
hshment Of one central civil government for all
the islands with its seat at Manila. but rather
that the work should be commenced BY building {
up from the bottom, first establishing munich |
pal governments and then provincial govern I
ments, central government at last 20 follow. !
Until congress shall have made known ths |
formal expression Of It's viii shall use the au-
th0ritv vested IN me b. the constitution and the [
statutes TO uphold the sovereignty Of the United
States in those distant islands and in all other
places where our flag ughtfuIly floats
1t does not seem desirable that should rec 1
ommend az this time a specific ana final form I
OF government for these islands When peace /
shall be restored it VIII be the duty Of congress
20 construct a plan OF government which shall !.
establish and maintain freedom ana order and T.
peace in the Philippines The insurrectiO1 IS ,
still existing and when il terminates further in 4
formation viii be required as 20 the actual con
ditiOn Of Affairs before fnaugurating perms- 4
IN