Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1899-12-06
POLICY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
Terms by " h ch the Group Came Into Our
Possession.

The Philippine ISLANDS and cur policy
therein are treated of as follows:
.On the 10th of December. 1855. the
treaty of peace between the United
States and Spain was signed. 1t pro-
vided among other things that Spain
should ceGe to the United States
the archipelago known as the
Philippine islands. that the United
States should pay to Spain the sum OF
$50 OCO. 600, and that the civil rights anc
political status Of The native inhael-
taEts of .the territories thus coded to
the United States should be determined
by the congress. In this manner
the Philippines came 10 the Cnlted
States. The Islands were ceded by the
goVernme ut of Spain, which had beer
in undisputed possession OF them Tor
centuries. They were accepted not
merely by our authorized COMMISSION
ers in Paris under the direction of the
executive. but by the constitutional and
we'll considered action of the representa-
tives of the people Of the United states
in both houses Of congress. l had every
reason to believe. and i still believe,
that this transfer Of sovereignty was in
accordance with the wishes and the as
pirations Of the great mass of the Fill
ipino people.
From the earliest moment TO oppor-
tunity was lost of assuring the peo-
pie of the islands Of our ardent desire
for their welfare and of the intention
possible to advance their interests. In
my order of the 18th of May. 1895. the
commander of the military expedition
dispatched to the Philippines was in
structed to declare that we came rot
to make war upon the people of that
country. nor upon any party or faction
among them. but to protect them in
their homes. in their employments, and
in their personal and religious rights
That there should he no doubt as to the
paramount authority there. on the 18th
of August it was directed that There
must be no joint occupation with the
frc StnteS
must preserve the peace and protect
persons and property within the terri
tory occupied by their military and
naval forces; that the insurgents and
all others must recognize the military
occupation ard authority Of the United
States. AS early as Dec. 4, before the
cession and in anticipation of that
event. the commander in Manila was
urged to restore peace and tranquility
and to undertake the establishment of
a beneficent government. which should
afford the fullest security for life and
property.
ION the 21st Of December. after the
treaty was signed. the commander OF
the forces of occupation was instructed
to announce and proclaim in the most
public manner that we come not as in
yaders and conquerors. but as friends
to protect the natives in their homes
in their employmentS. and in their per-
sonal and religious rights On the same
day. Will bordering General Otis OF see
that the peace should be preserved in
llOllO. ne was auI.OnlSnEO Inat Is
most important that there should be no
conflict with the insurgents On the
first day OF January. 1899. urgent or
ders were reiterated that the kindly in
tentions of this government should be
in every possible way communicated to
the insurgents
''On the 21st OF January i announced
my intention of dispatching to Manila
a commission composed Of three gentle
men Of the highest character and dis
tincuon. thoroughly acquainted with
the Orient. who. in association with Ad-
miral Dewey and Major General Otis.
were instructed TO facilitate the most
humane and effective extension of au-
thority throughout the islands. and to
secure with the least possible delay the
benefits of a wise and generous protec-
ton of life and property to the inhabi-
tants-' These gentlemen were DIR ia
cob Gould Schurman. president of Cor
nell university: the Hon Charles DENLY.
for many years minister to China, and
Professor Dean c. Worcester. of the
University of Michigan. who had made
a most careful study Of life in the Phil
fppines While the treaty of peace was
under consideration in the senate these
commissioners set out on their mission
OF good will and liberation. Their char
acter was a sufficient guaranty OF the
beneficent purpose with which they
went. even if they had not borne the
positive instructions of this government
which made their errand pre-eminently
one of peace and friendship
But before their arrival at Manila
the sinister ambition Of few leaders