The Topeka state journal., 1899-12-05

sent of the United States to the exist
ence of slavery in the Sulu archipelago.
communicate these facts to the con-
gress for its Information and action
Everything indicates that with the
speedy suppression of the TagalO re-
bellion, life in the archipelago Will soon
assume its ordinary course under the
protection of our sovereignty and the
people of those islands will enjoy a
prosperity and a freedom which they
have never before known. Already
hundreds of schools are open and filled
with children. Religious freedom is
sacredly assured and enjoyed. The
courts are dispensing justice. Business
is beginning TO circulate in its accus-
toned channels. Manila, whose inhab-
itants We're fleeing to the country a few
months ago, is now pOpulous and
thriving mart of commerce. The earnest
and unremitting endeavors of the COM
mission and the admiral and major gen
eraI commanding the department of
the Pacific to assure the people of the
beneficent Intentions of this govern
ment have had their legitimate effect
in convincing the great mass of them
that peace and safety and prosperity
and stable government can only be
found in a loyal acceptance of the au-
thority of the United States.
FUTURE GOVERNMENT.
The future government of the Phil
ippines rests with the congress of the
United States. Few graver responsible
tiles have ever been cOnfided to us. If
we accept them in a spirit worthy of
our race and our traditions, a great
opportunity comes with them. The is
lands lie under the shelter of our flag
They are ours by every title of law and
equity. They can not be abandoned. If
we desert them, we leave them at once
to anarchy and finally to barbarism. We
fling them, golden apple OF Q1SCOFQ,
among the rival powers, no one of
which could permit another to seize
them unquestiOned. Their rich plains
and valleys would be the scene of end
less strife and bloodshed. The advent
of DeWey's fleet in Manila bay, instead
of being, as we hope, the dawn of a new
day of 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 sug-
gestiOn has been made that we could
. renOunce our authority over the islands,
and giving them Independence, could
retain a prOtectOrate over them. This
proposition will be found, / am sure
worthy of your serious attention. Such
an arrangement would involve at the
outset a cruel breach of faith. 1t would
place the peaceable and loyal majority
who ask nothing better than to accept
our authority at the mercy of armed
insurgents. 1t would make US reSpOn-
sible for the acts of the insurgent lead
ers 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 quar-
rel In short, it would take from the
congress OF the United states the pow
er of declaring war and vest that tre-
mendous prerOgative in the TagalO
leader of the hour
It does not seem desirable that should
recommend at this time a specific and
final form of government for these is
lands. When peace shall be restored it
viii be the duty of congress to con-
struct a plan of government which
shall establish and maintain freedom
and order and peace in the Philippines
The insurrectiOn is still existing and
when it terminates further information
viii be required as to the actual con-
dftion of affairs before inauSurating a
permanent scheme of civil government
The full report of the commission now
in preparation, will contain information
and suggestions which will be of value
to congress. and which I viii transmit
as soon as it is completed.
HIS PLANS.
AS long as the insurrectiOn continues
the military arm must necessarily be
supreme. But there is no reason why
steps should not be taken from time to
time to inaugurate governments essen
| TALLY popular in their form as fast as
territory is held or controlled by our
troops. To this end 1 am considering
the advisabiHty of the return of the
commission or such of the members
therefore as can be secured to aid the
existing authorities and facilitate this
work throughout the island. have be-
lieved that reconstructions should not
begin by the establishment of one GEN.
traI civil government for all the is
lands with it's seat at Manila, but
rather that the work should be COM
menced by building up from the bottom
first, establishing municipal govern
ments, and then provincial govern
mentS, central government at least
to follow. Until congress shall have
| made known the formal expression Of
it's will 1 shall use the authority vested
in me by the constitution and the stat
utes to uphold the sovereignty of the
United States in those distant islands
and in all other places where our flag
rightfully floats. I shall put at the dis
nj and all the
means which the liberality of congress
and the people have provided to cause
! this unprovOked and wasteful insur-
rectiOn to cease. If any orders OF mine
We're required to insure the merciful
conduct of military and naval opera
tiOns, they would not be lacking; but
every step of the progress of our troops
has been marked by a humanity which
has surprised even the misguided in
surgents The truest kindness to them
will be a swift and effective defeat Of
their present leader. The hour of vic
tory will be the hour of clemency and
reconstruction.
No effort viii be spared to build up
the waste places desOlated by war and
by long years of misgOvernment. We
shall not wait for the end of the strife
to begin the benefcent 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 agriculture and in every
way in our power to make these people
whom providence has brought within
our jurisdiction feel that it is their lib
erty and not our power, their welfare
and not our gain that we are seeking to
enhance Our flag has never WaVered
over any community but in blessing. I
believe the FilipinOs will soon recOg-
nize the fact that it has not lost its
gift of benediction in its world wide
journey to their shores.
HAWAIIAN SITUATION.
Some embarra ssment in administra-
tiOn has occurred by reason of the pc
culiar status which the Hawaiian ISL
ands at present occupy under the joint