Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-06

The TAGALo j R ! l.SE,j

The TAGALo 5REBELLIoN.Ss
~ Everything indicate thatvwith the
speedy suppression 6f the Tagalo re-
bellton life In the archipelago will soon
resume Its ordinary course under the
Iprotectton3 of our sovereignty. and the
people of those favored islands will enc
JOY prosperity and a&freedom which
they have never before known. Al
ready hundreds OF schools are open and
iiiied 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 Tnhab7
itants We're fleeing to the country q few;
months ago, is, now. q popuious md
thriving marriott commerce. The earn
est and unremitting endeayors of the
commission and the Admiral and Ma
1or-General Communicating the Depart
ment of the Pacific to assure the peo-
| nle of fhe beneflcient Intentions Of this
government have had their legitimate
effect In convincing the great mass of
them that peace and safety and pros
perify and stable government can on
~ be found In a loyal acceptance of
the authority of the United States
FUTURE OF, THE PHILIPPINES.
L 4 r
pines rests with the Congress of the
united States. Few grayer responsibili-
Ties have ever. been confided to us. II
we ACCEPT them in a spirit worthy Of
our race end our traditions, a great
opportunity comes with them. The ISL
ands lie under the shelter of our flag
They are ours by every title of law and
equity. They cannot be Abandoned. If
we desert them we leave them at once
10 anarchy and finally 10 barbarism.
we fling them, golden apple of dis
cord, 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 boodshcd. The advent
of Dewey's fleet in Manila Bay, Instead
OF being. as we hope, the dawn Of new
day OF freedom and progress, will have
peen the beginning of an era of misery
and violence worse than any which has
darkened their unhappy past The sug-
eestion has been made that we could
renounce our authority over the islands
and. giving them independence, could
retain protectorate over them. This
proposition Will not be. found, I am sure.
worthy Of your serious attention. Such
an arrangement would involve Mt the
outset cruel breach of faith 1t would
place the peaceable and loyal majority,
who ask nothing better than to accept
III lNe mercy OF the
minority of armed insurgents. It would
make us responsible for the acts of the
insurgent leaders and give us no power
to control them. 1t would charge US
with the task -of protecting them
! against each other and defending them
against any foreign power with which
they choose to quarrel. In short, 1t
would take from the Congress of the
United States the power of declaring
war and vest that tremendous preroga-
| tive in the Tagal leader of the hour.
1t does not seem desirable that I
should recommend at this time a spe-
cific and final form of government for
those islands, When peace shall be re-
stored, 1t will he the duty of Congress
which shall establish and maintain
freedom and order and peace. in the
philippines. The nsurrection sis Still
existing, and when 1t terminates fur
Their information will be required as to
the actual condition of affairs before
ina ugurating a permanent scheme OF
civil government. The full report Of
the Commission. now in preparation,
Will contain information and sugges-
tons which will be of value to Con-
gress, and which I will transmit as
soon as 1t is completed. AS long as
the insurrection continues the military
arm must necessarily be supreme
pot lHCiC ITO sESdSOIl why Steps
| should not be taken, from time to time.
to inaugurate governments essentially
popular in their form as fast as terri
tory is held and controlled by our
troops. To this end I am considering
the advisability of the return of the
Commission. or such of the members
thereof as can be secured to aid the
existing authorities and facilitate this
work throughout the Islands. I have
believed fthat reconstruction should not
begin by the est Adjustment of one CEN
trail civil government for all the
islands,, with It's seat at Manila, but
| rather that the work should be COM
menced by building up from the bot
tom, first establishing municipal gov
ernments and then provincial govern
ments, n central government at last
| to follow.
Until Congress shall have made
known the formal expression of Its
will. I shall use the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and the
statutes to uphold thef sovereignty of
the United States in those distant
/ islands, as in all other places where
! our flag rightfully floats. I shall put
at the disposal of the army and navy
| all the means which the liberality OF
I. Congress and the people have provided
| TO cause this unproyoked and waste
| full insurrection to cease. If any orders
Of mine were REQUIRED to insure the
merciful conduct Of military and naval
operations, they would not be lack
| ing; but every step of the progress
! of our troops hiss been marked by n
! humanity which has surprised even
the misguided insurgents. The truest
kindness to them Will be swift and
effective defeat of their present leader.
The hour of victory will be the hour
of clemency and reconstruction.
No effort will be spared to build up