The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-12-06


'Deplorable as war Is. the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable
by us. We were attacked by bold, adj
alternative was left to us except igno-
minous retreat.
ut Is not to be conceived OF that any
American would have sanctioned the
surrender Of Manila to the insurgents.
Our obligations to other nations and to
the friendly Filipinos and to ourselves
and our nag demanded that force should
be met by force. Whatever the future
OF the Philippines may be. there Is no
course open TO us now except the prose-
cution OF the war until the insurgents
are reduced to submission"
The course thus clearly indicated. says
the message. has been unfiinchisgly pur-
sued Civil government cannot be
thoroughly established until. order Is
restored. Although operations have
been somewhat interrupted and checked
by q rainy season OF unusual violence
and duration. our soldiers have gained
ground in every direction. and now look
forward confidently to a speedy compile
ton of their task. The unfavorable
circumstances connected with an active
campaign have not been permitted to in
terfere with the equally important work
of reconstruction. Here. again. the
president invites attention to the re-
port of the commissioners for the in
tercsting and encouraging details of the
work already accomplished In the estab-
i.shment of peace and order, and the
Inauguration of self-governing munici-
pal life In many portions OF the archi-
peiago. The system of government es-
tablished in the Island of Negros. which
was the first to accept American sover-
eighty. Is given in detail In the mes
sage.
The president then says Everything
indicates that with speedy suppression
of the >Tagalo rebellion, life in the
archipelago will soon resume its or
binary course. under the protection of
our sovereignty. and the people of those
favored islands will enjoy a prosperity
and a freedom which they have never
before known. Already hundreds of
schools are open and filed with children.
Religious freedom is sacredly assured
and enjoyed. The courts are dispensing
justice. Business is beginning to cir
culate in its accustomed channels.
The future government Of the Philip
pines rests with the congress of the
United States. Fewer graver re-
sponsibilities have ever been conflded to
US. II we accept them in a spirit worthy
of our race and our traditions. a 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 to anarchy and finally to bar
barism. We fling them. a golden ap-
pie OF discord. among the rival powers,
no one of which would permit another to
seize them unquestioned. The sug-
gestion has been made that we could
renounce our authority over the islands,
and. giving them independence. could re-
tain a protectorate over them. The
proposition VIII not be found, am
sure. worthy of your serious attention.
Such an arrangement would involve at
the outset n cruel breach of faith. 1t
would place the peaceable and loyal ma
jority, who ask nothing better than to
accept our authority. at the mercy Of
the minority of armed insurgents. 1t
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 chose to quarrel. In short.
II would take from the congress of the
United States the power of declaring
war and invest that tremendous pre-
rogative in the Tagal leader of the hour.
II does not seem desirable that
should recommend at this time a spe-
| cific and final form of government for
these islands. When peace shall be
restored it will be the duty OF congress
to construct a plan of government.
which shall establish and maintain free
dom and order and peace in the Phil
ippines. The insurrection is still ex-
listing. and when 1t terminates further
information will be required as to the
actual condition of affairs before inau-
gurating a permanent scheme OF civil
government. As long as the insurrec-
ton 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. especially popular in their
FORM, as Iasl as tttIikOTy - ntiu anu
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 faciH-
tate this work throughout the Islands.
have believed that reconstruction
should not begin by the establishment
OF one central civil government for all
the islands, with its 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 governments,
a central government at last to fol-
low.
Until congress shall have made known
the formal expression of its WILL shall
use the authority vested in ME by the
constitution and statutes to uphold the
sovereignty of the United States in
those distant islands. as in all other
places where our flag rightfully floats.