Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1899-12-05

renounce our authority over the islands
and, giving them independence, could re-
tam a protectoiate over them. This prop
ositlon will not be found, l am sure,
worthy OF your serious attention. Such
an arrangement would involve at the out-
set a cruel breach of faith. 1t would
place the peaceable and loyal majority
VINO ask nothing better than to accept
our authority. at the mercy of armed
insurgents 1t would make us RESPONSE
cie for the acts of the insurgent leaders
ana give US no power to control them. it
would charge us with the task of pro-
tectins them against each other and de-
ending them against any foreign power
with which they chose to quarrel. In
snort, 1t would take from the congress Of
the United States the power Of declaring
war ana vest that tremendous preroga-
tive in the Tagalo leader of the hour.
III does not seem desirable that I
snould recommend at this time a speci-
nc and fnal form of government for these
islands When peace shall be restored it
WI! De the duty of congress to construct
~ pan or government which shall estab-
llsh and maintain freedom and order and
peace In the Philippines. The insurrec-
tloh IS sun existing and when it termin-
ates further Information will be required
as TO the actual condition of affairs be-
Tore lnaugurating a permanent scheme of
clVll government The full report Of the
commission now in preparation will con-
tam Information and suggestions which
VIII De OF value to congress and which I
VIII transmit as soon as it is completed.
AS long as the insurrection continues the
military aTI1 must necessarily be SUI
preme. But there is no reason why steps
should no be taken from time to time to
iiiauSurate governments essentially
popular Ill their form as fast as territory
IS held or controlled by our troops. To
TINS end ! am considering the advisable
lty or 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
island. l have believed that reconstruct
tons should not begin by the establish
ment of one central government for all
the islands with it's seat at Manila, but
rather. that the work should be COM
meilced by building up from the bottom
first, establishing municipal govern
ments and then provincial governments,
a central government at last to follow.
Until congress shall have made known
the formal expression of it's will, I shall
use the authority vested in me by 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 rigltfully floats.
l shall put at the disposal of the army
and navy all the means which the lib
crafty of congress and the people have
ploNiueu ~ cause tnlS un~pfOVOkeu ana
Wasteful insurrection to cease. If any
orders of mine were required to insure
the merciful conduct of military and ma
val operations, sthey would not be lack
lng,but every step of the progress O: our
troops has been marked by a humanity
which has surprised even the misguided
insurgents. The truest kindnes to them
Will be a swift and effective defeat OF
their political leader. The hour of vic
tory will be the hour of clemency and
reconstruction.
No effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desolated by wal and
by long years of misgovernment. We
not wait for the end of the strife to
begin the benef1cent work. We shall con-
tinue, 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 1t is their lib
erty and not our power, their welfare
and not our gain that we are seeking to
enhance. Our flag never waved over any
community, but in blessing. / believe
the Filipinos will soon recognize the fact
it has not lost it's gift of benedic-
ton in it's worldwide journey to their
shores.
CASE OF HAWAII.
Some embarrassment in administration
has occurred by reason of the peculiar
which the Hawaiian islands at
present occupy under the joint resolu-
ton of annexation approved July {, 1898.
While by that resolution the republic OF
Hawaii as an independent nation was ex-
tinguisled, its separate sovereignty de-
stfoyed and it's property and possessions
vested in the United States, yet a COM
plete establishment for it's government
under II system was not effected.
the municipal laws of the islands
not enacted for the fulfllment of trea-
and not Inconsistent with the joint
resolution or contrary to the constitu-
ton of the United States or any of it's
remain in force, yet these laws
only to the social and internal af-
fairs of the island, do not touch any SUBJ
jects of Importance which are of a broad
or national character. For example, the
republic was Invested of all
title to the publ. lands in the island and
is not only unable to dispose of lands to
settlers desiring to take up homestead
sites, but is without power to give COM
plete title in cases where lands w
been entered upon under lease or other
conditions which carry with them the
light to the purchaser, lessee or settler to
nave a full title granted to him upon
with the conditions prescribe
ed by law or by his particular agreement
Of entry.
Questions of doubt n difficulty have
dISO arisen WITH reference 10 Iu6
of tonnage tax on vessels
from Hawaiian ports. with
reference to the. status of Chinese
the islands, their entrance and
Exit therefrom, as to patents and
as tt the register of yes
under the navigation laws, as to the
tatutes for the choice of various officers
as to several other matters of detail
.ouching the interests both of the stands
of the federal government.
BY the resolution of annexation the
president was directed ITO appoint com
nissioners to recommend to congress
such legislation concerning the islands as
baI, ShOIlld deem npceScarU 81 nronor