The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1899-12-09
the Senate of the United States, whose
ratification it still awaits.
The ARMY and Navy

terms OF enlistment had expired.
The navy has maintained the spirit
and high efficiency which have always
characterized that service and has lost
none of the gallantry in heroic action
which has signalized its brilliant and clo-
rious past. The nation has equal pride
in its early and later achievements. Its
habitual readiness for every emergency
has won the confidence and admiration
of the country.
Pensions of Widows.
In the matter of pensions. the Presi-
dent heartily recommends the policy Of
! the commissioner of pensions that the
amount Of income allowed to widows of
soldiers independent of the proceeds OF
| her daily labor, should lac not less than
500 per annum, and urges that the Con
greSS shall so amend the act as to permit
the pension office to grant pensionable
status TO widows under the terms Of
the third section of the act of June -,
1890 whose income aside from the pro-
ceeds OF daily labor is not in excess of
500 per annum.
Our Duty in the Philippines.
A large portion of the message is taken
up with the Philippine question. After
rCciting all the events leading up to the
revolt by Agunaldo, the President says:
The rebellion must be put down. Civil
government cannot be thoroughly estab-
lished until order is restored. With dev9-
liant history, the army ably and Loyalty as
sisted by the navy, has carried on this I'M
welcome but most righteous campaign
with richly deserved success. The noble
l self-SacrifiCe with which our soldiers and
sailors whose terms Of service had expired
refused to avail themselves of their right
TO return home as long as they were needed
/ at the front forms one of the brightest
pages i'll our annals. Although their opera
( tiohS nave beeh somewhat interrupted ana
checked by II rainy season of unusual vio-
lcuce and duration. they have gained ground
steadily in every direction and now look
forward confidently to Il speedy completion
of their task.
Everything indicates that with the speedy
suppression Of the Tagalo rebellion life in
the archipelago will soon resume its ordi-
nary course under the protection of our
sovereignty and the people of those favored
/ Islands will enjoy a prosperity and free
dom which they have never before known.
The future government or the Philippines
rests with the Congress of the United
| States. Few graver responsibilities have
them in n spirit worthy of our race and our
traditions u government opportunity comes
with them. The islands lie under the shel-
ter 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 to anarchy and finally to bar
bariSm. We fling them. Il golden apple OF
discoru, among the rival powers no one Of
which could permit another to seize them
unquestioned. Their rich plains and val
lcyS would be the scene of endless strife
and blOodShcd. The advent of DeNey'S
fleet in Manila bay instead Of being: as we
hope, the dawn of new day of freedom
and progress, VIII have been the beginning
Of an era Of misery and violence worse
than any which has darkened their unhappy
past. The suggestion has been made that
we could renounce our authority over the
islands and giving them Independence. could
retain a protcctoratc over them. This prop
position viii not be found, am sure,
worthy Of your serious attention. Such
arrangement would involve at the outset
a cruel breach Of faith It would place the
s..llA 10 md m. In 81
nothing better than to accept our authority,
at the mercy of the minority of armed in
surgcnts. 1t would make Us responsible for
the acts of the insurgcnt leaders, and give
Us no power to control them. 1t would
charge US with the task of protecting them
against each other arl defending Then.
against any foreign power with which they
chose to quarrel. In short il would take
from the Congress of the United States the
power of declaring war and vest that trc-
nendous prerogatiye in the TaSal leader of
tho hour.
1t does not seem desirable that I should
recommend ut this time Il specific and final
form of government for these islands.
When peace shall be restored it viii be the
duty of Congress to construct i plan OF GOV
/ crnment which shall establish and maintain
freedom and order and peace in the Philip
pines.
Until Congress shall have made known the
formal expression Of its will. shall use thr
authority vested in me by the constitution
( and the statutes TO uphold the sovereignty
Of the United States in those distant is
lands as in all other places where our flag
I rightfuily floats. | shall put at The disposal
of the army and navy all the means which
the Uborality of Congress and the peop"
have provided to cause this unprovoked and
wasteful inSurrection to cease. If any or
deTS of mine We're required to insure the
mcrciful conduct of military and naval OD-
. cratiUnS they would not hp lacking: hut cv-
cry step of the progress of our troops has
been marked by Il humanity which has sur
priSed even the misguided insurgents. The
trucst kindness to them will he a swift and
effective defeat Of their present leader.
The hour of victory will be the hour Of
clemeucy and reconstruction.
The Hawaiian Situation.
Some embarrassment in administration
has occurred by reason of the peculiar
status which the Hawaiian islands at
present occupy under the joint resolution
Of annexation approved July 4. 1898.
The people of these islands are entitled
TO the benefits and privileges of our con
StitutiOn, but in the absence Of any act Of
Congress. providing for federal courts in
the islands. and for Il procedure by which
appeals, writs of error and ether judicial
proceedings necessary for the enforce
ment of civil rights may bc prosecuted,
they are powcrlCSS to secure their en-
f"rcement by the Judgment of the courts
of the United States. II is manifCStly
important. therefore, that an act b"
passed rs speedily as possible erecting
these islands into Il judicial district. pro
yiding for the appointment of a judge
and other proper officers and methods of
procedure in appellate proceedings and
that the government Of this newly-ac-
quircd territory. under the federal con
stitution. shall be fully defined and pro-
yided for.
Alaska and Porto Rico.
The need Of immediate legislative re-
: lief exists in the "~rtory of Alaska
There is practically DO organized form
Of government III the territory. There
+ l. no authority except i'll Congress. to
pass any law. no matter how local OF
trivial. and the difficulty Of conveying to
the Congress an adequate conception and
understanding Of the various needs of
the people in the different communities
is easily understood The President
sees 10 reason why a more complete
form of territorial organization should
not be provided.
He recommends that legislation TO the
same end bc had with reference 10 the
government Of Porto Rico. The time Is
ripe for the adoption Of = temporary
form of government for this island: and
many suggestions made with reference
to Alaska are applicable also TO Porto
Rico.
In accordance with the act of Congress
providing Tor IN appropriate national eel
ehratiun in the year 1900 of the cStab-
liShment of the seat Of government III
the District of Columbia, the President
expresses the belief that the proposed
memorial bridge across the Potomac to
Arlington cemetery would BE- a conysn-
fence 10 all the people who visit the ma
tional cemetery. an ornament To the cap
ital Of the nation and forever stand as
monument 10 American patriotism.
The Civil Service.
In regard To civil service. the PreSi-
den says all of the amendments TO the
civil service law promulgated by him
had for their main object a more eff
cient and satisfactory administration Of
the system of the appointments cStah-
liShed by the civil service law. The re-
suits attained show that uhder their op-
Grafton the public service has improved
and that the civil service system is re-
lieved of many Objectionable features
which heretofore subjected it to just
criticism and the administrative officers
To the charge OF unhuSinesslike methods
in the cnnlmct of public affairs. L Is