The pioneer press. (Miller, Hand County, S.D.) 1893-190?, 1899-12-14
sovereignty of the United States IN those

| distant islands as in all ether places
| where our flag rightfully floats.
/ shall put at the disposal OF the army
and navy all the means which the liber-
aHty OF congress ard the people have
| provided to cause this unprovoked and
| wasteful insurrection to cease. If any or
| ders or mine were required to insure the
| mercifui conduct of military and naval
| operations they would not be lacking: but
| every step Of the progress OF the troops
has been marked by a humanity which
has surprised even the misguided insur-
| gents 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 the
| waste places desolated by war and by
| long years of misgovernment. We shall
| not walt for the end of strife to begin
the beneficient 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 proyi.
| dence has brought within our Jurisdiction
| feel that IL is their liberty and not our
| power, their welfare and not our gain,
| we are seeking to enhance. Our flag has
! never waved over any community but In
! blessing. / believe the Filipinos will soon
| recognize the fact that II has not lost its
! ney to their shores.
| OF Hawaii the president SAYS:
SOME embarrassment in administrat ior
| has occurred by reason OF the peculiar
| status which the Hawaiian islands al
| present, occupy under the joint resolution
of annexation approved July Z, iS9S
! While by that reason the republic OF
! Hawaii an Independent nation was ex.
| tingUished, its separate sovereignty de-
| stroyed and its proptrty and possessions
| vested in the United States, yet COM
| plete establishment for it's government
under our system was not effected.
| BY the resolution of annexation the
| president was directed to appoint five
| commissioners TO recommend to congress
| such legislation concerning the islands as
| they should deem necessary or proper
| These commissioners were duly appointed
| and after careful investigation and
| study of the system of laws and govern
| ment prevailing in the islands and of the
| conditions existing there they prepared
| a bill to provide a government under the
| title of the Territory of Hawaii" The
| report of the committee with the bill
which they prepared. was transmitted by
me TO congress on Dec. @, ,1S9S, but the
bill still awaits final action.
The people OF these islands are entitled
to the benefits and privileges of our con-
| stituton, but in the absence r" any act OF
congress providing for federal courts In
| the island and for a procedure by which
appeals. writs of error and other judicial
| proceedings necessary for the enforce
| ment of civil rights may be prosecuted,
they are powerless to secure their en-
| forcement by the judgment of the courts
| of the United States. 1t Ia manifestly
important, therefore, that an act shall
| be presented as speedily as possible erect
ing these islands into judicial district,
| providing for the appointment of a judge
| officers
| procedure in appellate proceedings, and
| that the government of this newly ac-
| uuired territory under the fes~--s con-
stitution shall be fully defined and pro-
vided for"
The president says a necessity for i'm.
mediate legislative relief exists in the
Territory of Alaska. The present civil
| government is fitted only for the admin
istration of affairs in the sparsely inhab-
tied country. The increase of immigra.
ton consequent upon the discovery of
gold has produced such a condition as
| calls for more ample facilities for local
self-government. The president sees nc
reason why a more complete form OF
territorial organization should not be
provided.
According to the president the time Is
ripe for the adoption of a temporary
form of government for the island of
Porto Rico.
IL is desirable, he says, that the gov.
eminent of the island, under the law of
belligerent right now maintained through
the executive department, should be su.
| perseded by an administration entirely
CT I'll in its nature.
In conclusion the president says
1.-The 14th of December will be the
one hundredth anniversary of the death
of Washington. For a hundred years the
republic has had the priceless advantage
| of the lofty standard of character and
conduct which he bequeathed to the
| American people. 1t Is an inheritance
which time, instead OF wasting, contin.
ually increases and enriches. We may
justly hope that in the years to come the
beneficient influence of the Father of His
Country may be even more patent for
good than In the century which Is draw
ing to a close. i have been glad TO learn
that in many part of the country the leo
pie will fittingly observe this historic TN
niversary.
Presented to this congress are great OPP
portunities. With them come great re-
sponsibilities. The power confded to Us
increase the weight of our obligation to
the people, and We must be prof ouudly
sensitive of them as we contemplate the
new and grave problems which cvI.frC mt
US. Aiming only at the public good, We
cannot err. A right Interpretation of the
peoples will and Of duty cannot fail to
insure wise measures for the 'elfare OF
the islands which have come under the
authority Of the United States and inure
to the common interest and lasting honor
of our country Never has this nation
had more abundant cause than during the
past year for thankfulness to God for
manifold blessings and mercies, for which
we make reverent acknowledgment.