The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-11-07
CONGRESS SHOULD hCI.
he Republican In Form, but Uni-
ted states should Control All En-

NEW YORK. Nov. "a special to the
Herald from Washington says:
Congress should at once take acton IN
relation TO the Philippines" said Senator
Morgan tonight This action should De
taken in The discharge OF the duty :rnpos-
81 by section 1, article iv. OF the cons,itu-
ton, which provides that the United
states shall guarantee to every state in
this Union a republican form Of govern
ment"
The senator said that this imposed a dis
tlnct duty UPON congress and the dis
charge Of that dity by action looking 10
me establishment OF a republican form Of
government in the Philippines would be
the bes. possible answer 10 the antrim
peria!ists. He explained that what he
meant by giving a republican form Of
government 10 the Philippines was
the best form of a republican government
known in the world. which would be the
best form 10 DO found among the ideal.
and That every step toward establishing a
government in the Philippines should be
an approach 10 this high ideal
no attempt should be made he said 10
frame a detailed government fer the isl
anfs, as a whole, or for any Of the vari-
Gus peoples who inhabited them. without
thorough understanding Of all the con-
dltions and Needs Of the inhabitants
Asked whether ne favored congress
slond commission TO visit; the Philippines
ana study the conditions there before at
meGt he replied.
L think 1t would be wise to have such
a commission visit the islands. II we
n T rgnder1t,aken to frame government
Tor Hawaii without the study OF local
conditions, which our commission made.
think ~ is probable that We would have
made some ,srevious blunders. This
characteristics ard needs of the people is
even more necessary In the case of the
rhnpp!nes Than IN Hawaii. because we
know less of the Philippines"
In the senator's opinion the govern
ment of the United States should have
charge Of the external relations OF the
ISLANDS, OF collecting and expendng the
revenues and OF all matters relating TO
affairs should be eonfded as far as pos
slpie to the people Of the different To-
caiities In this connection he spoke of
the township system Of the New England
states as the highest ideal of local self
government.
The question Of who should have the
right 70 vote would have TO be deter
mined by congress and in this connec-
tion the senator called attention TO the
fact that, in the first instance the de-
termination OF who shall have the suf-
rage IN the states and territories or
ganized under the United States /. an
arbitrary act. In some places men only
being allowed 10 vote. in others men and
women. and in others various qualia-
cations being prescribed.
Existing laws. the senator thought
should he continued IN force. as far as
they were good laws. because the people
understood them. One change that would
have 10 he made would be to take away
from the friars and the religious orders
their power Of leyying taxes on the peo-
pie
Senator Morgan Is Of the opinion that
while the United States should under
take at once the solution OF the prob
lem Of governing the Philippines. the de-
Velopment If that government into it's
ultimate form Will have to be a matter
III growth.