Evening star., 1899-12-05

products of the archipelago of Jolo when
carried on with any part of the Philippine
| Islands and under the American flag shall
| De free, unlimited, and undutiable. The
! United states will give fun protection to
the Sultan in case any foreign nation
should attempt to impose upon him. The
| United States will not sell the island of
| Joio or any other island of the Jolo archi-
pelage to any foreign nation without the
consent of the Sultan. Salaries for the
| sultan and his associates in the admins
| fatioB OF the islands have been agreed
| upon TO the amount of S160 monthly.
Article X provides that any slave in the
archipelago of Jolo shall have the right to
purchase freedom by paying to the master
the usual market value The agreement
| by General Bates was made subject to con-
nrmation by the President and to future
nodihcations by the consent of the parties
III interest. / have confirmed said agree
ment. subject to the action of the Congress,
and with the reservation, which l have di-
rected shall be communicated to the Sui
tan OF Jolo, that this agreement is not to
be deemed in any way to authorize or give
the consent OF the United States to the
existence of slavery in the Sulu archipel-
ago. L communicate these facts to the
Congress for it's information and action.
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 prosperity and
freedom which they have never before
known. Already hundreds of schools are
open and filled with children. Religious
freedom is sacredly assured and enjoyed.
The courts are dispensing justice. Business
is beginning to circulate in its accustomed
channels. Manila, whose inhabitants were
fleeing to the country few months ago, is
now a populous and thriving mart of COM
merce The earnest and unremtting en-
deavors of the Commission and the Admiral
and Major-General Commanding the De-
partment of the Pacific to assure the people
of the beneficent intentions of this Govern
ment have had their legitimate effect in
convincing the great. mass of them that
peace and safety and prosperity and stable
government can only be found in a loyal
acceptance of the authority of the United
States.
Responsibility of Congress.
The future government of the Philippines
rests with the Congress of the United
States. Few graver responsibilities have
ever been confded to US. If 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 can not be aban-
doned. If we desert them we leave them at
orce to anarchy and finally to barbarism.
We fling them, golden apple of discord
among the rival powers, no one of which
could permit another to seize them unques-
toned. Their rich plains and valleys would
be the scene of endless strife and blood
shed. The advent of Dewey's fleet in Ma
MIA Bay instead of being, We hope, the
dawn of new day of freedom and pro-
gress, Will 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 is
lands and giving them Independence could
lT "a nH-.ay fTFt,s-
proposition Will not be found, | am sure
worthy of your serious attention Such an
arrangement would involve at the outset
q cruel breach of faith 1t would ulace
the peaceable and loyal majority who ask
nothing better than to accept our authority
at the mercy of the minority of armed in
sufsehts. 1T would make us responsible for
the acts OF the inSurgent leaders and give
us no power to control them It wGyId
charge us with the task OF protecting them
against each other and defending them
against any foreign power with which
iheE chose to quarrel. In short II would
take from the Congress Of the Tinted
states the power of dec airing war and vest
mat tremendous perogative in the Tagai
leader of the hour
1t does not seem desirable thar I sha,,1,7
recommend at this time a specific and tinai
form OF government for these islands
" men peace shall be restored 1t will he
ire dutE of Congress to construct a DIan
OF government which shall establish and
MAINTAIN freedom and order and peace i'm
the philippines. The insurrection is still
;GNistlhs, and when 1t terminates further
information will be required as to the ac
tual condition of affairs before inaugurat
ing permanent scheme of civil govern
ment. The fun report Of the Commission
tiom tfp IN preparation' VIII contain inforna-
uon ana suggestions which will be of value
TO Congress, and which [ will transmit a <
soon as 1t Is completed As long as the
llsu:rection continues the military arm
must necessarily be supreme Rut tbara 10
from time to time to inaugurate govern
ments essentially popular In their form as
iast as territory Is held and controlled nv
our troops. To this end | am considerin,
the advisability of the return of the Com
mission, or such of the members thereof
as can be secured, to aid the existing an
thorlties and facilitate this work through
out the Islands. l have believed that re
construction should not begin by the es
tablishment of one central civil government
for all the islands. with its seat at Manila
nut 'ns rather that the work should be COM
menced by building up from the bottom.
nrst establishing municipal governments
and then provincial governments a central
government at last to follow.
Until Congress shall have made knon-p
the formal expression of its will / shall
use the authority vested in me by the Con
stitution and the statutes to uphold the
sovereignty of the United States in those
distant islands as in all other places where
our flag rShtfully floats. l shall put at the
disposal of the Army and Navy all the
means which the liberality of Congress and
the people have provided to cause this nm
provoked and wastefui insurrection to
cease. lr any orders of mine were required
to insure the merciful conduct of military
ana naval operations, they would not be
lacking; but every step of the progress of
our troops has been marked by humanity
which has surprised even the misguided in
surgents 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 reconstruc-
ton.
No effort will be spared to build up the
waste places desolated by war and by long
years of misgovernment. We shall not
wait for the end Of strife to begin the
beneficent 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 Providence has brought !
within our jurisdiction feel that it Is their
liberty and not our power, their welfare |
and not our gain. We are seeking to en-
hance Our flag has never waved over any
community but in blessing. I believe the |
Fflpinos will soon recognize the fact that
1T a 1oSt srif of