The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-06
PRESIDENTS MESSAGE READ.
Continued from sixth Page)

nit another to seize them unques-
toned. Their rich plains and val
Ieys would be the scene of endless
| strife and bIOOdshed. The advent
of Dewey's feet i'm Manila bay, in
| stead of Bringing, as we hope, the
dawn of new day of freedom and
progress, will have been the begin
ming of an era of misery and viO-
Icnce worse than any which has
| darkenesI their unhappy past. The
| suggestion has been made that we
could renOunce our authority over
the islands, and giving them inde-
pcndence, could retain "A protector
ate over them. This proposition
will not be found, 1 am sure, worthy
of your serious attention. Such an
arrangement would involve at the
would place the peaceabIe and loyal
majority, who ask nothing better
than to accept our authority, at the
mercy of the minority of armed in
surgents. 1t would make us re-
spOnsibIe for the acts of the insur-
to control them. 1t would charge
us with the task of protecting them
against each other and defending
them against any foreign power
with which they chose to quarrel.
In short, it would take from the
| Congress of the United States the
power of declaring war and vest
that tremendous prerOgative in the
TngaI leader of the hour.
1T does not seem desirable that should
| recommend al time a specific and nal
form Of government for these, is DIS
" hen peace shan be n store it win be the
duty of Congress 70 construct a plan of
government which shal estab ish and
| mainta n freedom and order and peace in
tire h.ippn mes. The insurrec ion 3 sin
existing, and when it terminates, further
information win be required as to the ac-
tual conditicn of affairs bt 70. inaugural
ing a permanent sc. eme of civil govern
ment. The fun report of the commission,
now in preparation, will contain infOrma-
| ton and suggestions viii h will be of
value to Congress, and VIII CHI l viii iran
init as soon as 1t is completed. AS long
as the instruction continues the military
arm must necessarily be supreme. But
| there is no reason why steps should not
be aiken ION time to time to inaugurate
governments essentially popular m Their
| form as fast as te rtory is held and con-
| troled by our troops. To this end l am
| considering the advisabi lty Of the re urn
| Of the commission, or such of The members
| thereof as can be secul ed, to a.d the ex-
listing author ties and facilitate this work
Throughout The islands. 1 have believt d
| that reconstruction sh uld rot b gin by the
! establishment of one central civil govern
ment for all the islands. with its seat at
J Manila, but rather that the work should
| be commenced by bulldi G up from the
1 tom, first establishing municipal gov
ternments and then PROVING al COVER nnents
a central cover ment at last to f4li W.
! Until Congress shall have made known
| the formal expression of its will, l shah use
the authority vested in me by the consti-
tuition and the statutes to uphold the SOW
ereignty of the United States in those
| distant islands as in all other places where
| our flag rightfuly floats. l shall put at
the disposal of the army and navy all the
| means which the lberafly of Congress and
| the people have provided to cause ihis I'M
| provoked and wasteful insurrection TO
| cease. If any orders of mine were re-
| quired to insure the merciful conduct Of
| military and naval operations, they would
| not be lacking; but every step of the
| progress of our troops has been marked
| by a humanity which has surprised even
| the misguided insurgents. The truest kind
ness to them will be a swift and effective
| defeat of their present leader. The hour
of victory viii be the hour of clemency and
| reconstruction.
| mo 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
| benehcent work. We shall continue, as
| we have.begun, TO open the schools and the
! churches. to set the courts in operation, TO
| do and rf,ag4lr
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-
| nance Our flag has never waved over
| any community but in blessing. I believe
| the Filipfnos will soon recognize the fact
that it has not lost its gift of benediction
in It's worldwide journey to their shoes" -
The Hawaiian Islands.
| Concerning the Hawaiian Islands, the
| President says:
"'The people of these islands are entitled
| to the benefits and privileges of OUT con-
| stitution, but in the absence of any acS of
Congress providing for federal courts in
| the islands, and for procedure by which
| appeals writs of error. and other Judicial
| proceedings necessary for fhe enforcement
| Of civil rights may be prosecuted, they
are powerless 10 secure enforcement by
| the judgement of the courts of the United
| States. 1t is manifestlv importsn', there
| fore. that an act shall be passed as speed
! ily as possible erecting these islands into
! a judicial district, providing for the ap-
| pointment of a judge and other propar Off
| GERS and methods of procedure in appellate
| proceedings and that the government of
| this newly acquired territory under the
federal constitution shall be fully defined
| and provided for"
Porto Rico.
For the government of Porto Rico the
President recommends that Congress pass
a law for the organization Of tempor-
| arv government which shah provide by
the appointment by the President sub
| iect to confirmation by the Senate, of
governor and such other officers as the
| general administration OF the island may
require. and that for legislative pu poses
upon subjects of a local nature not par
| taking Of a federal character legis'a i've
council. composed partly of Porto Ricans
and partly of citizens of the United States
tod nd Tod 1tf IA