Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-12-06
ton OF this government Z to do every
thing possible to advance their inter

The President quotes from his early,
h orders to the commend rs of the forces
ofSoecupatio ion to this factSupon
the people and reviews at some leng tn
the ppointment and work of the Phil
lppfre Commission from whose report
| ne quotes. "A copy of the report is trans
nlit tied to- CongressS The claim q Of the
rebel lead Ter that. he Was. promised tin-
dependence byang officer OF the United
states in return for his assistance has
no foundatto In fact and Is 5categori-
S callyl denied by the Very witnesses who
were called to prove It. The most the
insurgent leader hoped for when he
came back to Manila was the liberation
Of the islands from the Spanish con
years without success to throw @off.
. Continuing the President says:
AGUINALDOE MUST QUIT.
The rebellion must be put down.
Civil government cannot be thoroughly
resta blished until order is restored. With
a deyoti and gallantry worthy of its
most brilliant history. the army, ably
and loyalty assisted by the navy has
carried on this unwelcome but most
righteous campaign with richly deserv-
ed success. The noble self sacrifices
with which our soldiers and sailors
whose terms of service had expired re-
fused to avail themselves Of their right
to return home as long as they were
needed at the 'front.' forms one of the
brightest pages of our annals Although
their operations have been somewhat
interrupted and checked by rainy sea-
son of uusual violence and duration,
they have gained ground steadily in
every direction. and now look forward
confidently to speedy completion of
their task.
HSLAND OF NEGROS.
The unfavorabe circumstances con-
nected with an active campaign have
not been permitted to interfere with the
equally important work OF reconstruc-
ton. Again 1 invite your attention to
the report of the commissioners for the
interesting and encouraging details of
the work already accomplished In the
establishment of peace and order and
the Inauguration OF self governing mu-
nicipal life in many portions OF the
archipelago. A notable beginning has
been made in the establishment Of a
government in the Island of Negroes,
which is deserving OF special considera-
ton. This was the first island to ac-
cept American sovereignty. It's people
unreser'vedly proclaimed allegiance to
the United States ard adopted con-
stitu ton looking to the establishment
OF a. popular government. 1t was i'm
possible to guarantee to the people of
Negroes that the constitution so adopted
should be the. ultimate form of govern
ment. Such question, under the treaty
with Spain and in accordance with our
own constitution and laws, came eX-
clusively within the Jurisdiction of the
Congress. The Government actually set
up by the Inhabitants of Negroes even
tually proved unsatisfactory to the ma
tives themselves. a new system was
put into force by order OF the major
general commanding the department.
(This system has been previously pub
lished)
THE SULU ISLANDS.
The authorities of the Sulu islands
have accepted the succession of the
United States to the rights of Spain,
aud our flag floats over that territory
On the 10th of August, 1899, Brlgadicr
General j. c. Bates. U. S. Volunteers.
negotiated an agreement with the Sui
tan and his principal chiefs, which
transmit herewith. BY Article the
sovereignty of the United States over
the Whole archipelago OF Jolo and its
dependencies is declared and acknowl-
edged.
The United States flag will be used
In the archipelago, and its Dependent
cies, on land and sea. Piracy is to be
suppressed, and the Sultan agrees to
cooperate heartily with the United
States authorities to thatl end and to
make every possible effort to arrest and
bring to justice all persons engaged in
piracy. All trade in domestic products
of the archipelago OF Jolo, when car
rted on with any part Of the Philippine
islands and under, the American flag,
shall besfree. unlimited. and undutiable.
The United States will give full protec-
ton to the Sultan in case any foreign
nation should attempt to impose upon
frfTr. ne Gnfterii- sjitsrtcs- witt-not sell
the island Of Jolo or any other island
Of the Jolo archipelago to any foreign
nation without the consent of the Sui
tan. Salaries for the Sultan and his
associates in the administration OF the
Islands have been agreed upon to the
amount of s760 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 confirmation by the
President and to future notifications
by the consent of the parties in inter-
est I have confirmed said agreement
subject to the action of the Congress,
and with the reservation, which I
have directed shall be communicated to
the Sultan of Jolo. that this agreement
is not to he deemed IN any way to au-
thorize or give the consent Of the
United States to the existence of slave
ry in the Sulu ARCHIPELAGO com
municate these facts 10 the Congress
for Its information and action.