Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1899-12-13
FUTURE GOVERNMENT OF ISLANDS
Rests with Congress but the PRECEDENT
Opposes Granting Independence.

"The future government of the Phil
ippines rests with the congress OF The
United STATE. rev graVer Response
bilities have ever been confided TO US.
If we accept them IN spirit worthy OF
our race and our traditions great OPP
portunity comes with them. The ISL
ands lie under the shelter of our flag.
They are ours by every title of law aid
equity. They cannot De abandoned. III
we desert them we leave them at once
to anarchy and finally to barbarism
We fling them-a goloen apple OF dIs-
eord-among the rival powers, no one
of which could permit another TO seize
them unquestioned. Their rich plains
and valleys would be the scene OF end
less strife and bloodshed. The advent
of Dewey's fleet in Manila bay, instead
of being-as we hoped-the dawn OF q
new day of freedom and progress. Will
have been the beginning of an era OF
misery and violence, worse than any
which has darkned their unhappy past.
1.-The sugg estion has been made that
we could renounce our authority over
the islands, and giving them independ-
ence could retain a protectorate over
them. This rror o9it'on VII no. be founo'
! am sure, worthy Of your serious at
tention. Such an arrangement would
involve at the outset cruel breach OF
faith. 1t would place the peaceable and
loyal majority-who ask nothing better
than to accept our authority-at the
mercy Of the minority OF armed insur-
gents. 1t would make us responsible
for the acts Of the insurgent leaders and
give us no power to control them. 1t
would charge us with the task Of pro-
tecting them against each other and de-
Tending them against any foreign pow.
er with which they chose to quarrel.
gress of the United States the power Of
declaring war and vest that tremen-
dous prerogative in the Tagal leader
Of the hour.
att does not seem desirable that I
should recommend at this time a spe-
these islands. When peace shall be re-
stored 1t will be the duty OF congress
to construct a plan Of government
which shall establish ard maintain free
dom and order and peace In the Phil
ippines. The instruction Is stu exist
ing and when 1t terminates further In
formation will be required as to the
actual condition Of affairs before In
augurating a permanent scheme OF civil
government The full report of the COM
mission. now In. preparation. viii con-
tain information ard suggestions which
will be Of value to congress and which
I will transmit as soon as II is COM
pleted. AS long as the Instruction
continues the military arm must nee
essarily be supreme. But there Is no
reason why steps should not be taken
from time to time to inaugurate gov
ernments popular In their form as fast
as territory is held or controlled by
our troops. To this end ] am consider
ing the advisability Of the return Of the
commissioner of such members there
of as can be secured-to aid the existing
authorities and facilitate this work
Throughout the islands. ] have believed
that reconstruction should not begin by
A. ~ NJ oil
ment for all the islands with its seat
at Manila. but rather that the work
should be commenced by building up
municipal governments and then pro-
vincial governments central govern
ment at last to follow.
Until congress shall have made
known the formal expression Of its will
I shall use the authority vested In me
by the constitution and the statutes to
uphold the sovereignty of the United
States In those distant Islands. as In all
other places where our flag rightfully
floats. 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 unprovoked
and wasteful insurrection to cease. II
any orders of mine were required to In
sure the merciful corduct Of military
lacking: but every step of the progress
of our troops has been marked by
humanity which has surprised even the
misguided insurgents The truest
Kindness to them will be swift and
effective defeat of their present leader
The hour OF victory will be the hour
of clemecy and reconstruction.
mo effort will be spared to build up
the waste places desoiated by war and
by long years Of misgovernment We
shall not walt for the end Of strife ia
begin the benefcient work. We shall
continue. as we have begun. TO open the
| schools and the churches. to set courts
| in operation. to foster industry and
way In our power to make these people
| whom Providence has brought within
our Jurisdiction feel that II r. their lib
| erty and out our power. their welfare
| and out our gain. we are seeking to en-.
nance. Our rag has never waved over
| any community but IN blessing. be-
| lieve the Tilipinos win soon recognize
the fact that II has not lost Its gift OF
benedictlon In Its worldwide journey to
| their shores" A..H
The suiu islands are referred to as
having accepted our authority. The
provision IN the agreement with the
sultan permitting the existence OF slav-