River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1899-12-07

unquestloned. Their rich plains and VAL
leys would be the scene Of endless strife
The advent Of Dewey's fleet In Manila
bay, instead of being. as we hope, the dawn
OF a new day of freedom and progress, Will
have been the beginning Of an era or misery
and violence worse than any which has
daFkened their unhappy past. The sugges-
ton has been made that we could re-
nounce our authority ever the Islands and,
giving them independence. could retain a
protectorate over them. This proposition
viii not be found. ] am sure, worthy Of
your serious attention, Such an arrange.
nent would involve at the outset a cruel
breach of faith. j would place the peace
able and loyal maturity, 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. II would
charge us with the task of protecting them
against each other, and defending them
against any foreign power with which they
from the congress OF the United States the
power of declaring war and vest that ire
mendous p~rerogative In the Tagalo leader
of the hour.
recommendation Not Needed Now.
He does not deem recommendations for
me Philippines needed al the present time.
INT will make them to congress when peace
has been fully restored there. Until such
time as congress shall legislate upon the
| subject he announces that he. VIII maintain
the sovereignty Of the United states in the
Islands, and put at the disposal q army
and, navy all the means possible to put
| down the insurrection. OF the efforts to
build up the waste places as fast as they
| shall come within our control he says:
No effort viii be spared 10 build up the
waste places desclated 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
nave begun, TO open the schools and the
churches, to set the courts in operation,
to foster industry and trade and agricul-
| ffIrp and in every way IN our power 10
make these people whom Providence has
brought within our jurisdiction feel that
IL is their liberty and not our power, their
welfare and not our gain, we are seeking
to enhance, our flag has never waved
over any community but in blessing. !
believe the Filipinos will soon recognize
| the fact that il has not lost its gift of bene-
diction in its worldwide journey to their
shores.
The Hawaiian Islands
Regarding the Hawaiian islands he rec
ommends speedy legislation and the estab-
lishment of a government under our sys-
tenn. He ecounts the possible difficulties
that may be encountered, and says:
The people of these Islands are entitled
to the benefits and privileges of our con-
stitution, but in the absence of any act
of congress providing for federal courts IN
appeals. Writs of error, and other judicial
proceedings necessary for the enforcement
Of civil rights may be prosecuted, they are
powerless to secure their enforcement Ny
| the Judgment of the courts Of the United
States. IL is manifestly important, there
fore, that an act shall be passed as speedily
as possible erecting these islands into a
judicial district providing for the appoint
ment of a judge and other proper officers
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.
Legislation Asked for Alaska.
Legislation is asked for Alaska which will
provide more courts for that territory, and
also permit the organization of municipal
governments. and says:
The whole vast area of Alaska com.
prises but one judicial district, with one
Judge, one marshal and one district at
torney, yet the civil and criminal business
has more than doubled within the pas
year, and is many times greater both il
Volume and importance thar it was ir
1884. The duties of the judge require hin
10 travel thousands of miles to discharge
his judicial duties at the various place.
tory should be divided into at least two
| districts and an additional judge. distric
attorney, marshal and other appropriate
officers be provided.
There is practically no organized form
of government in the territory. There il
10 authority, except in congress TO pas;
and the difficulty of conveying TO. thi
congress an adequate conception and un,
Outstanding of the various needs of thu
| people in the different communities il
easily understood. ] see no reason VIII
a more complete form Of territorial or
ganization should not be provided, Fol
lowing the precedent established in tht
year lSG5. when a temporary government
was provided for the recently acquired
territory, then known under the name o
Louisiana, it seems to me that ii woult
be advantageous TO confer greater eXeeu
tive power upon the governor and to estab
fish, as was done in the case Of the terri
tory of Louisiana, a legislative council
having power to adopt ordinances which
shall extend to all the rightful subjects
Of local legislation, such ordinances no
to take effect until reported to and ap
proved by the congress if in session, ant
if that body is not in session then by TIL
president. In this manner a system oflawi
providing for the incorporation and gov
eminent of towns and cities having a Ger
tain population, giving them the powel
to establish and maintain a system of ed
ucation to be locally supported, and ordt
nances providing for police, sanitary AM
other such purposes, could be speedily
provided.
Porto Rico.
For Porto Rico he advises legislation tha'
will give them a temporary form of gov