The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-12-06


| They cannot be abandoned. If we desert
| them, we leave them at once to anarchy
and finally to barbarism. We fling hem,
a golden apple of discord, among the rival
powers, no one of which would permit
another to seize them unquestioned.
Their rich plains and valleys would be
| the scene of endless strife and bloodshed.
The advent of Dewey's fleet in Manila
bay, instead of being, as 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 daSkened their unhappy
past.
A PROTECTORATE WE'RE MADNESS.
The suggestion has been made that we
could renounce our authority over the
islands and, giving them independence,
could retain a protectorate over them.
This proposition will not be found, I am
sure. worthy of, your serious attention
Such an arrangement would involve, at
the outset, a cruel breach of faith. 1t
would place the peaceable and loyal ma
jority, who ask nothing better than to
accept our authority, at the mercy Of
armed insurgents. 1t would make US re-
sponsfble for the acts of the insurgent
leaders and give US no power 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 preroga-
tive in the Tagalo leader Of the hour.
THROWS IT ALL UPON CONGRESS.
It does not seem desirable that 1 should
recommend at this time a specific and
final form Of government for these islands.
When peace shall be restored It will be
the duty of congress to construct a plan
of government which shall establish and
maintain freedom and order and peace
in the Philippines. The insurrection is
still existing, and when it terminates fur
Their information will be required as to
the actual condition of affairs before in
augurating permanent scheme Of civil
government The full report of the COM
mission, now in preparation, will contain
information and suggestions which win
be of value to congress and which I will
transmit as soon as it is completed.
LAW AND ORDER on WARS HEELS.
AS long as the insu. rection continues
the military arm must necessarily be
supreme. But there Is no reason why
steps should not be taken from time to
time to inaugurate governments essen
TALLY popular in their form as fast as ter
ritory is held or controlled by our troops.
To this end I am considering the advlsa.
bilty OF the return Of the commission or
such Of the members thereof as can be
secured, to aid the military authority and
facilitate this work throughout the
islands. I have believed that reconstruc-
ton should not begin by the establish
ment of a central civil government for all
the islands, with its seat at Manila, but
rather that the work should be COM
commenced by building up from the bot
tom, first establishing municipal govern
ments and then provincial governments,
a central government at last to follow.
MEANWHILE THE WAR GOES ON
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 and in all other
places where our flag rightfully floats I
shall put at the disposal of the army and
navy all the means which the nberalitv
OF congress and the people have provided.
to cause this unprovoked and wasteful
instruction to cease. If any orders Of
mine were required to insure the merci-
full conduct Of military and naval oper-
atoms 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 insur-
gents. The truest kindness to them will |
be a swift and effective defeat of their |
be the hour Of clemency and reconstruc- |
ton.
FLAG WAVES ONLY IN BLESSING
No effort will be spared to build I'D the |
waste places desolated by war and by |
long years of misgovernment. We shall |
not wait for the end of the strife to begin |
the benefcent 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 wal in our
power to make these people whom Prov
idence has brought within our iurisdic-
ton, feel that it is their liberty and not
our power, their welfare and not our
gain, that we are seeking to enhance.
Our flag has never waved over any COM
munity but in blessing. I believe the
Fflipinos will soon recognize the fact that
it has not lost its gift of benediction in
its worldwide journed to their shores.
HAWAII
AN ANOMALOUS POSITION.
Some embarrassment in administration
has occurred by reason of the peculiar
status which the Hawaiian Islands at
present occupy under the joint resolution
OF annexation, approved July :. 1895
While by that resolution, the republic of
Hawaii as an independent nation was ex-
tinguished, its separate sovereignty de-
stroyed and its property and possessions
vested in the United States. yet a COM
plete establishment Of its government IN
der our system was not effected. While /