The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-03-04
RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE PREsI-
DENT.


DENT.
The President will be pretty heavily bur
dened with responsibility during the nine
months which viii intervene between the
adjournment of Congress to-day aud the
meeting of the next Congress in Deem
Der. There viii he questions arising all
the time which will require the most care
ful consideration. Congress has made no
declaration of its purposes in respect TO
Porto Rico and the Philippines. 1t is left
with the President to deal with these pos
sessions as he thinks best, while Congress
Is not in session. Technically, we are yet
at war with Spain and will continue to be
until the peace treaty is signed by Spain.
As matter of fact. however. the war
with Spain is over. But we still have
war on our hands. and we shall continue
to have it until we reach an understand
ing with the Filipinos.
The President cannot. of course. fix the
policy of our government in respect to the
islands which we have acquired from
Spain, but he can so shape their affairs
as TO practically dictate what that policy
shall be. That was the reason possibly
why Congress. being under the control of
the Republicans, has persistently refused
20 make any declaration of policy for the
Philippines OF Porto Rico. 1t is well I'M
derstood, of course, what our policy in re-
spect to Cuba is. That was definitely
stated before The beginning of the war
with Spain. But there are many things
to be done in Cuba before an independent
government will be established there.
Everything leading up to 1t will be under
the control of the President until self
government becomes a fact.
The thought has been thrown out that
the President will have no authority to
continue the war against the FHipinos
after Spain signs the peace treaty There
doesn't appear to be any good ground for
that position, however. The Filpinos are
now really at war against the authority
of Spain. We are endeavoring to main.
tain peace and order In the Philippines I'M
der the authority granted us in the peace
protocol After the signing of the treaty
the President viii have the same author
law as he would have If the authority of
the United States we're defed in any part
of American territory.
The authority of the President is suf-
f1cient TO compel the Filipinos to accept
our rule, In both Porto Rico and the
Philippines he will exercise authority
through the army. The existing civil laws
will no doubt be enforced, except where IL
may be deemed advisable to substitute mil
itary rule. In Porto Rico the present sta
tus of affairs win doubtless be maintained
until Congress provides for the permanent
government of the island In the Phillip
pines every effort will be made to put an
end to the revolt When that is accom-
plished the President will no doubt. turn
his attention to lettering the condition of
the natives. and protecting the interests
of foreign residents. We are under obli-
cations to protect those interests TO the
best of our ability.
By the time Congress meets next Deem
Der the President may have affairs In all
of the newly acquired islands in a condl-
ton that win permit the Republican party
to adopt such a policy in regard to them
as ID may consider advisable What that
policy win be not even the leaders of the
Republicans, probably are prepared to
say at this time. Much viii depend of
course, upon the measure Of success which
attends the efforts of the President TO
bring about a situation that will permit
of legislation in accordance with Republi-
can views. No doubt the islands will be
handled so as to make all the capital pos
sible for the Republican party In the pres
idenual compaign next year 1t is prob
| able that the Democrats anticipated some
thing of the kind, and therefore tried to
get declaration of policy from the pres
| ent Congress.
| Ii is evident that the President will have
but little time for recreation from now
until next winter. His responsibility will
be great, and his work hard. Therefore
he should get all the rest he can from his
visit to Townsville which he is expected
to make Immediately after the adjourn
ment of Congress.