The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1899-12-06

now look forward confidently 10 speedy
completion Of their task
Everything indicates that with the
speedy suppression Of the Tagalo rebe!.
lion. life Ill the arcEApelago will soon
resume its ordinary course under the
protection OF our sovereignty and the
people OF those favored islands will en-.
JOY prosperity and freedom which
they have never before known.
Cannot BE Abandoned.
The future government of the Philip.
pines rests with the congress of the
United States. Fewer graver response.
Dllltles have ever been confided to US.
II we accept them in spirit worthy OF
our race and our traditions q great Cd.
portunity comes with them.
The Islands lie under the shelter of
our flag. They are ours by every title
or law and equity. They cannot bs
abandoned II we desert them, we
leave them at once to anarchy and
finally to barbarism. We fling them, q
golden apple of discord, among the rival
powers, no one of which could permit
another to seize them unquestioned.
Their rich plains aud valleys would be
the scene of endless strife and blood.
shed.
The advent of Dswey's fleet in Ma.
Mia 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 OF misery and violence worse
than any which has darkened their nm.
happy past.
The suggestion has been made that
we could renoupce our authority over
the Islands and giving them indepen.
dence could retain protectorate over
them. This proposition will not be
found. am sure. worthy of your seri.
ous attention. Such an arrangement
would involve at the outset q cruel
breach Of faith. 1t would place the
peaceable and loyal majority, who ask
for nothing better than to accept our
authority. at the mercy of the minority
armed insurgents.
1t would make US responsible for the
acts of the insurgent leaders and give
as 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.
1t would take from the congress of the
United States the power of declaring
war and vest that tremendous preroga.
tive in the Iagal leader of the hour.
1t does not seem desirable that
should recommend at this time q spe.
clfic and final form of government for
these islands. When peace shall be re.
stored it will be the duty of congress to
construct plan of government which
snail establish and maintain freedom
and order and peace in the Philippines.
The lnsurrection is still existing and
when 1T terminates further information
Will be required as to the actual cohdi.
tlon CT affairs before inaugurating q
Permanent scheme of civil government.
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
Our nag has never waived over any
community but in blessing. I believe
the tIliplnos will soon recognize the
fact that it has not lost its gift of bene.
diction in this worldwide Journey to
their shores
Porto Rican Affairs.
recommend that legislation be had
| with reference to the government of
Porto Rico. The time is ripe for the
II
| ernment for this island.
1t is desirable that the government of
the island. under the law of belligerent
right. now maintained through the ex.
| ecutlve department. should be super
seeded by an administration entirely
| civil in its nature. For the present pur.
pose 1 recommend that congress pass a
| law Tor the organization of temporary
| government which shall provide for the
hx
to confirmation by the senate, of gov.
ernor and such other officers as the gem
| eral administration of the island NAV
require and for legislative purposes, on
subjects OF local nature not partaking
OF federal character.
a legislative council. composed partly
OF Porto Ricans and partly of citizens
or the United States. shall be nominated
and appointed by the president.
Lynch Law Condemned.
The love Of law and the sense of obe.
dlence and submission to the lawfully
constituted judicial tribunals, are em.
bedded in the hearts Of our people, and
any violation Of these sentiments and
disregard OF their obligations, Justly
arouses public condemnation. The
guarantees of life, liberty, and of civil
rights. should be faithfully upheld, the
rlgnt OF trial by jury respected and de.
Tended.
Those who, in disregard Of law and
the public peace, unwilling to await
the Judgment of court and jury, consti.
tute themselves judges and executioners
should not escape the severest penalties
for their crimes.
Great Opportunities.
Presented to this congress are great
opportunities; with them come great
responsibilities, The power confided to
US increases the weight of our obliga.
tions to the people, and we must be pro.
found!y sensitive of them as we contem.
plate the new and grave problems which
confront u.s. Aiming only at the pub.
TIC good, we cannot err. A right inter
probation of the peoples will, and of
DUTY, cannot fail to insure wise meas.