Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-12-06

any foreign nation without the consent of
the Sultan. Salaries for the Sultan and his
associates in the administration of the is
lands have been agreed upon to the amount
of s760 monthly
Article x provides that any slave in the
archipelago of Jolo shall have the right to
purchase freedom by paying to the master
the usual market value. The agreement
by General Bates was made subject to con-
firmation by the President and to future
notifications by the consent of the parties
in interest. I have confirmed said agree
ment, subject to the action of the Con-
gress, and with the reservation, which
have directed shall be communicated to
the Sultan of Jolo, that this agreement IS
not to be deemed in any way to authorize
or give the consent of the United States to
the existence of slavery in the Sulu archi-
pelago. 1 communicate these facts to the
Congress for its information and action
EVERYTHING INDICATES
that with the speedy suppression of the
Tagalo rebellion life in the archipelago
will soon resume it's ordinary course under
the protection of our sovereignty and the
people of those favored islands will soon
enjoy prosperity and a freedom which
they have never before known. Already
hundreds Of schools are open and filled
with children. Religious freedom is sa-
credly assured and enjoyed. The courts
are dispensing justice. Business is begin
ming to circulate in its accustomed chan
nels Manila, whose inhabitants were fee
ing to the country a few months ago, is
row populous and thriving mart of COM
merce. The earnest and unremitting en-
he =in ha 5pni-
raj and Major General commanding the 6e-
partment of the Pacific to assure the peo-
pie of the beneficent intentions of this gov
eminent have had their legitimate effect
in convincing the great mass of them that
peace and safety and prosperity and sta
BILE government can only be found in a
loyal acceptance of the authority of the
United States.
The future government of the Philip
pines rests with the Congress of the Unit
ed States. Few graver responsibilities have
ever been confided to US. Ii we accept
them in spirit worthy of our race and
our traditions, a great opportunity comes
with them. The islands lie under the
SHELTER OF OUR FLAG.
They are ours by every title of law and
equity. They cannot be abandoned. If we
archy and finally to barbarism fling them,
golden apple of d!scord, among the rival
powers, no one of which could permit ar
other to seize them unquestioned. Their
rich plains and valleys would be the scene
of endless strife and bloodshed. The adj
vent of Deweys fleet in Manila bay in
stead of being, as we hope, the dawn of a
new day of freedom and progress, will
have been the beginning of an era of mis-
cry and violence worse than any which
has darkened their unhappy past. The
suggestion has been made that we could
renounce our authority over the islands
and, giving them independence, could re-
tain q protectorate over them. This pro-
position will not be found I am sure, wor-
thy of your serious attention. Such an ar
rangement would involve at the outset
cruel breech of faith. 1t would place the
peaceable and loyal majority, who ask
nothing better than to accept our authori-
ty, at the mercy of the minority of armed
insurgents. 1t would make us responsible
for the acts of the insurgent leaders and
give US 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 prerogative in the Tagal
leader of the hour.