The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1900-09-28

Had to Remain.
1t Is not to be conceived Of that onv
American would have sanctioned tho sur
render OF Manila to the Insurgents o,,r Al.
hgatlons to other nations and to the friendly
tflipinos and to ourselves and our flag de.
manded that force should be met with force
Whatever the future Of the Philippines may
De- there Is no course open to us now EXCEPT
tue prosecution of the war until the insur-
gents are reduced to submission.
Inc commission is of the opinion that
tnere mas been no time since the destruction
OF the Spanish squadron by Admiral Dewey
"nen II was possible to withdraw our forces
from the Islands either with honor to our
serves or with safety to the inhabitants"
After the most thorough study of the peo-
pies OF the archipelago the commission re-
ported. among other things:
Their lack of education and political ex-
perience, combined with their racial and
linguistic diversitles, disqualify them, In
spite OF their mental gifts and domestic viz
tues TO undertake the task of governing the
archipelago at the present time The most
that can be expected of them is to cooper
ATE with the Americans in the adminstra-
ZION OF general affairs. from Manila as a
! center, and to undertake, subject to Amer
ican control or guidance las may be found
necessary the administration Of provincial
and municipal affairs.
Would Invite Anarchy.
| should our power by any fatality be
Withdrawn. the commission believes that the
government Of the Philippines would speed
lily lapse into anarchy, which would excuse,
| taf ba fp<o ~
other powers, and the eventual division of
the islands among them. Only through
American occupation, therefore, is the Idea
OF Free self-goyerning and united Philip
pine commonwealth at all conceivable. .
Thus the welfare of the Filipinos coin
cides with the dictates OF national honor in
forbidding our abandonment of the archi-
pelago. We cannot from any point of view
escape the responsibilities Of government.
which our sovereignty entails, and the com
mission Is strongly persuaded that the per
Torrance Of our national duty will prove
the greatest blessing to the people Of the
Philippine Islands,"
Satisfied that nothing further could be ac-
compished in pursuance Of their mission
until the rebellion was suppressed, and de-
! string TO place before the Congress the re-
suit Of their observations, | requested the
commission to return to the United States.
Their most intelligent and comprehensive
report, was submitted to Congress.
Duties of the Com mission.
In March, 1900, believing that the insur-
rection was practically ended and earnestly
desiring TO promote the establishment of
stable government in the archipelago, ap-
pointed the following civil commission:
William H. Taft of Ohio, Professor Dean c.
Worcester OF Michigan, Luke l. Wright of
Tennessee, Henry c. Ide OF Vermont. and
Bernard Moses Of California. My instruc-
lions to them cons9k he'd the following:
You (the Secretary OF War will instruct
the commission to devote their at
tentlon In the first Instance to the establish
ment OF municipal governments, in which
the natives of the islands, both In the cities
and In the rural communities, shall be af-
forded the opportunity to manage their own
local affairs 10 the fullest extent of which
they are capable and subject to the least de-
gree Of supervision and control which a care
ful study Of their capacities and observation
Of the workings of native control show to be
consistent With the maintenance of law, or
der and loyalty.
Awaits the Report.
'Wheney er the commission is Of the opin- |
ion that the condition of affairs 10 the isl
ands is such that the central administration |
may safely be transferred from military to J
civil control they will report that conclu- |
sion to you 1.-THE Secretary OF War. with |
their personal recommendations as to the |
form Of central government to be estab- |
lished for the purpose of taking over the |
control.
Beginning with the LIST day Of Septem-
Der, 1900, the authority to exercise, subject |
to my approval through the Secretary OF |
War, that part of the power of government
In the Philippine Islands which is of leg
islatiye nature is to be transferred from the
military governor of the Islands to this com
mission, to be thereafter exercised by them
In the place and stead OF the military gov
ernOr, under such rules and regulations as
you 1.-THE Secretary Of War; shall prescribe.
until the establishment of the civil central |
government for the Islands contemplated in
the last foregoing paragraph or until Con-
gress shall otherwise provide.
Legislative Authority.
Exercise OF this legislative authority will
include the making OF rules and orders hay
ing the effect of law for the raising of reve
nue. by taxes, customs duties and imposts;
the appropriation and expenditure Of the
public funds Of the islands; the establish
ment of an educational system throughout |
the islands; the establishment of a system
to secure an efficient civil service; the or
ganization and establishment Of courts; the
Orga nlzation and establishment OF municipal
and departmental governments, and all
other matters of a civil nature of which the
military governor is now competent to pro-
vide by rules or orders OF a legislative char
acter. The commission will also have
power during the same period to appoint to
office such officers under the judicial, edu-
and civil service systems and in the
municipal and departmental governments as
shall be provided
Rules for the Interim.
Until Congress shall take action directed
that:
Upon every division and branch of the
government OF the Philippines must be i'm
posed these inviolable rules: That no per-
son shall be deprived OF life, liberty or prop
erty without due process Of law; that pri-
yate property shall not be taken for public1
use without Just compensation; that In all
criminal prosecutions the accused shall en-
10y the right to a speedy and public trial. to
be Informed Of the nature and cause Of the
accusation, to be confronted with the wit
pesses against him, to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses In his favor,
defense: that excessive bail shall not be re-
luired, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
md unusual punishment inflicted that no
person shall be put twice in jeopardy for the
same offense, OF be compelled In any crimi-
laI case to be q witness against himself; !
hat the right to be secure against unreason- I,
,ble searchers and seizures shall not be vio- !
ated; that neither slavery nor Involuntary
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