The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-09-11

I'm the latter part or May another
| group Of representatives came from the
| insurgent leader The whole matter was
| fully discussed with them and promise
| Of acceptance seemed near at hand. They
assured cur commissioners they would
return after consulting with their lead
| er, but they never did
NATIVE PACTICO PUNISHED.
Gas a result of the views expressed by
the first Tagalog representative favora-
| BILE to the plan OF the commission, II ap-
pears that he was. by military order of
| the insurgent leader, stripped Of his
| shoulder straps, dismissed from the army
| and sentenced TO twelve years imprlson-
ment.
COMMISSION INDORsES THE WAR
'eThe views Of the commission are set
forth best in their own words:
Deplorable as war IS, the one in
which we are now engaged was unavoid-
able to US. We we're attacked by bold,
adventurous and enthusiastic army No
| alternative was left 10 US except igno-
minious retreat II is not to be con-
ceived that any American would have
sanctioned the surrender OF Manila 10
the insurgents. Our obligations 10 other
nations and to the friendly Filipinos and
to ourselves and our afig demanded that
force should be met by force. What
ever the future of the Philippines may
be, there IS no course open to US now
except the prosecution of the war until
the insurgents are reduced TO submission.
The commission is OF the opinion that
there has been no time since the destrucr
ton Of the Spanish squadron by Admiral
Dewey when it was possible to withdraw
our forces from the islands either with
honor to ourselves or safety TO the in
habitants'
NOT FIT TO GO ALONE.
After the most thorough study Of the
peoples OF the archipelago. the commits
sion reported among other things:
g Their lack of education and political
experience, combined with the racial and
linguistic diversities, disqualify them, IN
spite of their mental gifts and domestic
virtues, to undertake the task of govern
ing the archipelago at the present time.
The most that can be expected of them
is to cooperate with the Americans IN
the administration Of general affairs,
from Manila as a center, and to under
take, subject to American control or
guidance (as may be found necessary,
the administration Of provincial and
municipal affairs. Should our
power by any fatality be withdrawn. the
commission believes that the government
Of the Philippines would speedily lapse
into anarchy, which would excuse. If it
did not necessitate, the intervention OF
other powers and the eventual division Of
the islands among them. Only through
American occupation, therefore. is the
idea Of a free se1f-governing and united
Philippine commonwealth at all conceiv-
able
e" Thus the welfare Of the FfIipinos CO.
incides with the dictates of national
honor in forbidding our abandonment of
the archipelago. We cannot from any
point Of view escape the responsibilities
Of government which our sovereignty en-
tails. and the commission is strongly per
suaded that the performance Of our ma
tional duty will prove the greatest bless
ing to the peoples OF the Philippine
Islands,
COMMISSION RECALLED.
Satisfied that nothing further could
be accomplished in pursuance Of their
mission until the rebellion was suppress
ed. and desiring to place before the con-
gress the result Of their observations,
requested the commission to return 20
the United States. Their most inteIH-
gent and comprehensive report was sub
mitted to congress.
NEW COMMISSION NAMED.
I'm March, 1900, believing that the in
surrection was practically ended and
earnestly desiring TO promote the estab-
lshment OF a suitable government in
the archipelago, I appointed the follow
ing civil commission: Hon William H.
Taft Of Ohio; Prom. Dean c. Worcester
Of Michigan; Hon. Luke L Wright of
Tennessee; Hon Henry c. Tde of Yer
mont, and Hon. Bernard Moses OF Cali
fornia- Ny instructions to them con-
tanned the following:
HOME RULE TO THE LIMIT
You (the secretary of war will IN
struct the commission sto devote
their attention in the first instance 70
the establishment Of municipal govern
ments in which the natives Of the
Islands both in the cities and in the rural
communities shall be afforded the OF
Portunity 70 manage their own local af-
fairs TO the fullest extent Of which they,
are capable. and subject 10 the least de-
gree OF supervision and control which a
careful study Of their capacities and nb-
se-vation Of the workings Of native con-
troll show % be consistent with The main
tenance Of law, order and Loyalty. :.
Whenever the commission Is % the oDin-
ion that the condition Of affairs in the
Islands IS such that the central admin
istrati0n may be safely transferred from
military 70 civil control they viii report
that conclusion 70 you fthe secretary OF
warl, with their recommendation as 70
the form of central government 20 be
established for the purpose Of taking
over the control
MILITARY TO CIVIL CONTROL.
beginning with the first day OF Sen
TENDER. 1919 the authority To exercise
subject u my approval. through the sec
rotary q war. mat part a the power
- government II ths Philippine Islands +
which s of ? legislative nature Is u b /
transferred from the military governor
= this commission. - b thereafter e.
ercised ~ them n tha place ard stead
q thu military Governor, under such
rules snd ree=1la-fo1s rs yCu On. ze.-e- I
ta-v y var prescribe untl the es-
Enlistment ~ re csyfl central govern +
Uent ~ the Islands contemplated IL ira +
last to-s-aing paragraph n until con-
ereSs shall otherwise provide Exs-c5ze /
ot This legislative authority VII :ncIBse +.
TIE making II rules and o-5s-s having
TIE effect - law tor the raising q rev- (
suue b tzSes. c7stoHs dctes ard In
post~; n appropriation ard expenditure I
q the puhlir fuuaS q tts islzaas. the 1
establishment = Al educational srE-e-a I
thro0gh7u- re islands TIA estsblfsh-ze-ss /
- a system - seru-e sn Efficient evil 1