River Falls journal. [volume] (River Falls, Pierce County, Wis.) 1872-2019, 1900-12-06

prosperity of the islands that a common
| medium of communication may be estab-
| lished. and it is obviously aesirable that
4 this medium should be the English lam
| guage Especial attention should be at
1 once given to affording full opportunity
1 TO all the people OF the Islands to acquire
/ the use of The English language;
IL may be well that the main changes
Which should be made IN the system OF
| taxation and the body or the laws under
which thep people are governed, except saeh
! changes as have already been made by
the military government should he rele-
gated 10 the civil government which Is
j, ,5 De established unds1r bne AUSPICES ~ e
duty of the commission to inquire diiigent-
! ~ as 10 whether there are any further
! changes which ought not 70 be deiayeg
and, If So they are authoriz I'd to make such
! changes. subject 10 your approval. In do
ing so they are to bear IN mind thaf taxes
which tend 10 penaiize or repress INDUSTRY
and enterprise are TO be avoided; that pro-
visions for taxation should be simple so
people; that they should affect the fewesst
practicable subjects of taxation which Will
serve for the general distribution Of the
burden.
Have Kept Our Pledge.
The articles of equalization Of the city
OF Manila on the 18th of August, 1885, con-
eluded with these words:
This city its inha bitants, its churches
and religious worship, its educational es-
adjustments, and its private property or
all descriptions, are placed under the
q
of the American army
I believe that this pledge has been
faithfully kept. As high and sacred an
obligation rests upon the government OF
the United States TO give protection for
property and life, civil and religious free-
DOM and wise firm and unselfsh guild
anee in the paths OF peace and prosper
ity TO all the people of the Philippine is
lands charge this commission to Ia
Dor for the full performance OF this obl1-
cation. which concerns the honor and
conscience of their country, in the nrm
| hope that through their labors all the
inhabitants of the Philippine Islands may
come 10 look back with gratitude to- the
day when God gave victory to American
arms at Manila and sci, their land under
| the sovereignty and the protection of
the people of the United States
Proclaimed Amnesty.
Coincidentally with the entrance of the
commission upon its la bors caused TO be is
sued by Gen. Macarthur, the military gov
ernor of the Philippines, on June q, 1900,
a proclamation Of amnesty in generous
terms, of which many of the insurgents
took advantage, among them a number of
important leaders
This commission, composed Of eminent
citizens representing the diverse geograph-
ical and political interests of the country,
and bringing TO their task the ripe fruits
of long and intelligent service in educa-
tional. administrative and judicial careers.
made great progress from the outset As
early as August "a 1900, II submitted pre-
liminary report, which viii be laid before
the congress, and from which 4 appears
that already the good effects of returning
| order are felt: that business, interrupted by
hostilities, is improving as peace extends;
| that larger area is under sugar cultiva-
tion than ever before; that the customs
| revenues are greater than at any time dur
| ing the Spanish rule; that economy and
| efficiency in the military administration
| have created a surplus fund of 5000, 600.
available for needed public Improvements:
that stringent civil service law is in prep
aration: that railroad communica lions are
| expanding, opening up rich districts, and
that a comprehensive scheme of education
Is being organized.
Encouraging Reports.
Later reports from the commission show
yet more encouraging advance toward
/ inSuring the benefits of liberty and good
government to the Filpinos, in the inter-
est of humanity and with the aim of
| building up an enduring, self-supporting
and self-administering community in
| those far eastern seas. | would impress
upon the congress that whatever legisla-
ton may be enacted in respect to the Phil
Lippine Islands should be along these gem
erous lines. The fortune of war has
thrown upon this nation an unsought
trust which should be unselfshly dis
ment moral as we'll as material respon-
/ sibility toward these millions whom we
have freed from an oppressive yoke.
awards of the Nation"
l have upon another occasion called the
Filipnos the wards of the nation. Our
| obligation as guardian was not lightly
assumed it must not be otherwise than
honestly fulfilled. aiming first of all to
! fostering care 1t is our duty so to treat
them that our flag may be no less be-
| loved in the mountains of LuZon and the
fertile zones of Mindanao and Negroes
than it IS at home, that there as here it
| shall be the revered symbol of liberty
| enlightenment and progress in every ay-
enue of development.
The Filipinos are race quick to learn
| be rash who, with the teachings of con-
temporaneous history in view, would fix
a limit to the degree of culture and ad-
| vancement yet within the reach of those
people if our duty toward them be faith
| fully performed.
Porto Rico.
The civil government of Porto Rico pro-
proved prove April u, 1900. IS in successful op-
| Grafton The courts have been estab-
lished. The governor and his associates
| working intellgently and tremendously,
are meeting with commendabie success.
On the 9Th of November general cleo
ton was held in the island for members
has been called to convene on the first
| Monday of December
| / recommend that legislation be enact
ed by the congress comforting upon the
secretary of the interior supervision over
the public lands in Porto Rico, and that
and quantity of lands the title to which
remained in the crown Of Spain at the
date of cession of Porto Rico to the
| United States, and that appropriations
necessary for surveys be made, and that
the methods of the disposition OF such
| lands be prescribed by law.
Dealings with Cuba.
On the 25th of July, 1900. directed that a
! call be issued for an election in Cuba for
members of a constitutional convention to
frame a constitution as basis for stable
and Independent government in the island
| In pursuance thereof the military gov
ernor issued the following instructions:
"Whereas, the congress of the United
States by its joint resolution of April 20,
1898, declared:
THAT the people of the island of Cuba
81 rio n m ha fra n
dependent;
THAT the United States hereby disclaims
| any disposition intention to exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction, or control over
| said island except for the pacincation
thereof. and asserts its determination
when that is accomplished, to leave the
government and control of the island to its
| people;
established municipal governments, derlYe
| ing their authority from the SURFACES OF
| the people given under just and equal laws,
and are now ready, in like manner, TO pro-
| coed to the establishment of general gov
eminent which shall assume and exercise
sovereignty, jurisdiction and controi over
| the island:
election be held in the island of Cuba on
| the third Saturday of September, in the
year nineteen hundred to elect delegates
/ vana al - O'Clock noon on the first Mon
day of November. in the year nineteen
hundred, to frame and adopt a eonstitu-
ton for the people of Cuba, and as a part
thereof to provide for and agree with the
\ government of the United States upon the
| relations to exist between that government
and the government of Cuba, and to provide
for the election by the people of officers
! under such constitution and the transfer
! of government to the officers so elected.
! '',rhe election will be held in the several
voting precincts of the island under, ana
! pursuant to. the provisions of the cleo
toral law of April IS, 1909, and the amend
| ments thereof
The election was held on the 18th of Sep
| tember and the convention assembled on
! the 5th of November. 1900 and is now in
/ session.
In calling the convention to order the
/ military governor of Cuba made the fol-
/ lowing statement:
| las military governor Of the island,
! representing the president of the United
| States, I call this convention to order.
! 1T will be your duty. first, to frame
! and adopt a constitution for Cuba, and
/ when that has been done to formulate
| what in your opinion ought to be the
relations between Cuba and the United
1 States.
'9The constitution must be adequate to
1 secure a stable, orderly and free gov
| ernment
when you have formulated the rela-
| tons which in your opinion ought to eX-
| list between Cuba and the United States,
I the government of the United States will
I doubtless take such action on its part
! shall lead to a final and authoritative
1 agreement between the people of the two
/ countries to the promotion of their COM
mon interests.
IAN friends of Cuba will follow your
I dalfhpra wiz daanpst interest