The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-04

effective administration and respect for
individual rights.
I'm dealing with the unciviliZed tribes
of the islands the commission should
adopt the same course followed by Con-
gress in permitting the tribes of our
North American Indians to maintain their
tribal organization and government. and
under which many of those tribes are.
now living in peace and contentment, sur
rounded by a civilization to which they
are unable or unwilling to conform. Such
tribal governments should, however, be
subjected to wise and firm regulation,
and without undue or petty interference.
constant and active effort should be ex-
ercised to prevent barbarous practices
and introduce civilized customs.
Upon all officers and employees of the
United States, both civil and military,
should be impressed a sense of the duty
to observe not merely the material but
the personal and social rights of the peo-
pie of the islands, and to treat them with
the same courtesy and respect for their
personal dignity which the people of the
United States are accustomed to require
from each other.
1.-THE articles of capitulation of the city
of Manila on the 18th of August, 1898,
concluded with these words:
The city, it's inhabitants, it's churches
and religious worship, it's educational es-
adjustments, and it's private property of
all descriptions, are placed under the
special safeguard of the faith and honor
OF the American army
81 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
doom and wise, firm and unselfsh guild
ance in the paths of peace and prosperity
to all the people Of the Philippine Islands.
/ charge this commission to labor for the
full performance of this obligation, which
concerns the honor and conscience of their
country, in the firm hope that through
their labors all the inhabitants Of the
Philippine Islands may come to look back
with gratitude to the day when God gave
victory to American arms at Manila and
set their land under the sovereignty and
the protection of the people of the United
States"
Coincidently with the entrance of the
commission upon it's labors / caused to
be issued by General Macarthur, the Mill
tary Governor of the Philippines. on
June 81, 1900. proclamation of amnesty
in generous terms, of which many of the
insurgents took advantage, among them
a number of important leaders.
GOOD EFFECTS ALREADY FELT.
This commission, composed of eminent
citizens representing the diverse geo.
graphical and political interests of the
country, and bringing to their task the
ripe fruits of long and intelligent service
in educational, administrative, and judi
cial careers. made great progress from
the outset. AS early as August n, 1900,
it submitted a preliminary report, which
will be laid before the Congress, and
from which it 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 cultivation
than ever before; that the customs reYe-
nues are greater than at any time during
the Spanish rule; that economy and eff
cheney in the military administration have
created a surplus fund of $6,000,000. avail
able for needed public improvements that
stringent civil service law is in prepare
ton; that railroad communications are
expanding, opening uD rich districts, and
that a comprehensive scheme of educa-
tion is being organized.
Later reports from the commission
show yet more encouraging advance to-
ward insuring the benefits of liberty and
good government to the Filipinos. in the
interest of humanity and with the aim
of building up an enduring, self-support-
ing, and self administering community in
those far eastern seas. / WOULD I'M
PRESS UPON THE CONGRESS THAT
WHATEVER LEGISLATION MAY BE
ENACTED IN RESPECT TO THE PHIL
IPPINE ISLANDS SHOULD BE ALONG
THESE GENEROUS LINES. THE FOR
TUNE OF WAR HAS THROWN UPON
THIS NATION AN UNSOUGHT TRUST
WHICH SHOULD BE UNSELFISHLY
| DISCHARGED AND DEVOLVED UPON
THIS GOVERNMENT A MORAL AS
WELL AS MATERIAL RESPONSIBILITY