The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-10


war expenses. hut aside from this do We
not owe an obligation 20 the people Of the
Philippines which VIII not permit as TO
return them 10 the sovereignty % spain
Could We justify ourselves len such "a
1oursc or could We permit their barter TO
/ some other power Willing or not We
have the responsibility Of dusy which We
cannot escape. Tho Prcsideu, can
not believe any division Of the archipelago
can brine Us anything but embarrassment
in the future. The trade and commercial
side. as well Us the Indemnity for the cost
OF the war are questions w. might yield.
They might be waived or compromised,
but the questions Of duty and humanity
, appeal 10 the President so strongly thnt
h. can md no appropriate answer but
the one he has here marked ont'
The treaty 81 peace was concluded on
Dec. 10 tsas BY IS terms the archipelago,
known as the Philippine Islands was ccd-
81 by Spain 10 the United states. il was
also provided that the lsvil rights and
( political status Of the native Inhabitants
/ u the territories hereby ceded GO the
/ United States shall be determined hy the
/ Congress" Eleven days thereafter. on
Dec. a. the following direction was given
10 the commander Of our forces Ia the
I Philippines:
United States IS eu1olued 20 make known
10 the inhabitants OF the Philippine ISL
I ands that IN succeeding 10 the sovereignty
I Of spain. ia severing the former political
] relations Of the inhabitants and la the
establishing a new political power. the
/ authority Of the United States Is 20 be
exerted for the securing Of the persons
/ and property OF the peoTse Of the islands
ana for the confirmation OF an their pri-
waite rights and relations IL will be the
I duty Of the commander OF the forces OF
I occupation 10 announce and proclaim. IN
Z the most public manner. that We come
not a. invaders or conquerors. but as
! friends. 10 protect the natives IN their
| homes. In their employmenis and In their
! personal and religious rights"
The First Commission.
In order To facilitate the most humane
pacific and effective extension OF author
l ity throughout these islands and to Sc
| cure. with the least possible delay. the
benefits Of a wise and generous protection
/ OF life and property TO the Inhabitants. l
[ appointed in January. 1889. a commission.
/ consisting Of Hon. Jacob Gould Schurmnn
OF New York. Admiral George Dewey. L.
I ). n. Hon. Charles DENLY OF Indiana.
I Prof Dean c. Worcester Of Michigan. and
I Maj Gen. Elwell s. Otis. L. $. A. Their
Instructions contained the following:
In the performance OF this duty the
/ commissioners are enjoined 90 meet az
the earliest possible day in the city OF
/ Manila and 10 announce. by public proc
lamation. their presence and the mission
intrusted TO them. carefully setting forth
that. while the military government ell
ready proclaimed Is to be maintained ana
I continued so long as necessity may re-
I quire. efforts will be- made TO alleviate
the burden Of taxation. 10 establish in
dustrial and commercial prosperity. and 20
| provide for the safety OF persons and Of
| property by such means as may be found
/ conducive to these enda.
The commissioners will endeavor. with
/ out interference with the military author
| tiles OF the United States now in control
l Of the Philippines. to ascertain what
amelioration IN the condition OF the inhab-
I itants and what improvements In public
order may be practicable, and for this
/ purpose they will study attentively the
existing social and political state OF the
various populations. particularly re-
I CARDS the forms OF local government. the
administration OF justice the collection
OF customs and other taxes. the means
OF transportation. and the need OF public
improvements. They will report
] the results OF their observations and re-
iections and will recommend such execu-
tive action may from time 10 time seem
/ TO them wise ana useful
The commissioners are hereby authoriz-
ed TO confer authoritatively with any per-
sons resident In the islands from whom
they may believe themselves able TO de-
I rive Information or suggestions valuable
for the purposes OF their commission, or
whom they may choose 10 employ as
agents. as may be necessary for this pur-
1 pose.
1T is my desire that IN all their reia-
lions with the Inhabitants of the islands
the commissioners exercise due respect
for all the ldeals. customs and institu-
tions OF the tribes which compose the pop
ulation. emphasizing upon all occasions
! the just and beneficent intentions OF the
government Of the United States IL Is
also my wish and expectation that the
I commissioners may be received in a man
ner due 10 the honored and authorized
representatives OF the American republic.
duly commissioned on account OF their
knowledge. skill and integrity as bearers
OF the good Will the protection and the
richest blessings OF iiberating rather
than q oonquering nation"
The Treaty Ratified.
on the 9Th OF February. 1879. the treaty
was ratified by the Senate OF the United
States and the Congress imme-
diately appropriated 100000 70
carry out Its provisions The
Publications were exchanged BY the
United States and Spain on the nth OF
April. 1899.
AZ early as April. 1890. the Philippine
Commission. OF which DR.. Schurman was
president. endeavored to bring about
peace IN the islands by repeated confer.
ences with leading Tagalogs represent.
ing the so-called insurgent government
20 the end that some general plan OF gov.
eminent might be offered them which they
would accept. SO great was the satisfac.
ton OF the insurgent commissioners with
the form OF government proposed by the
American commissioners that the latter
submitted the proposed scheme TO me foT
approval. and my action thereon Is shown
by the cable message following:
MAY 3. iS99.-Schurman. Manila: Yours
ain received. You are authorized to pro-
pose that under the military power OF
the President. pending action of Congress
government OF the Philippine Islands shall
consist OF a governor general. appointed
by the President; cabinet, appointed by
the governor general; a general advisory
council elected by the people: the quail
fcations of electors to be carefully con-
eidered and determined. and the governor
general TO have absolute veto. Judiciary
strong aud independent: principal Judges
appointed By the President. The cabinet
and judges TO be chosen from natives OF
Americans. or both. having regard TO ft-
ness. The President earnestly desires the
cessation OF bloodshed and that the peo-
! al. ~ sk. nhfgu,fnn TaIarHa an a.-t.