New-York tribune., 1900-10-25

yield. They might be waived or compromise
but the questions Of duty and humanity snne,
to the President so strongly that he can az pa
appropriate answer but the one he has hs-o
marked out. 's
The Treaty OF Peace was concluded On n.
cember 10. 1898. BY it's terms the arcbinsl..--
known as the Philippine Islands was cedsd -
Spain to the United States It was also rro-
vided that "the civil rights and political sss+r-
Of the native inhabitants Of the territories bs-a
by ceded to the United States shall be aats-
n ned by the Congress" Eleven DAYS tbs-.-
sIter on December p. the following direc,fo-
was given 10 the commander OF our forces -
the Philippines:
The military commander OF the Iyni,s.
States is enjoined TO make known to the f1bst5u
tants of the Philippine Islands that in urcoei
ing To the sovereignty Of Spain in severfn~ -
former political relations Of the inhabItants s-S
IN establishing a new political power the an
thority OF the United States is to be exerted -
the securing Of the persons and property OF the
people Of the islands and for the conhrnDatfor -
an their private rights and relations It win be
the duty or the commander Of the forces Of O.
eupation to announce and proclaim in the r,oS.
PUBLIC manner that we come not as invaders -
conquerOrs, but friends. to protect the ~ -
tIves in their homes in their enpIoyments aTs
In their personal and religious rights
THE PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
In order to facilitate the most humane na-
cihc and effective extension OF authorize
throughout these islands and TO secure ,xt.b
the least possible delay the benefits OF a wise
and generous protection Of life and property -
the inhabitants. appointed in January. 1sqa
a commission consisting Of the Hon. Jacob
Gould Schurman, Of New-York; Admiral Georpa
Dewey, L. 5. N; the Hon Charles DENLY. az
Indiana; Professor Dean c. Worcester, OF AIIcbt
gan, and Major-GeneraI EIweH S. Otis, Q. 8
Their instructions contained the following:
In the performance of this duty the Cornrof.-
siOners are enjOined to meet at the earliest nos-
stble day in the city of Manila and TO announce
Dy PUBIC proclamation their presence and the
mission tntrusted to them, carefully setting
forth that, While the military government
already proclaimed is TO be maintained and con
tinued so long as necessity NAV reo1Iira aep,---
will be made to alleviate the burden Of taxario,,
to establish Industrial and commercial pros
pertty and to provide for the safety OF persona
and or property by such means as may be found
conducive to these ends.
The Commissioners viii endeavOr without in
terference with the military authorities OF the
United States now in control of the Philippines
to ascertain what ameliOration in the condition
of the inhabitants and what improvements n
public order may be practicable, and for tbiS
purpose they will study attentivey the existi7o
social and political state of the various poDnIa
tiOnS, particularly regards 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 i'm
pIoNenehls- Iney VIII report - the results
of their observations and reflections and viii
recommend such Executive action as may from
time TO time seem to them wise and useful
The Commissioners are hereby authorized p,
confer authoritatively with any persons residan+
in the islands from whom they NAV beisvs
themselves able to derive information or sue.
| gestions valuable for the purposes Of their com
| mission, or whom they may choose TO employ "a
agents, may be necessary for this purpose
1t is my desire that in all their relations with
| the inhabitants OF the islands the Commission
erS exercise due respect for all the ideals Gus
| toms and institutions of the tribes which COM
pose the population, emphasizing upon all OCca-
sions the Just and banehcent intentions OF the
Government Of the United States. II is also nv
| wish and expectation that the Commissioners
| may be received in manner due 10 the hon
| ored and authorized representatives Of the
| American Republic. duly commissioned on ac-
count Of their knowledge, skill and integrity as
| bearers Of the good will. the protection and the
| richest blessings OF a hberating rather than
cOnquering nation.
On February 6. 1899. the treaty was ratified
| by the Senate Of the United States and the Con-
/ gress Immediately appropriated S20OOOOOO to
| carry out its provisions The ratihcations were
exchanged by the United States and Spain on
| April II. 1899.
AS early as April. 1S99 the Philippine COM
mission. OF which DR.. Schurman was president.
| endeavored to bring about peace in the islands
/ by repeated conferences with leading TagalOgs
representing the so-calIed insurgent govern
ment. to the end that some general plan OF gov
ernment might be offered them which they
would accept. So great was the satisfaction OF
/ the insurgent Commissioners with the form Of
government proposed by the American Commis-
sioners that the latter submitted the proposed
scheme to me for approval. and my action
| thereon is shown by the cable dispatch follow
| ing:
May 5. 1899
/ Schurman, Manila.
Yours 4th received. You are authorized to
propose that under the military power OF the
President pending action of Congress, govern
| ment of the Philippine Islands shall consist OF
| a Governor-General appointed by the President.
Cabinet appointed by the GOvernOr-GeneraI- a
| general Advisory Council elected by the people,
the qualifications Of electors to be carefully con-
sidered and determined. and the GOvernOr-Gen-
eral to have absolute veto. Judiciary strong
and independent; principal judges appointed by
/ the President The Cabinet and judges 10 De
chosen from natives or Americans, or both, hav-
/ ing regard to fitness. The President earnestly
people Of the Philippine Islands at early date
i shall have the largest measure OF local self
| government consistent with peace and good
/ order.
In the latter part OF 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 our Commissioners they
would return after consulting with their leader,
but they never did.
AS a result of the views expressed by the first
| TagaIog representative favorable to the plan
OF the Commission. IL appears that he was. by
| military order Of the insurgent leader, stripped
/ of his shoulder straps. dismissed from the army
and sentenced to twelve years Imprisonment.
The views OF the Commission are best set forth
| in their words:
| Deplorable as war is the one in which we are