The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-04

and final form Of government for the
territory actually held by the United
states forces and In which as long as
instruction continues the military arm
must necessarily be supreme. / stated
my purpose. until the Congress shall
have made known the formal expression
OF its will, to use the authority vested in
me by the Constitution and the statutes
to uphold the sovereignty Of the United
states In those distant islands as IN
all other places where our dag rightfully
hoats, placing. to that end, at the dis
posai OF the Army and Navy all the
means which the libernlity Of the Con
gress and the people have provided. No
contrary expression OF the win Of the
Congress having been made, l. have
steadfastly pursued the purpose so de-
ciared, employing the civil arm as well
toward the accomplishment of pacifica-
ton and the institution of local govern
ments within the lines of authority and
law.
Progress In the hoped-for direction
has been favorable. Our forces have
successfully controlled the greater part
of the islands, overcoming the organized
forces of the insurgents and carrying or
der and administrative regularity TO all
quarters. What opposition remains Is
for the most part scattered. obeying no
concerted plan of strategic action. operat-
ing only by the methods common to the ira
d:tions Of guerrilla warfare, which, while
Ineffective to alter the general control
now established. are stiil sufficient to be-
get Insecurity among the populations that
have felt the good results Of our control
aud thus delay the conferment upon them
of Tho fuItor r,aaa ouwo, Of local caff-
eminent, of education, and Of industrial
and agricultural development which we
stand ready to give them.
BY the spring of this year the effective
opposition of the dissatisfied TagaIs to
the authority of the United States was
virtually ended, thus opening the door for
the extension Of a stable administration
over much of territory of the Archi-
pelago. Desiring to bring this about, l
appointed in March last civil Commits
sion composed of the Hon. William III.
Taft, OF Ohio: Prof. Dean G. Worcester.
OF Michigan; the Hon. Luke /. Wright, of
Tennessee; the Hon. Henry G.. Ide, of
Vermont, and Prof. Bernard Moses. Of
California. The aims of their mission
and the scope Of their authority are clear
ly set forth in my instructions Of April Z,
1900. addressed to the Secretary of War
to be transmitted to them:
''In the Message transmitted to the
Congress on the 9th Of December, 1899,
I said, speaking of the Philippine Is
lands: AS long as the insurrection con-
tinues the military arm must necessarily
be supreme. But there is no reason why
steps should not be taken from time to
time to inaugurate governments essential
ly popular in their form as fast as terri
tory is held and controlled by our troops.
To this end | am considering the advis-
ability of the return of the Commission,
or such of the members thereof as can be
secured. to aid the existing authorities
and facilitate this work throughout the
islands,
ITO give effect to the intention thus ex-
pressed. have appointed Hon. William
II. Taft. OF Ohio: Prof. Dean G. Worces-
ter of Michigan; Hon. Luke l. Wright.
of Tennessee; Hon. Henry G. Ide. of
Vermont, and Prof. Bernard Moses. of
California, Commissioners to the Philip
pine Islands to continue and perfect the
work of organizing and establishing civil
government already commenced by the
military authorities, subject in all re-
spects to any laws which Congress may
hereafter enact.
1.-The Commissioners named will meet
and act as a board, and the Hon. Will
liam II. Taft is designated as president
of the board. 1t is probable that the
transfer of authority from military COM
manders to civil officers will be gradual
and will occupy a considerable period.
Its successful accomplishment and the
maintenance of peace and order In the
meantime will require the most perfect
cooperation between the civil and militia
~ authorities in the island, and both
should be directed during the transition
period by the same Executive Depart
ment. The Commission will therefore
report to the Secretary of War, and all
their action will be subject to your APP
proval and control.
'You will instruct the Commission to
proceed to the city OF Manila, where they
will make their principal Office. and to
communicate with the Military Governor
of the Philippine Islands, whom you will
at the same time direct to render to them
every assistance within his power in the
performance of their duties. Without
hampering them by too specific instruc-
tons, they should in general be enjoined.
after making themselves familiar with
the conditions and needs of the country,
to devote their attention in the first in
stance to the establishment of municipal
governments, in which the natives of the
islands, both in the cities and in the rural
communities, shall be afforded the oppor
tunity to manage their own local affairs
to the fullest extent of which they are
capable and subject to the least degree of
supervision and control which a careful
study of their capacities and observation
of the workings of native control show
to be consistent with the maintenance of
law, order. and loyalty.
1.-The next subject in order of impor-
lance should be the organization OF gov
eminent in the larger administrative divi-
sions corresponding to counties, depart
ments, or provinces, in which the com
mon interests of many or several munich
paIities falling within the same tribal
lines. or the same natural geographical
limits, may best be subserved by oam-
mon administration. Whenever the Com
mission is of the opinion that the cofidi-
ton of affairs in the islands is such that
the central administration may safely be
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