The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-09-22

and enthusiastic army. No alternative was
left to US except ignominious retreat.
Had to Remain.
1T is not to be conceived of that any
American would have sanctioned the sur
render OF Manila to the insurgents. Our OBJ
legations to other nations and to the friendly
Filipnos and to ourselves and our flag de-
manded that force should be met with force.
Whatever the future Of the Philippines may
| be, there IL no course open to us now except
the prosecution OF the war until the lnsur.
gents are reduced to submission.
THE commission Is of the opinion that
there has been no time since the destruction
Of the Spanish squadron by Admiral Dewey
when 1t was possible to withdraw our forces
| from the Islands either with honor to our
selves or with safety to the inhabitants"
After the most thorough study of the peo-
pies of the archipelago the commission re-
ported, among other things:
Their lack OF education and political ex-
perience, combined with their racial and
linguistic dlversities, disqualify them, In
spite Of their mental gifts and domestic vir-
tues, to undertake the task OF governing the
archipelago at the present time. The most
|
ate with the Americans In the admInlstra-
tion of general affairs, from Manila rs n
center, and to undertake. subject to Amer.
lean control or guidance (as may be found
necessary the administration of provincial
and municipal affairs. %
Would Invite Anarchy.
! should our power by any fatality be
| withdrawn. the commission believes that the
| 49, he .t.....
lily lapse into anarchy, which would excuse.
| II II did not necessltate, the Intervention Of
other powers, and the eventual division of
| the Islands among them. Only through
American occupation, therefore. Is the idea
OF free, self-governing and united Philip.
pine commonwealth at all conceivable. -
Thus the welfare of the Filipincs coin
cides with the dictates OF national honor In
| forbldding our abandonment of the archi-
pelago. We cannot from any point OF view
| escape the responsibilities OF government
which our sovereignty entails. and the com
mission is strongly persuaded that the per
| formance OF our national duty will prove
the greatest blessing to the people of the
| Philippine Islands,"
Satisfied that nothing further could be ac-
complishcd in pursuance of their mission
|
string to place before the Congress the re-
suit OF their observations. | requested the
commission to return to the United States.
Their most intelligent and comprehensive
report, was submitted to Congress.
Duties of the Com ission.
In March, 1900. believing that the insur,
rection was practically ended and earnestly
desiring TO promote the establishment Of Il
stable government In the archipelago. | APP
pointed the following civil commission:
william ii. Taft OF Ohio Professor Dean c.
Worcester OF Michigan, Luke |. Wright of
| Tennessee, Henry G. Ide OF Vermont, and
Bernard Moses Of California. My instruc,
lions to them contained the following:
You the Secretary of War will instruct
the commission to devote their at.
tentlon In the first instance to the establish.
ment of municipal governments, In which
the natives Of the Islands. both In the cities
and in the rural communities shall be ar.
forded the opportunity to manage their own
local affairs to the fullest extent Of which
they are capable and subject to the least de.
gree of supervision and control which care
full study OF their capacities and observation
OF the workings Of native control show to be
consistent with the maintenance OF law or.
der and loyalty.
Awaits the Report.
Whenever the commission Is OF the opin.
ion that the condition Of affairs In the ISL
ands Is such that the central administration
may safely be transferred from military to
civll control they will report that conclu-
sion 10 you 1.-THE Secretary Of War, with
their personal recommendations as to the
form OF central government to- be estab.
lished for the purpose Of taking over the
control
'Beginning with the LIST day OF Septem-
Der, 1900. the authority to exercise, subject
to my approval through the Secretary OF
War, that part Of the power of government
In the Philippine Islands which is OF leg
slatlve nature is to be transferred from the
| military governor Of the islands to this COM
mission, to be thereafter exercised by them
In the place and stead OF the military gov
ernor under such rules and regulations as
| you (the Secretary OF War; shall prescribe
until the establishment of the civil central
government for the Islands contemplated In
the last foregoing paragraph or until Con-
gress shall otherwise provide
Legislative Authority.
"Exercice OF this egislativeNuthority will
include the making OF rules ann orders hav-
Ing the effect of law for the raising of reve-
nue. by taxes, customs duties and imposts;
the appropriation and expenditure OF the
public funds OF the Islands; the establish
ment of an educational system throughout
to secure an efficient civil service the or
ganlzation and establishment Of courts; the
organization and establishment OF municipal
and depart .nental governments, and all
other matters of n civil nature of which the
military governor Is now competent to pro-
vide by rules or orders of Il legislative char
acter The commission will also have
power during the same period to appoint to
. office such officers under the judicial edu-
cntlonal and civil service systems and In the
; municipal and departmental governments as
shall be provided.
Rules for the Interim.
Until Congress shall take action directed
that:
Upon every division and branch Of the
government OF the Philippines must be I'M
. posed these inviolable rules: That no per-
son shall he deprived of life, liberty or prop
erty without due process of law; that prl-
yate property shall not be taken for public
use without just compensation that In all
criminal prosecutions the accused shall en-
10y the right to a speedy and public trial, to
= lie Informed OF the nature and cause OF the
!, accusations to be confronted with the wit
, | nesses against him, to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses In his favor,
and to have the assistance of counsel for his
defense: that excessive ball shall not be re-
ouIre, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishment Inflicted; that no
person shall be put twice In jeopardy for the
same offensc, or be compelled In any criml-
, nal case TO be n witness against himself
| ,hat In riyht In no secure aRaInst uurea al