The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1900-12-03

ana navy a.. i.v Dssans wnivn tne M
ernlity OF congress and the people have
provided. No contrary ekpfesxlon of the
will OF the congress he ving been made. Z
have stsadfastiy pursued tho pn,lose "a
declared, employing the civil arm. ~ well
toward the Accomplishment of nariHea-
tion and the institution or lceal ayesn-
tnents within the lines OF authotlty and
laWs-
Prcsxess in The hoped fn-drcc;on has
heea ffvorpbir. Our foreW hsSe mceess-
| fully controlled the greater part OF the
islands. overcoming the organized forces
OF insurgents aad carrying order and adj
miaistrative regularity TO all quarters.
| what opposition re;nains Is FOR the uSss
| part scattered, obeying no concerted plan
OF strategic action. operating only by
methods common 10 the traditions of
| guerrilla warfare. which. while lnefIect.
| i've 10 alter the general cosiroi now ex-
! tablished, are still sufficient 20 begct M
security among the populations that have
! felt the good results OF our control ard
/ thus delay the conferment upon them OF
! the fuller measures of local self roveru-
ment, OF education and OF industrial and
agricultural development which we stand
ready TO give 10 them.
by the spring OF this year the effective
opposition OF the dissatisfied TagaIs "a
the authority Of the United States was
! virtually ended, thus opening the door
| for the extension OF stable admaistTa.
! tioD over much OF the territory OF thd
| archipelago.
The president then speaks of the apI
pontment OF the Philippine commission
and his Instructions 20 that body. lie
continues:
Coincdently with the entrance OF thu
commission upon is labors . caused to
be issued by General MacArthur. the
! military governor of thc Philippines. ON
June ~, 1900, proclamation OF amnesty
in generons terms. oi which many OF the
insurgents took uGvaniasc. among them
| number Of important leaders.
The Comnission's Reports.
! This commission. composed of eminent
citizens rerresenting the diverse geo<
graphical and political interests of the
country ard h:inring 70 their task the
ripe fruits of long ana intelligent services
in educational. administrative and Jude
cial careers, made great progress from
the outset. AS early as Aug. II. 1900. ID
submitted a preliminary report. which
will be laid before the congress and from
which il appears that already the god
effects OF returning order are felt: that
business. interrupted hy hostiIites. Is i'm.
proving as peace extends: that larger
area is under sugar cultivation than ever
. before. that the customs revenues are
greater than at any time during the Span.
| ish rule. that economy Gnd efficiency in
the military administration have created
n surplus fund Of SS.00o000 available
for needed public improvements. that
stringent civil service law is in prcpara-
tion. that railroad communications are
expanding onrning mp rich districts. and
/ that comprehensive scheme OF educa,
tion is being organized.
Later reports from the commission
show yet more encouraging advance to-
ward insuriny the benefits OF liberty and
good government 10 the Filipinos in the
interest OF humanity and with the aim of
| building up an enduring, self supporting
aAaEselL notwithstanding community in
those far eastern seas. / would impress
upon the congress that whatever legisa-
ton may he enacted in respect to the
Philippine Islands should be along these
generous lines. The fortune of war has
thrown upon this nation an unsought
trust which should be unselfshly dlxr
charged and devolved upon this gcvcrn-
ment n moral as well s. material resron-
sibility toward these millions whom we
have freed from an oppressive yoke.
i
! have on another occasion called tho
| FIlipinos 'the wards OF the nation" Our
obligation as guardian was NOT lightly as
sumed Ii @ust not be otherwise than
honestly fulilel. aiming first OF all to
benefit those who have cosie under our
fostering care. 1t Is our duty so to treat
them that cur flag may be no less beloved
in the mountains of Luzcn ard the fertile
zones of Mindanao and Negres than il 10
\ II. a Al =
the revered symbol Of liberty, enlighten-
ment and progress In every avenue %
| development.
The Fiipinos are a race quick to learn
and to profit by knowledge. He would
be rash who. with the teachings Of con-
temporaneous history in view, would fix
limit TO the degree OF culture and ad-
vancemcnt yet within the reach of these
people If our duty o~ard them be faith.
fully performed.
Porto Rice and Cuba.
The civil government of Porto Rico
provided for by the act OF the congress
approved April II 1900, is in successful
operation. The courts have been estab>
lishcd. The governor and his associates,
working inteligently and harinoniouslys
are meeting with eommendablc success
On the 9th of Noven, Der a general elec.
tion was held in the island fer members
of the legislature, and the body elected
has been called 10 convene on the trst
Monday Of December.
l recommend that legislation be enacts
ed by the congress conferring upon the
secretary Of the interior supervisors ever
the public lands ia Porto Rico, and that
he be directed to ASCERTAIN the location
and quantity of lands the title to which
remained in the crown of Spain at tho
I date OF cession OF Porto Rico to the Unit
ed States, and that appropriations neces-
sary for surveys be made, and that the
methods OF the disposition Of sudA knds
he prescribed by law.
On the 25ts Of July, 1904. 6lrsstsd
that call be issued for an slecsjea ~
Cuba for members of q CONSTITUTIONAL
convention 10 frame q consututisn - =
basis for a stable and independent gov
ernment in the island. The slscttoo was
held on the 10th OF September, ana the
convention assembled en- the 9th eS 4e<