The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1900-02-09

| colony having representative institu-
tlons but no responsible government.
typihed by British Guiana and Hong
Kong respectively, but neither style. the
commission points out after lengthy
argument, should be applied to the Phil
ippines.
territorial Government Best.
territorial government, it concludes.
is the disideratum.
Inc commission takes as the basis Of
the government proposed the territorial
organization of Louisiana. The act il
SET Iorth IN iulI. 1t provides for gov
ernor and secretary OF the treasury and
invests the legislative power in council
appointed annually by the president.
ne courts are also provided for. This
ecneihe Oh government, saws the com
mission, possesses, besides it's intrinsic
merits, the historical interest attaching
10 orlglnatlon with the author Of the
declaration OF Independence. Jefferson
had outlined first sketch as early as
November, 1903. He seems to have
ielt no lncOngruity between the prinri.
pies Oh the Declaration Of Independence
OF the IL selfgoverning colonies and
TINS scheme OF government for the no
iltlcaIy inexperienced inhabitants of
Louisiana. Indeed, he complains with
some bitterness in December, 1903. when
differences OF opinion developed as to
the manner of disposing of Louisiana
that although it is with the knowIpdge
that our fellow citizens are as vet inca
pable OF self government as children. vet
some can not bring themselves to sus-
pehd us principles Tor single moment
Be Liberal As Possible.
From the outset, however, the com
mission believes it safe and desirable to
extend to the tilipinos larger liberty OF
sell government than Jefferson approved
OF lOr the inhabitants OF Louisiana. as
sumlng that in the Sulu archipelago and
portions Of the other islands az are oc-
cupied by tribes of Indians, the govern
ment will be conducted through the
agency OF their suItans or chief. The
commission believes the people OF the re-
malnder OF the islands should be per
mltted to elect at least the members of
the lower branch OF the territorial legis
lature, and that at least hall the mem
bers of the upper house should be an
pointed by the president. With such
safeguards in American hands and n
qualified veto power for the governor
general including the right to suspend
the law Tor year even after it's passage
by vote OF tWO-thirds Of the Iegisla-
ture over his veto, this plan of govern
ment, which is on the lines of the con-
stltutlOn prepared for the commission
by the FilipinOs who sought to adjust
the claims of the insurgent leaders to
the right OF the American society, would
probably be adequate for the purpose of
good government. This il especiallv
true, the commission says, since CON
gress may and should retain the right
to veto territorial legislation. Nearly
all the Offices will, under this form OF
government, be filed by Filipinos them
selves, and the merit system must be
adopted and lived up to-
The Conclusions.
In connection with the subject of gov
ernment the commission reaches the fol-
lowing conclusions:
81. The United States can not with
draw from the Philippines. We are
there and duty bids us remain. There
is no escape from our responsibility TO
the tlllplnOs and to mankind for the
government OF the archipelago and the
ameliOration Of the condition of it's in
habitants.
so. The Filipinos are wholly unpre-
pared for independence-and if independ-
ence were given to them they could not
maintain it"
Under the third heading il included q
copy OF Admiral Dewey's letter to Sena-
tor Lodge, which was read in the senate
the other day, denying Aguinaldos
claim that be was promised independ-
ence.
a. There being no Philippine nation,
but only collection Of different peoples,
there is no general public opinion in the
but the men OF property
and education who alone interest them
selves in public affairs in general recog-
nize as Indispensable, authority, guild
ance and protection.
70. Congress should at the earliest
practicable time provide for the Philip
pines the form of government herein
recommended or another equally liberal
and benefcent.
'6. Pending any action on the part
OF congress the commission recommends
that the president put in operation this
scheme of government in such parts Of
the archipelago as are at peace.
81. So far as the finances Of the Phil
ippines permit public education should
be promptly established and when es-
tablished made free to all.
SO. The greatest care should be taken
in the selection of officials for admins
tratiOn. They should be men OF the
highest character and fitness and parti-
san politics should be entirely separated
from the government of the Philippines.
SibIey Scored Democrats.
Washington, Feb. 1-Representative
Joseph Sibley, of Pennsylvania, who at
tanned great prominence in the 54th
congress by his earnest championship Of
free silver, assailed his democratic col
leagues today for their opposition to
expansion in a speech that made the
floor and galleries roar. Sibley had re-
canted his views on free silver, and is
now generally out of line with his col
leagues on the democratic side He in
sisted today that expansion was an
original democratic doctrine prOmul-
gated by Jefferson, and adhered to by
Madison, Jackson, Tyler, Polk and Bu-
chanan. Ia eloquent language be pict-
ured the destiny OF the United States
carrying the arts OF peace and the story
OF the cross to the remOtest corners of
the globe. Sbley received an impressive
demonstration when he closed.
Dewey's Prize Money.
Washington, Feb. 3-The secretary of
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