The Iola register., 1900-12-07

Germs the honor and conscience of their
tS6sptryh t6er IN the frm tn hope that through
Philippine islands may come to look back
with gratitude to the day when God gave
victory TO American arms at Manila and
set their lands under the sovereignty and
the projection of the people OF the
This commission, composed OF eminent
citizens representing diverse geOgraph-
zeal and political interests of the count
| fruits of long and intelligent service In
| educational, administrative and judicial
careers has made great progress, from
the outset. As early as August 2l, 1900,
| 1t submitted a preliminary report which
| will be laid before the congress and from
| which 1t appears that already the good
eHects OF returning order are felt that
| business, interrupted by hostilties, is
| improving as peace extends that lar
ger area is under sugar cultivation than
ever before; that the customs revenues
are greater than at any time during the
spanish rule; that economy and efficiency
| In the military administration have Gre
ated surplus fund Of S6,00OOO0 available
Tor needed public improvements; that a
stringent civil service law is in prepara-
| tloni that railroad communications are
| expanding, opening up rich districts and
that a comprehensive scheme of educa-
ton Is being organized.
| Later reports from the commission
| show yet more encouraging advance
toward insuring the benefits Of liberty
ana good government to the Filipinos, in
| the interest of humanity and with the
| aim of building up an enduring, self-sup-
porting and self administering commune
ty IN those far eastern seas. / would i'm
press upon the congress that whatever
legislation may be enacted in respect to
( the Philippine islands should be along
these generous lines. The fortune OF
| war has thrown upon this nation an un-
| sought trust which should be unselfshly
discharged and devolved upon this gov
ernment moral as well as material re-
| sponsibility toward these millions whom
we have freed from an oppressive yoke.
II may be well that the main changes
which should be made I'm the system OF
| taxation and in the body of the laws un-
der which the people are governed, ex-
| cept such changes as have already been
made by the military government should
| be relegated to the civil government
| which Is to be established under the aus
| pices or the commission. 1t VIII, how
! ever, be the duty of the commission to
| inquire diligently as to whether there are
| any further changes which ought not to
be delayed. and If so, they are authorized
| make changes, subject to approval In do
| ing so they are to bear in mind that taxes
| which tend to penalize or repress Indus
| Wy ana enterprise are TO be avoided;
! that provisions for taxation should be
simple, so that they may be understood
by the people; that they should affect the
! fewcst practicable subjects of taxation
| which Will serve for the general distri-
ubtlon OF the burden The main body OF
the laws which regulate the rights and
| OBLIGATIONS OF the people should be main
tanned with as little Interference as pos
! siblc. Changes made should be mainly in
! procedure. and In the criminal laws to
! secure speedy and impartial trials. ana
! at the same time effective administra-
| tion and respect for individual rights.
In dealing with the unCiViliztd tribes
| of the islands the commission should
adopt the same course followed by con-
! gross in permitting the tribes of our
! North American Indians to maintain their
! tribal organizations and government and
/ under which many of those tribes are
now living In peace and contentmcnt, sur
! rounded by a civilization to which they
are unwilling to conform. such tribal
! governments should. however. be sub
jected to wise and firm regulation, and,
without undue or petty interference con
stant and active effort should be eXer-
cised to prevent barbarous practices and
introduce civilized customs.
Upon all officers and employees Of the
| United States, both civil and military,
should be impressed a sense of the duty to
observe not merely the material, but the
| personal and social rights OF the people
OF the Islands and to treat them with the
same courtesy and respect for their per-
sonal dignity which the people Of the
United States are accustomed to require
from each other.
OUR OBLIGATION AS GUARDIAN.
1 have upon another occasion called
the Filipinos THE wards of the nation.
Our obligation as guardian was not light
| ly assumed; II must not be otherwise than
honestly fulfilled, aiming first of all to
benefit those who have come under our
fostering care. II Is our duty to so treat
them that our flag may be no less be-
loved In the mountains of Luzon and the
fertile zones of Mindanao and Negros
than 1t Is at home, that there as here II
shall be the symbol Of liberty, enlight-
ment and progress In every avenue OF
development. The Filipinos are race
quick to learn and to proht by know-
edge. He would be rash who, with the
teachings of contempuraneols history IN
view, would fix limit TO the degree OF
culture and advancement yet within the
reach of those people If our duty toward
them be faithfully performed
| LEGISLATION FOR PORTO RICO.
The civil government of Porto Rico
provided for by the act OF the congress
approved April u, 1890 is In successful
operation. The courts have been es-
tablished. The governor and his asso-
ciatcs. working intclligently and harmo-
niously, are meeting with commendable
success. ON the 9Th of November a gen
eral election was held i'm the island for
| members of the Legislature, and the body
elected has been called TO convene on the
first Monday Of December, recon
mend that legislation he enacted by con-
gress comforting upon the secretary OF
| the interior supervision over the pubic
! lands I'm Porto Rico. and that he be di-
rectod to ascertain the location and
| quantity Of lands the title to which re-
mainod in the crown of Spain at the date
! of Cossion Of Porto Rico to the United
States. and that appropriations necessary
for surveys be made, and that the
methods of the disposition of such lands
be prescribed by law
INDEPENDENCE FOR THE CUBANs.
on the 2jth of July 1900 / directed
that call be issued for an election In
| Cuba for members of constitutional
| convention to frame constitution on
basis for "A stable and Independent
government in the island. The election
was held on the 18th of September ana
the convention assembled ON the 9Th of
November 1900, and Is now in session. In
calling the convention to order, the mill
tary governor of Cuba made the following
| statements
"As military governor of the island
| representing the president of the United
states / car TINS convention to order 1t
will be your duty, first, to frame and
adopt a constitution for Cuba and when
that has been done to formulate what in
your opinion ought to be the relations
between Cuba and the United States. The
constitution must be adequate to secure
stable, orderly ana free government.
When you have formulated the relations
which in your opinion ought To exist be-
tween Cuba and the United States, the
government of the United States viii
doubtless take such action on its part as
shall lead to a final and authoritative
, agreement between the people of the two
countries to the promotion of their COM
, mon interests, All friends of cuba will