The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-02-03
RE(()IL
Continued from First Page.)

| thirteen self-governing colonies, and the
| scheme of government for the politically
| inexperienced inhabitants of Louisiana
Indeed, he complains with some bitter
ness, in December, 1893, when differences
of opinion developed as TO the manner OF
disposing of louisiana that although il
is acknowledged that our new fellow
citizens are as yet as incapable of self
government as children, yet some cannot
bring themselves to suspend its principles
for 4 single moment"
From the outset, however, the COM
| mission believes 1t safe and desirable to
| extend 10 the Filipinos larger liberty Of
self-government than Jefferson approved
of for the inhabitants of Louisiana, as
suming that in the Sulu archipelago and
such portions of the other islands as are
occupied by tribes of Indians the gov
/ eminent will be conducted through the
agency Of their sultans, or chiefs. The
commission believes that the people Of
the remainder of the island should be
permitted to elect at least half the MEM
bers of the lower branch of the territor-
ial legislature, and at least half the
members Of the upper house should be
safeguards in American hands and a
qualified veto power for the governor
general, including the right to suspend
the law for year, even after its passage
by a vote of two-thirds of the legislature
over his veto, this plan of government,
which Is on the lines of the constitution
prepared for the commission by those
FilipinOs who sought to adjust the claims
of the insurgent leaders to the rights of
American sovereignty, would probably be
adequate for the purpose Of good gov
eminent This is especially TRUE, the COM
mission says, since congress may and
| should retain the right to veto territor-
ial legislation. Nearly all the offices will
under this form of government, be filed
by Filipinos themselves and the merit
system must be adopted and lived up to.
| The patronage, or spoils, system, the
commission says, would prove fatal to
good government in the Philippines The
commission suggests that a civil service
board to ascertain by competitive exam
ination Of a practical character the quail
iications of Filipinos seeking office.
should be Instituted and that there
should be promotions for merit and ten
ure during efficiency and good behavior.
The small number of American officials
needed will include in the first group,
! governor, secretary, attorney general,
certain judges and other officials OF the
territorial government, and in the second
group, heads Of postal, customs and other
| departments. The officers Of the first
group should be appointed by the presi-
dent, and of the second transferred from
| the home service.
| The commission cites the case Of Brit
| ish India, with an area of 100000 square
miles and a population of 300 100000. where
the executive and judicial work is per-
formed by a thousand British officials, to
show that only a small number Of
Americans would be needed as the direct
ing brain of the civil administration. The
commission, while not undertaking the
difficulty of governing the Philippines, is
disposed to believe the task easier than
| is generally supposed. The Filpinos,
they say, are of an unusually promising
material, possessing admirable personal
and domestic virtues and being natur-
| ally peaceful docile and deferentfaI to
| constituted authority
The educated among them, though con-
shutting a minority, they say, are far
more generous than is usually supposed,
and the commission bears strong testi-
mony to their high range of intelligence
| and social refinements. These picked Fill
pinos will be of infinite value to the
United States in the work of establishing
and maintaining civil government
throughout the archipelago. In connec-
ton with the subject of government, the
commission reaches the following conclu-
sions:
1.-THE United States cannot withdraw
from the Philippines We are there and
duty bids us remain. There is no escape
from our responsibility to the Filipinos
and to mankind for the government of
the archipelago and the amelioration of
the condition of its inhabitants
1.-THE Filipinos are wholly unpre-
pared for independence, and if independ-
ence were given to them they could not
maintain it,
Under the third head IS included a
copy Of Admiral Deweys letter to Sen
ator Lodge which was read in the SEN
ate the other day. denying Aguinaldo's
claim that he was promised independence.
''IV.-There being no Philippine nation.
but only a collection Of different peoples.
theer is no general public opinion in the
archipelago. but the men Of property and
education. who alone interest themselves
in public affairs in general, recognize as
indispensable. authority, guidance and
protection.
'VCongress should, at the earliest
practicable time, provide for the Philip
pines the form Of government herein rec
commended or another equally liberal and
benefcent
%VL-Pending any action on the part
Of congress. the commission recommends
that the president put in operation this
scheme Of civil government II such parts
Of the archipelago as are at peace.
'VII-So far as the finances Of the
Philippines permit. education should be
promptly established. and when estab-
lished made free 70 all.
''VIu.-The greatest care should be
taken in the selection Of officials fo- al
ministradOn. They should be men Of the
highest character and fitness. and par
tjsan politics should be entirely separ-
ated from the government OF the Philip
pines"
The commission are unable 70 hnd any
means OF asSimilating the tariff OF the
Philippines with that % the United
States. saving that the differences are
fundamental and trreconcilsbIe and that
50 long as the existing ehasm remains
between the economic and social condi-
lions OF the Philippines and the United