The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-12-10
TEE PHILIPPINE QUESTION.

. THE president then takes up the Phil
ippiue question. stating that opposi-
ton TO the United States forces prac-
ucally ceased in the spring. lie tells OF
the appointment of the Taft commission
To organic a government under
which the Filipinos shall govern them
selves as the republicans shall decide
they shall be governed. After discussing
the laws 10 be used. the method Of appll-
cation is discussed as follows:
In dealing with the undivided tribes
OF the islands the commission should
adopt tile same course followed by con
glcSs tn permitting The tribes OK our
/ North American Indians 10 maintain thelt
/ tribal organization and government ana
! under which many oil ihosc t!lhtS al
now living in peace ana COntchtHlsu''
surrOundta by Il civilization To which they
are unable or unwilling To conform.
"Such tribal government should, now
ever. bc subjected 10 wise and hrm req
Iation and. without undue or petty inter-
! fcrtrce constant ana actiNc elIott 7Ilo 'il'
1 be exercised 90 prevent batparouS piaC-
/ tices ana introduce civilized customs
I'uon an officers and employees or the
/ United States, both civil and military.
should be impressed sense 81 llc uut!
/ IA ob;ef.vp not merely the materlai, Out
! thn D.rsouaI and social rights OF the peo-
pla Of the island. and 10 treat tIenl " ltl
/ Inc same courtesy ana respect LOT ny
personal dignity which the people OF the
I United States are accustomed 10 tequi' e
'""1t''oinrideutaUv with the entrance of
[ the commission upon IT'S lao"r l ca uSeu 20
~, issmad hv General Macarthur, the
/ ,,,ilft,r,- governor of the Philippine
I islands on June y, 1900. a proclamation
1 81 amnesty IN generous terms, or Whlcil
/ many of the insurgents took adNahtaee'
aniniir Them a number of important lead
.,,rbis commission. composed OF eminent
I citizens. repreSenunS Tue ulNctNc So
graphical and political interests OF the
Cnuutrv and bringing to their TASK the
riD,. fruits of long and ihtclnSeht SERVE
I'M educational, administrative anu J'!nci-ii
rtr.rrs. made great progress from the
nutsst As early as August y, l9uu IL
submitted a preliminary report when
viii he, laid before the congress ana from
,,-bicb il apnearS that already the good
,rro,ts of returning order are felt. that
businpss interrupted by hOStliitleS, Is I'M
/ uroviug as peace extends; mat a larger
area is under sugar cultivation tnan ea r
I..,ra. that the customs revenues ~
.ra,tar than at any time during the
Snonish rule; that economy and eihcIency
/ in the military administration nave ere
.,ad a surplus fund of $6,uoO,uoO. available
for needed public improvements mat a
stringent civil service law Is IN prepa-
ration: that railroad communications are
nvnauding opening up rich districts, and
that Il comprehensive Schtme OF euuCd-
lion is being organized.
Later rcnortS from the COMMISSION
show vet more encouraging advance to-
ward tnSuriug the Dement'S OF liberty ana
srnod Government to the fflipinoS IN the
interest of humanity and with the aim
! of building up an enduring, self-Support-
ing and notwithstanding community IN
I those far eastern seas. / would impress
unon the congress that whatever leSis-
lation 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 unSouSht
trust which should be unseliishly dis
charged and deVolves upon this govern
nlent a moral as we'll as material respon-
sibilitv toward these millions whom We
have freed from an oppressive yoke.
Il have. upon another occasion. called
the FilipinoS the wards of the nation.
our obligation as guardian was not light
" assumed it must not be otherwise
than honestly fulfilled, aiming first of all
to benefit those who have come under