The Savannah morning news., 1900-09-10


| reported. among other thinES.
Their lack OF education and political
\ experience. combined with their racial and
linguistic diversltics. disqualify them. In
spite OF their mental gifts and domestic
virtues. 90 undertake tho task Of govern
ing the archipelago at the present time.
| The most thar can be expected OF them Is
TO cooperate with the Americans In the
administration OF general affairs. from
Manila as center. and 90 undertake. sub
| iect TO American control or guidance (as
may be found necessary the administra-
ton Of provincial and municipal affairs.
SHOULD our power by any fatality be
! Withdrawn. the commission believes that
the government Of the Philippines would
| speedily lapse into anarchy. which would
Z excuse. II Il did not nccessltase the inter
vcntion OF other powers. and the eventual
division OF the islands among them only
1 through American occupation. therefore.
Is the idea OF a free. self-governing and
uniicd Philippine commonwealth at all
/ conceivable.
Thus the welfare OF the Filipinos CO.
incides with The dictates OF national honor
In forhIdding our abandonment OF the
archipelago. We cannot from any point
1 Of View escape the responsibilities OF gov
eminent which our sovereignty entails
and the commission II strongly persuaded
that the performance OF our national duty
will prove the creates blessing 20 the poo
pie Of the Philippine Islands"
The second Commission.
Satisfied that nothing further could be
accomplished In pursuance OF their mis-
sion until the rebellion was suppressed.
and desiring to place before the Congress
the result OF thsir observations. request
cd the commission 20 return 20 the United
/ States. Their most intelligent and com
prehensive report was submitted TO Con
gress
In March. 1900 believing that the in
| surrection was practically ended and
earnestly desiring go promote the estab-
iishment OF stable government in the
archipelago. appointed the following civil
commission;
Hon. william Il. Taft OF Ohio. Prof
Dean c. Worcester OF Michigan. Hon.
Luke !. Wright OF Tennessee. Hon. Henry
c. ide OF Vermont. and Hon. Bernard
Moses OF California. My instructions to
them contained the following:
You Che Secretary OF War; will tn
| strlct the commission 20 devote
their attention In the FIRST instance 20 the
establishment OF municipal governments
In which the natives OF the islands. both
In the cities and IN the rural communities.
shall be afforded the opportunity 20 man
| age their own local affairs 10 the fullest
extent OF which they are capable. and
subject 90 the least degree OF supervision
and control which a careful study Of their
| capacities and observation OF the work
ings Of native control show to be consist
ent with the maintenance OF law. order
and Loyalty. Whenever the COM
mission is OF the opinion that the condi-
ton OF affairs In the islands Is such that
the control OF administration may safely
be transferred from military to civil con-
troll they will report that conclusion TO
you Che Secretary OF War, with their
recommendations as TO the form OF CEN
trail government 20 be established for the
purpose OF taking over the control.
beginning with the FIRST day OF Sep
TENDER. 1900 the authority 90 exercise.
subject 10 my approval. through the Sec
rotary OF War. that part OF the power OF
government IN the Philippine Islands
which Is OF a legislative nature Is 10 be
transferred from the military governor OF
The Islands 90 this commission. to be
thereafter exercised by them In the place
and stead OF the military governor. under
such rules and regulations as you (the
Secretary OF War shall prescribe. until
the establishment OF the civil central
government for the islands contemplated
in the last foregoing paragraph or until
Congress shall otherwise provide. Exer-
else Of this legislative authority viii In
I
ing tho effect OF law for the raising Of
revenue by taxes. customs duties and i'm
posts: the appropriation and expenditure
| OF the public funds OF the islands: the es-
! tablishment OF an educational system
throughout the Islands; the IS
tablshment Of a system 10 secure an eff
Client civil service: the organization and
establishment OF courts; the organization
and establishment OF municipal and de-
partmentnl governments; and all other
| matters OF a civil nature for which the
1 military governor a. now competent TO
provide by rules or orders OF a legislative
| character The commission will also have
power during the same period TO appoint
20 ONCE such officers under the judicial,
educational and civil service systems and
In the municipal and departmental gov
ernments as shall be provided.
Laid Down Rules.
Until Congress shall take action l d.
rected that upon every division and
branch OF the government OF the Philip
pines must be imposed these inviolable
rules;
THAT no person shall be deprived of
life. liberty or property without due pro-
cess OF law: that private property shall
not be taken for public use without Just
compensation: that in all criminal prose-
BUTTONS the accused shall enjoy the right
| 70 n SPECIFY AfA1 iWhAAN WAL w w III
formed OF the nature and cause OF the
accusation 90 be confronted with the
witnesses against him, TO have compul-
sorry process Cor obtaining witnesses In
his favor and 10 have the assistance OF
counsel for his defense: that excessive
boil shall not be required. nor excessive
fines imposed. nor cruel and unusual pun
ishment indicted: that no person shall
he put twice in jeopardy for the some Of
tense or be compelled In any criminal case
70 be n witness against himself: that the
right to be secure against unreasonable
searches and seizures shall not be violat-
ed: that neither slavery nor involuntary
scrvitude shall exist except az a punish
mcnt for crime: that no bill OF retainder
or ox-post-facto law shall be passed; that
no law shall be passed abridging the free
dom OF speech or OF the press, or the
rights OF the people to peaceably assemble
and petition the government for a redress
% grievances; that no law shall be made
respecting the establishment OF religion
or prohibiting the free exercise thereof
and that the free exercise and enjoyment
OF religious profession and worship with
out discrimination or preference shall for
| ever be allowed.
1T will be the duty OF the Commission
TO promote aud extend and. as they find
occasion. 60 improve. the system OF edu-
cation already inaugurated BY the mill
tary authorities. In doing this they should
regard as OF first importance the extension