Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1900-12-06

ed should be made to conform TO tnelr cus'
toms, their habits, and even tneir .,jth ts
to the fullest extent CONSISTENT Will .s
accemplishment of the Indispensable fequi
sites Of just and effective goverhnlen IL o,,,d
Al the same time the commission snoui ~
bear In mind, and the peopie OF tns dDA% +I,at
should be made plainly to understand, lna'
there are certain great principles or govern.
ment which have been made the pasIs VI .s' oIA
governmental system when we ueeII So. -
tial to the rule of law an9 tne 1ublch fhey
have unfortunately, been denied tue ,eAp ~
enee possessed by us; that there ere hi ot
certain practical rules OF governments VIII W..
we have found to be essential TO the p,ese.L.
vatfS,n of these great principles OF liberty
and law, and that these principles anu ineSS
rules of government must be estaonsneu any ~
maintained in their Islands ior tue sanS ,, o -,
their liberty and happiness, however mucn
they may conflict with the customs or II. law w
of procedure with which they are famlliar.
Status of Landholders.
1t will be the duty of the commission to
make a thorough investigation into the tlties
to the large tracts of land held or claimed
by individuals or by religious orders; INTO
the Justice of the claims and complalnts
made against such landholders by the peo-
pie of the island, or any part or the peopie,
a Just settlement of the controversies anu N !
redress of wrongs which have caused stfiIe
and boodshed In the past. -
1t will be the duty OF the commission ~
sion, to improve the system of educatlon
already inaugurated by the military autnori-
ties.
which should be made in the system of taxa
ton and in the body of the laws under winch
the people are governed, except sucn
changes as have already been made Dy tne
military government, should be relegated 10
the civil government, which Is to be estab-
lished under the auspices Of the commission.
Pledge of American Army.
The articles of capitulation of the City OF
Manila on the 18th of August, 1898. con
cluded with these words: rms city, us III
habitants, its churches and religious Wor-
Ship it's educational establishments, ana lts
private property of all descriptions are
placed under the special safeguard OF the
faith and honor of the American army;
believe this pledge has been faithfully kept.
Coincidentally with the entrance of the
commission upon its labors l caused to pc
issued by General Macarthur, the military
q proclamation of amnesty in generous
terms, of which many Of the insurgents TOOK
advantage, among them number or import
ant leaders.
This commission made great progress from
the outset. AS early as Aug. u, 1900, 1t sub
mitted a preliminary report, which will be
laid before the Congress, and from which
it appears that already the good effects, or
returning order are felt; that business, IN
terrupted by hostilities, is improving as
peace extends; that a larger 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 created a surplus fund Of $6OOO,0OO,
available for needed public improvements,
that stringent civil service law is In prep
araton; that railroad communications are
expanding, opening up rich districts, and
that a comprehensive scheme OF education
is being organized.
Later reports from the commission snow
o.riy1 0Axyar tow ard m
surfing the benefits of liberty and good gov
eminent to the Filipinos in the interest of
humanity and with the aim OF building up
an enduring, self-supporting and self-admin-
istering community in those far Eastern
seas. / would impress 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 I'M
sought trust which should be unseltishly
discharged, and devolved upon this govern
ment moral as we'll as material responsible
ity toward these millions whom we have
freed from an oppressive yoke.
The civil government of Porto Rico pro-
vided for by the act of Congress approved
The courts have been established
The Governor and his associates, working
intelligently and tremendously, are meeting
with commendable success.
On the 9th of November general election
was held in the island for members of the
legislature, and the body elected has been
called to convene on the first Monday of De-
cember
l recommend that legislation be enacted
by the Congress comforting upon the Sec
rotary of the Interior supervision over the
public lands in Porto~Rico, and that he be
directed to ascertain the location and GUAM
tity of lands the title to which remained i'll
the crown of Spain at the date of cession of
Porto Rico to the United States
Constitution for Cuba.
On the 25th of July, 1900, l directed that
a call be issued for an election in Cuba for
members of constitutional convention to
frame a constitution as a basis for stable
and independent government in the island.
The election wars held on the 10Th of Sep
TENDER, and the convention assembled on the
9TH OF November, 1900, and is now in session.
In calling the convention to order the Mil
itary Governor of Cuba made the following
statement:
adopt constitution for Cuba, and when
that has been done to formulate what in
your opinion ought to be the relations be-
tween cuba and the United States.
The constitution must be adequate to Sc
cure stable, orderly and free government
When you have formulated the relations
which In your opinion ought to exist be-
tween Cuba and the United States the gov
take such action on its part as shall lead TO
a final and authoritative agreement between
the people OF the two countries to the pro-
motion OF their common interests,
All friends of Cuba will follow your de-
alterations with the deepest interest, earn
estly desiring that you shall reach Just con-,
cluslons, and that by the dignity, individual
self-restraint, and wise conservatism which
snail characterize your proceedings the ca
paclty OF the Cuban people for representa-
tive government may be signally Illustrated.
The fundamental distinction between
true representative government and dictator
snip IS that In the former every representa-
tive OF the people, in whatever office. con
nnes himself strictly within the limits of his
defined powers. Without such restraint there
can be no free constitutional governments
Under the order pursuant to which Won have
Deen elected and convened you have no duty
ana no authority to take part in the present
government of the island. Your powers re
strictly limited by the terms of that order
When the convention concludes its labor
1 Will transmit to the Congress the constitu
ton as framed by the convention for its con
slderatlon and for such action as If NAV
deem advisable. 10y
snad renew the recommendation made in my
special message of Feb. 10, 1899. as 70 tha
necessity Tor cable communication hefwean
the united States and Hawaii, with EVAN
sion TO Manila. Surveys have shown fhe
entire feasibility of chain of cables whicb
at each stopping place shall touch on Amer.
lean territory, so that the system shall no
under our own complete control.
Our Military r,,1.4.