The Washington weekly post., 1900-09-11

sfdit. ana Whatever consideration TIE
United States may show must come from
It's sense OF generosity and hensToIence.
rather than from any real or technical OBJ
legation"
Net Indemnify. bat Dasy asd Hama Hify.
Again. on November Is, / instructed the
commission:
the arehipelsgoes Porto Rico and the
Philippinesl are Insufficient to pay our
war expenses. but. aside from this. do We
not owe an obligation TO the people Of the
Philippines which viii not permit US to
return them TO the sovereignty Of Spain?
Could we justify ourselves In such
course. or could we permit their barter 10
some other power? Willing or not. We
have the responsibility of duty which We
cannot escape. The President can
hot believe any division OF the archipelago
can bring US a.s.ks.ssss hui smbarrass-
ment In the future. The trade ard COM
mercial side. as well as the indemnity for
the cost Of the war. are questions We
might yield They might be waived or
compromised, but the questions Of duty
and humanity appeal to the President saI
strongly thaI he can iind no appropriate
answer but the one he has here marked
out
The treaty of peace was concluded on
December 10. isss. BY It's terms the ar
chIpelaCo, known as the Philippine Is
lands. WAS eeded by Spain to the United
States. 1t was also provided that 'the
civil rights and political status Of the
native inhabitants of the territories here
by ceded to the United States shah be de-
tsFmined by the Congress" Eleven days
thereafter. on December a. the following
direction was given 10 the commander OF
our forces in the Philippines:
"s The military commander OF the
United States is enJo ned 10 maze known
to the inhabitants of the Pm lippine ISL
ands that in succeeding TO the sovereignty
of Spain, IN seYerinG the former political
relations Of the Inhabitants and in estab-
fishing a new political power, the author
it's OF the United States is 10 be exerted
Tor the securing or the persons and prop
erty Of The people OF the island and for
the confirmation Of al their private rights
and relations IT viii be the duty of the
commander OF the forces of occups ton
to announce and proclaim in the most
public manner that We come, not as in
Vaders or conquerors, but as friends, ID
protect the natives in their homes, II
their enployments. and in their personal
and religious rights.
In order 10 ia cilitate the most humane,
pacific. and effective extension Of author
ity throughout these islands, and 20 Sc
cure. with the least possible delay, the
benefits of a wise and generous protection
Of life and property TO the inhabitants, |
appointed in January, 1899, commission
consisting of Hon. Jacob Gould Sehur-
man. of New York; Admiral George
Dewey L.. 3 N; Hon. Charles DENLY. of
Indiana; Prof, Dean G. Worcester. of
Michigan. and Maj. Gen. ElweH 5. Otis.
e. s. A.
Their instructions contained the follow
ing:
Fad saIgbt by the schurman Commission.
in the performance of this duty the
commissioners are enjoined TO meet at
the earliest possible day in the city OF
Manila and to announce. by public proc
lamation, their presence and the mission
intrusted to them. carefully setting forth
that, while the military government al
ready proclaimed is 10 be maintained and
continued so long as necessity may re-
quire, efforts will be made TO alleviate
the burden OF taxation, 10 establish indus
trial and commercial prosperity. and 20
provide for the safety of persons and OF
property by such means as may be found
conducive 10 these ends.
THE commissioners will Cndeavor, with
out interference with the military ad-
thorities of the United States now In
control of the Philippines. 10 ascertain
what amelioration in the condition Of the
inhabitants and what Improvement IN
public order may be practicable, and for
this purpose they will study attentvely
the existing social and political state of
the various populations, particularly as
regards the forms of local government,
the administration of justice, the collec-
ton of customs and other taxes, the
means OF transportation. and the need o.
public improvements. They will report
the result of their observations and
reflections. and willreeommend such Exec
utiye action as may from time to time
seem to them wise and useful
''rhe commissioners are hereby author
lied TO confer authoritatively with an,-
persons resident in the islands from whom
they may believe themselves able 10 Me-
rive information or suggestions valuable
whom they may choose TO employ a.
agents, as may be necessary for this pur-
pose.
| 1T is my desire that in all their rela-
tions with the inhabitants of the islands
the commissioners exercise due respect
for all the ideals, customs, and institu-
tians of the tribes which compose the
population, emphasizing upon all occa-
sions the just and beneficent intentions OF
the government of the United States X
| is also my wish and expectation that the
commissioners may be received in man
ner due 10 the honored and authorized
representatives of the American republic
duly commissioned on account OF their
knowledge, skill, and integrity as bearers
! OF the good WILL the protection, and the
richest blessings of a iiberating rather
than a conquering nation"
On the 9Th of February, 1859, the treaty
El-A hr-r h.,
States, and the Congress Immediately an
pTopFIated S20O0o,000 TO carry out its pro-
visions. The ratifications were EXCHANGED
| by the United States and Spain on the
llth cf April. 1899.
| AS early as April. 1893, the Philippine
Commission. Of which Or. Schurman was
president, endeavored TO bring about
Ieace in the Islands by repeated confer
ences with leading Tagalogs representing
the so-called insurgent government 10 the
end that some general plan of government
might be- offered them which they would
accept. So great was the satisfaction of
the insurgeat commissioners with the
| form OF government proposed by the
American commissioners that the latter
submitted the proposed scheme 20 me Tor
approval, and my action thereon is shown
by the cable message following:
May 5, 1899.
Yours 4th received You are authorized
" BltFtSS AieLt UlllitdTN POWER
of the President, pending action OF Con-
gress. government OF the Philippine ISL
ands shall consist of a governor general
appointed by the President: cabinet aD-
pointed by the governor general; a gen.
| eral advisory council elected by the peo-
, pie; the qualifications Of electors to oe
carefully considered and determined: and
I the governor general 10 have absolute
veto. Judiciary strong and independent;
principal judges appointed by the Presi-
! dent. The cabinet and judges TO be
! chosen from natives or Americans OF
hoth. having regard to fitness The Presi-
dent earnestly desires the cessation Of
bloodshed, and that the people of the
! Philippine Islands at an early date shall
| have the largest measure of iGcal self
government consistent with peace and
| good order"
another Abertive Peace conferene-.
In the latter part of May another group
OF representatives came from the insur-
gent leader. The whole matter was fully
| discussed with them and promise OF ac-
ceptance seemed near at hand. They as