The Forrest City times., 1900-12-07

S ineffective to alter the general control now established. are still sufficient to eeget insecurity among the populations control, and thus delay the conferment upon them of the fullest measures of local self government. of education, and ment which we stand ready to give to them
 By the spring of this year the effective opposition of the dissatisfied Tagals to the authority of the United States was virtually ended, thus opening the door for the exNnsion. of a stable admins the archipelago. Desiring to bring this about, l appointed in March last civil commission composed of Hon. William H. Taft, of Ohio: Prof. Dean C. Worcester. Of Michigan; Hon. Luke F.. Wright, of Ten nessee: Hon. Henry c. Ide, of Vermont, and Prof. Bernard Moses, of California of their authority are clearly set forth in my instructions of April T. 1900, ad- dressed to the secretary of war to be transmitted to them.
 Principles Are Appreciated
 Referring to the manner in which the laid down in his instructions to them has been received by the people of the Phhiiippines the president says:
 IL IS evident that the most enlightened thought of the Philippine islands fully ap- preciates the importance of these princi- pies and rules, and they will inevitably
 d universal assent. Upon every division and branch Of the government of the Philippines therefore, must be imposed three inviol- able rules:
 That no person shall be deprived of life. liberty, or property without due process of law, that private property shall not be taken for public use without just com pensation: that in all criminal prosecutions
 the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation, to be confronted with the witnesses against
 him, to have compulsory process for ob- taining witnesses in his favor, and to have
 the assistance of counsel for his defense:
 that excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment inflicted; that no per son shall be put twice in jeopardy for the
 same offense, or be compelled in any crim-
 inal case to be witness against himself;
 that the right to be secure against unrea-
 zonable searches and seizures shall not be violated; that neither slavery nor involun- tary servitude shall exist except as pun
 ishment for crime; that no bill of attain
 der ex post facto law shall be passed , that no law shall be passed abridging the
 freedom of speech or of the press, or the and petition the government for a redress
 of grievances; that no law shall be made
 respecting an establishment of religion or
 prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and
 that the free exercise and enjoyment of
 religious profession and worship without
 discrimination or preference shall forever
 be allowed.
 Encouraging Reports.
 Later reports from the commission show yet more encouragin advance toward
 insuring the benefits Of liberty and good
 government to the Filipinos, in the inter
 est of humanity and with the aim of
 building up an enduring, self-supporting
 and self-administering community in
 those far eastern seas; would impress upon the congress that whatever legisia- ton may be enacted in respect to the Phil ippine islands should be along these gen
 erous lines, The fortune of war has trust which should be unselfshly dis charged, and devolved upon this govern
 ment moral as well material respon- have freed from an oppressive yoke. "Wards of the Nntion." have upon another occasion called the Filipinos the wards of the nation" Our obligation as guardian was not lightly assumed; 1t must not be otherwise than honestly fulfilled, aiming first of all to benefit those who have come under our fostering care. IL is our duty so to treat | them that our flag may be no less be- | loved in the mountains of Luzon and the | fertile zones Of Mindanao and Negros | than it is at home, that there as here 1t | shall be the revered symbol of liberty, | enlightenment and progress in every av- enue of development.
 The Filipinos are a race quick to. learn | and to profit by knowledge. He Would | be rash who. with the teachings of con- l temporaneous history in view, would fix | a limit to the degree of culture and ad- vancement yet within the reach of those people if our duty toward them be faith | fully performed.
 Porto Rico.
 The civil government of Porto Rico pro- | vided for by the act of the congress ap- | proved April F. 1900. is in successful op- lished The governor and his associates. | working intelligently and harmoniously,
 are meeting with commendable success. On the 9th of November a general cleo | tion was held in the island for members | of the legislature. and the body elected l has been called to convene on the first | I recommend that legislation be enact ed by the congress conferrtng upon the
 secretary of the interior supervision over
 the public lands in Porto Rico. and that | he be directed to ascertain the location | and quantity of lands the title to which | remained in the crown of Spain at the l United States. and that appropriations
 necessary for surveys be made. and that | the methods of the disposition of ~4ch | lands be prescribed by law
 Dealings with Cuba. | The present conditions in Cuba are re- | ferred to- citing the call for the election 1 of delegates to constitutional conven- | ton and the meeting of the convention 1 which Is now in session, and closes this | part of his message with the following When the convention concludes it's la | constitution framed by the conven- l tion for its consideration and for such action as II may deem advisable. | The Army.
 | An increase in the regular army is | recommended. and the need of soldiers l shown. After saying that we need at | least 1000 troops at home to care for | our expensive Notifications and ordnance, 1 he continues:
 We have in Cuba between 5000 and 6 GOO | troops For the present our troops in that | island cannot be withdrawn or materially | diminished, and certainly not until the com | clusion of the labors of the constitutional | convention now in session and govern | ment provided by the new constitution | shall have been established and its stability assured.
 In Porto Rico we have reduced the gar | risons to l,636, which include S96 native | troops. There is no room for further re- auction here. We will be required to | keep a considerable force in the Philtp- | pine islands for some time to come From | the best information obtainable we shall need there for the immediate future from | 50,0OO to 60.000 men. I am sure the mum | Der may be reduced as the Insurgents shall come to acknowledge the author | ity Of the United States, of which there are assuring indica tions
 It may be apparent that we will rs quire an army of about 60, 0OO and that during present conditions in Cuba and the Philippines the president should have fn fnnr