The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1900-09-10
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PRESIDENT McKINLEY'S LETTER OF ACCEPTANCE.

may be practicable, and for this purpose
they will study attentively the existing
social and political status of the various
populations, particularly as regards the
forms of local government the admins
tration of justice the collection of customs
and other taxes, the means of transportd-
ton and the need of public improvements:
They will report the results OF
their observations and reflections, and Will
recommend such executive action as may
from time to time seem to them wise and
useful.
The commissioners are hereby authorized
to confer authoritatively with any persons
resident in the islands from whom they
may believe themselves able to rerive In
formation or suggestions valuable for the
purposes ot their commission, or whom
they may choose to employ as agents, as
may be necessary for this purpose.
ut is my desire that in all their relations
with the inhabitants of the islands the
commissioners exercise due respect for all
the ideals, customs and institutions of the
tribes which compose the population, en-
phaSfzing upon all occasions the just and
beneficent intentions of the government OF
the United States. 1t is also my wish and
expectation that the commissioners may
be received in a manner due to the hon
ored and authorized representatives
of the American Republic, duly
commissioned account of their
knowledge. skill and integrity as
bearers of the good will, the protection
and the richest blessings of liberatinS
rather than a conquering nation.
On the 9th of February, 1899, the treaty
was ratified by the Senate of the United
States, and the Congress Immediately ap-
propriated 5000 900 to cary out its provfs-
IONS" The notifications were exchanged
by the United Sttaes and Spain on the
18th of April, 1899.
AS early as April, 1899, the Philippine
Commission, of which DIR. Schurman was
president, endeavored to bring about peace
in the islands by repeated conferences with
leading Tagologs representing the so-calle1
insurgent government, to the end that
some general plan of government might be
offered them which they would accept. So
great was the satisfaction of the insurgent
commissioners with the form of govern
ment proposed by the American commits
sioners that the latter submitted the pro-
posed scheme to me for approval, and my
action thereon is shown by the cable mes
sage following:
May s. 1899.
"Schu1man, Manila:
Yours 4th received. You are authorized
to propose that under the military power
of the President. pending action of Con-
gress, government of the Philippine Islands
shall consist of Governor-General APP
pointed by the President; cabinet
appointed by the Governor-General; a gen
eral advisory council elected by the peo-
pie; the qualifications of electors to be
carefully considered and determined; ana
the Governor-G General to 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, or both, haV-
ing regard to fitness The President earn
estly desires the cessation OF bloodsheda
and that the people of the Philippine Is
lands at an early date shall have the
largest measure of local self-government
Il nJa1
In the latter part of May another group
of representatives came from the insur-
gent leader. The whole matter was fuily
discussed with them and promise OF ac-
ceptance seemed near at hand. They as
sured our commissioners they would return
after consulting with their leader, but they.
never did.
As a result of the views expressed by the
first Tagalog representative, faVoraple 10
the plan of the commission, 1t appears that
he was, by military order OF the lnsureene
leader, stripped of his shoulder straps, dis
missed from the army and sentenced TO
twelve years imprisonment
The views of the commission are best set
forth in their own words:
. "Deplorable as war is, the one in which
we are now engaged was unavoidable by
us We were attacked by bold, adven-
turous and enthusiastic army. No alterna-
tive was left to us except ignomnous re-
treat.
t1t Is not to b G COncelVeu VI lIett any
American would have sanctioned the sur
render of Manila to the insurgents. Our OBJ
legations to other nations and to the friend
ly Filipinos and to ourselves and our nag
demanded that force should be met by
force Whatever the future of the Philip
pines may be, there is no course open 10
us now except the prosecution of the war
until the insurgents are reduced to submits
sion The commission Is of the opinion that
there has been time since the destruc-
ton of the Spanish squadron by Admiral
Dewey when 1t was possible to withdraw
our forces from the Islands. either with
honor to ourselves or with safety to the in
habitants."
After the most thorough study of the peo-
pie of the archipelago the commission re-
ported, among other things:
'"Their lack of education and political eX-
perience combined with their racial ana
linguistic diversities, disqualify them. in
spite of their mental gifts and domestic Yr-
tues to undertake the task of governing
the archipelago at the present time The
most that can be expected of them Is to
cooperate with the Americans in the adj
ministration of general affairs, from Manila
as center, and to undertake. subject to
American control or guidance (as may be
found necessary, the administration of pro-
yincial and municipal affairs. s
''Should our power by any fatality be
withdrawn, the commission believes that
the government of the Philippines would
speedily lapse into anarchy. which would
excuse, if 1t did not necessitate the inter-
vention of other powers, and the eventual
division of the islands among them. Only
through American occupation, therefore. Is
the idea of a free, self-governing and
united Philippine commonwealth at all con-
ceiyable.
"Thus the welfare of the Filpinos coin
cides with the dictates of national honor
in forbidding our abandonment of the ar
chipelago. We cannot from any pOiEt of
view escape the responsibilities of gov
eminent which our sovereignty entails;
and the commission is strongly persuaded
that the performance of our national duty
will prove the greatest blessing to the peo-
pie of the Philippine Islands, ~
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 their observations, L request
ed the commission to return to the United
H1lnnI1v q m rs