The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-02-24
GOVERNMENT OF PHILIPPINES.
SCHURMAN GIVES INSIGHT INTO
REPUBLICAN POLICY.

Constitution Drawn for the Islands
Is Identical With That Framed by
Educated FiIiDinOs-Says 1t VIII
Furnish the Very Governments
Which the Filipinos Have Asked.
L New Philippine Commission Going
Over to Put 1t Into Eject.
Chicago, Feb. 23-President Schurman of
Cornell University and former head of the
Philippine Commission, delivered an ad-
dress before the student body of the Ar
mour Institute to-day, in which he fore
casted the report and recommendation of
the commission, soon to be published at
Washington.
President Schurman said that he had
recommended TO the President a govern
ment and constitution for the Philippines
identically the same as that framed by
educated Filipinos, which is practically
the governmental policy outlined by Thom-
as Jefferson Tor the government of the
vast territory acquired by the Louisiana
purchase. President Schurtuan said fur
Their he was happy to state that President
Mckinley had accepted the recommended
lions, and was sending out second COM
mission TO put this government in opera
ton.
ITO avoid any mistake on the subject"
said the speaker, the constitution drawn
up by Pedro Palermo, Aguinaldo's prime
minister, in 1898, will be published along
side the constitution adopted by the
commissioners so it may be seen the two
are IDENTICAL with only slight elaboration
in the American form. This consutu-
ton also agrees with the request that
leading Filipinos have been making or
us day after day.
THE newspapers have not given pub
Lefty to the fact that we are to give the
Filipinos the very government they them
selves ask, but our government is now
striking off 5000 copies of the report that
it may inform those who have been so So
licitous in regard to the kind of govern
ment their friends, the Fflipinos, would
obtain from US"
Continuing, the speaker said that after
a careful study of the island tribes, he
became convinced that the plan of Great
Britain in her government of the Malays-
signing peace corlpacts with the Individual
chiefs of the tribes-was the most salts
factory one. The results Upheld his opin
ion, for, in the southern row of Islands
where this policy was followed not gun
had, been fired and the American flag had
been held an holored emblem This policy
was not adopted in regard to the middle
islands, which are inhabited by the Visay
an tribe the largest in the group of isl
ands, because of the fact that the most
peculiar of civil governments prevails
there. The influence of Spain, said Pres
ident Schurman, pesmeates the entire
country and It's haff-mnlion inhabitants.
Owing 20 the domination Of Spain during
the many generations that have passed,
chieftains have disappeared, and the great
population is left leaderless by the removal
of Spanish rule There are no chiefs in
this portion of the country with whom the
commission could have begun operations
to effect a peace compact.
Just now it would be as much as their
lives are worth for the natives to come
forward and accept the government offer
ed for the Tagals having taken away
their arms would dome from the north
and in ambush assassinate many 1t is
only this fear that keeps the Visayau
tribe from unanimously and voluntarily
becoming the active ally of the United
States
President Schurnlan said he did not
make this statement in regard 10 the gov
eminent of the Philippines in his address
Yesterday because he did not deem it in
keeping with the celebration Of Washing
ton inasmuch as the governmental policy
of Thomas Jefferson is involved ia its
exposition.