The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-09-15

/
insurgent government, TO the end that some
general plan of government might pc o.
fered them which they wo4i IA af irsprgent
commissioners that the latter submitted
the. proposed scheme to me for approval
and my action thereon Is shown by the
cable message following:
May s, 1S99.-Schurman. Manila: Yours
4th received. You are authorized to pro-
pose that under the military power or the
president, pending action OF congress, gov,
eminent of the Philippine Islands shall
consist Of governor general aPp%9pht v S by
governor general; a general advisory coun-
ell elected by the people; the qualincad,
and determined; and the governor general
to have absolute Veto Judiciary strong
and independent; principal judges appoint
| to be chosen from natives or Americans. or
| both. having regard to fitness. The pres
ident earnestly desires the cessation OF
ippine islands at an early date shall have
| the largest measure of local self-goyern-
ment consistent with peace and good or
der" ~
Plan Not Accepted.
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
sured our commissioners they would re-
| they never did. AS result OF the views
expressed by the first Tagalog representa-
4 tive favorable to the plan of the commits
| sion, IL appears that he was, by military
| order of the insurgent leader. stripped or
| his shoulder straps, dismissed from the
army and sentenced to II years imprison-
| ment.
War Was Unavoidable.
| 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 ignomin MOI re.
American would have sanctioned the sur
render of Manila to the insurgents. Our
friendly Filipinos and to ourselves and our
| flag demanded that force should be met
| with force. Whatever the future OF the
| to us now except the prosecution OF the war
until the insurgents are reduced to sub
mission. The commission Is OF the opinion
| that there has been no time since the de-
| struction of the Spanish squadron by Ad-
miral Dewey when 1t was possible to with
draw our forces from the islands, either
| with honor TO ourselves or with safety to
| the inhabitants"
After the, most thorough, study Of the
peoples Of the archipelago the commission
Their lack of education and political ex-
perience. combined with their racial and
linguistic diversities- disqualify them. in
spite of their mental gifts and domestic
| virtues 10 undertake the task of govern
Ing the archipelago at the present time.
to cooperate with the Americans in the
administration of general affairs, from Ma
Mia as a center. and to undertake. subject
TO American control or guidance tas may
be found necessary, the administration
| of provincial and municipal affairs.
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.
| yention of other powers and the eventual
division of the islands among them Only
| through American occupation. therefore.
Is me 1aea OF Tree. seI-goNernlng ana
| united Philippine commonwealth at all con-
Thus the welfare OF the Filipinos CO.
| incides with the dictates of national honor
in forbidding our abandonment of the arch
ipelago. We cannot from any point of view
escape the responsibilities of government
! which our sovereignty entails, and the
commission is strongly persuaded that the
performance of our national duty will
prove the greatest blessing to the people
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 requested
the commission to return TO the United
states Their most Intelligent and compre-
henstve report was submitted to congress.
The Latest Commission.
In March, 1900, believing that the insur-
rectlon was practically ended and earnest
ly desiring TO promote the establishment
/ appointed the following civil commission
Hon. William H. Taft, of Ohio; Prof Dean
G.. Worcester. of Michigan; Hon. Luke l..
Wright. of Tennessee; Hon. Henry G. Ide,
of Vermont, and Hon. Bernard Moses, of
California. My instructions TO them con-
I tanned the following:
You the secretary of war; will instruct
the commission TO devote their attention
in the first instance to the establish
the natives of the islands. both in the cities
and In the rural communities, shall be af-
forded the opportunity to manage their
which they are capable and subject to the
least degree of supervision and control
which careful study of their capacities
and observation of the workings of native
control show to be consistent with the main
tenance of law. order and loyalty. .
whenever the commission is of the opinion
that the condition of affairs in the Islands
is such that the administration may be
safely transferred from military to civil
control they will report that conclusion to
you Cthe secretary of war;, with their rec
concentrations as to the form of central
government to be established for the pur-
pose of taking over the control.
Beginning with the LIST day OF Septem-
ber 1900. the authority to exercise, subject
to my approval. through the secretary of
war, that part of the power of government
In the Philippine islands which Is of a legis-
lative nature Is to be transferred from the
military governor OF the islands to this
them In the place and stead of the military
governor, under such rules and regula tions
as you (the secretary or war; shall pre-
scribe until the establishment of the civil
central government for the islands con-
templated In the last foregoing paragraph
or until congress shall otherwise provide.
Exercise of this legislative authority will
include the making of rules and orders
having the effect of law for the raising of
revenue by taxes, customs duties and i'm.
posts; the appropriation and expenditure
of the public funds Of the Islands; the es-
tablishment OF a system to secure an eff
fcient civil service: the organization and
establishment of municipal and depart
mental governments. and all other matters
OF civil nature for which the military
governor Is now competent to provide b,
rules or orders OF a legislative character
The commission Will also have power dur.
Ing the same period to appoint to office
such officers under the judicial educationa
and civil service systems and In the mu.
nicipal and departmental governments as
shall be provided for"
InvioInbIe Rules.
Until congress shall take action I al
, rected that upon every division and branch
OF the government OF the Philippines mus
be impOscd these inviolable rules
That no person shall be deprived of life
liberty or property without due process Of
law; that private property shall not b,
} taken for public use without Just com.
: penHation; that In all criminal prose cutions
| the accused shall enjoy the right to
: speedy and public trial. to be Informed o
the nature and cause Of the accusation, [,
, be confronted with the witnesses agains
him. 10 have compulsory process for OBJ
tanning wHncpees In his favor md to ha ",