The Bolivar bulletin. (Bolivar, Tenn.) 1888-1946, 1900-12-07
SUBSCRIPTION: S1.OO Per Year

UUIy
ditions of guerrilla warfare which, while
Ineffective to alter the general control
now established, are still sufficient TO
beget insecurity among the populations
control, and thus delay the conferment
upon them of the fullest measures OF
of industrial and agricultural develop
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
tration over much of the territory of
the archipelago. Desiring to bring this
commission composed of Hon. William
H. Taft, of Ohio; Prof. Dean c. Worcester
of Michigan; Hon. Luke E. Wright, of Ten
neSsee; Hon. Henry C. Ide, of Vermont,
The aims of their mission and the scope
of their authority are clearly set forth
dressed to the secretary of war to be
transmitted to them.
Principles Are Appreciated.
Referring to the manner in which the
work of the commission upon the lines
iald bn COW down IN SnI3 IN instructions rue to them
Philippines, the president says:
1t is evident that the most enlightened
thought of the Philippine islands fully ap-
preciates the importance of these princi-
plies and rules, and they will inevitably
within a short time command 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 OBJ
tanning 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 Grim
inal case to be a witness against himself;
that the right to be secure against unrea-
sonable 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 or ex post facto law shall be passed;
that no law shall be rassed abrdsing the
freedom of speech or of the press, or the
rights of the people to peaceably assemble
and petition the government for 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 encouraging advance toward
insuring the benefits of liberty and good
est of humanity and with the aim of
building up an enduring, self-Supporting
and self-administering community in
those far eastern seas. l would impress
upon the congress that whatever IeglSla a
tion may be enacted in respect to the Phil
ppine islands should be along these gen
lines The fortune of has
thrown upon this nation an unsought
trust which should be unselfshly dis
charged and devolved upon this govern
ment moral as well as material reSpon-
sibility toward these millions whom we
have freed from an oppressive yoke.
"Wards of the Nation"
have upon another occasion called the
Filipinos the wards of the nation Our
obligation as guardian was not lightly
assumed; it must not be Otherwise than
honestly fulfilled, aiming first of all to
benefit those who have come under our
fostering care. 1t is our duty so to treat
them that our flag may be no less be-
fertile zones of Mindanao and NegrOs
than it is at home, that there as here it
shall be the revered symbol of liberty,
enlightenment and progress in every av-
enue of development.
The Filipinos are race quick to learn
and to profit by knowledge. He would
be rash who, with the teachings of CON
temporaneous history in view, would fix
a limit to the degree Of culture ana lad, ado
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 u, 1900, is in successful op-
Grafton. The courts have been estab-
lished The governor and his associates,
working inteIligentIy and harmoniously,
are meeting with cOmmendab-e success.
on the 9Th of November a general cleo
ton was held in the island for members
Of the legislature, and the body elected
has been called to convene on the first
Monday of December.
ed by the congress comforting upon the
secretary of the interior supervision over
the public lands in Porto Rico and that
and quantity of lands the title to which
remained in the crown of Spain at the
date of cession of Porto Rico to the
necessary for surveys be made, and that
the methods of the disposition of such
lands be prescribed by law.
Dealings with Cuba.
The present conditions in Cuba are re-
ferred to, citing the call for the election
of delegates to a constitutional cOnven-
ton and the meeting OF the convention
which is now in session, and closes this
part of his message with the following:
When the convention concludes its Ia
Dor I will transmit to the congress the
ton for it's consideration and for such
action as it may deem advisable.
The Army.
An increase in the regular army is
recommended, and the need of soldiers
shown. After saying that we need at
least &c 600 troops at home to care for
our expensive fortificatiOns and ordnance,
we have in Cuba between 5000 and 5000
troops. For the present our troops in that
Island cannot be withdrawn or materially
diminished, and certainly not until the con-
elusion of the laborS of the constitutional
now in session and govern
shall have been established and its stability
In Porto Rico we have reduced the gar
riscnS to 1855, which include SS6 native
troops. There is no room for further re-
duction here. We will be required to
keep a considerable force in the Philip
pine islands for some time to come. From
the best information obtainable we shall
need there for the immediate future from
to 5000 radced men am tba IGFe 5ae ng
shall come to acknowledge the author
ity of the United States, of which there
are assuring indications.
1t may be apparent that we will re-
quire an army of about 60,000 and that
during present conditions in Cuba and
to increase the force to the
present number of 100000. Included in
this number authority should be given to
raise native troops in the Philippines up
to Is 900. which the Taft commission be-
lieve will be more effective in detecting
and suppressing guerrillas, assassins and
LadrOneS than our own soldiers
The full discussioS of this subject by
the secretary of war in his annual report
Is called to your earnest attention.
The Postal Service.
Under a discussion of the postal serv-
Ice he urges an extension of the rural
free delivery system and says:
This service ameliorates the isolation of
farm life, conduces to good roads, and
Iuickens and extends the dissemination of
general information. Experience thus far
has tended to allay the apprehension that
It would be so expensive as to forbid it's
general adoption or make it a serious bur-
den. It's actual application has shown that
it increases postal receipts, and can be ac-
by reductions in other branches
Of the service, SO that the augmented rev.
anues and the accomplished savings to-
gether materially reduce the net cost. The
evidences which point to these conclusions