The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1900-12-04
THE PHILIPPINE WAR.
Contention That TaGal Opposition IL
Largely DisOrganized.

Largely DisOr3nnized.
In my last annual message l dwelt at
some length upon the condition of affairs
| in the Philippines. While seeking to i'm
| press upon you that the grave RESPONSE
| bility of the future government Of those
| islands rests with the Congress Of the
| United States, / abstained from recon-
mending at that specific and final form
| of government for the territory actually
| held by the United States forces and in
/ which as long as instruction continues
the military arm must necessarily be SUI
preme. l stated my purpose. until the
Congress shall have made known the for
NAL expression of its will, 10 use the au-
thority vested in me by the Constitution
and the statutes to uphold the sovereign
ty of the United States in those distant
islands as in all other places where our
nag rightfully floats. placing, to that end
at the disposal of the army and navy all
the means which the liberality of the
Congress and the people have provided.
No contrary expression of the will of the
Congress having been made, l have stead
lastly pursued the purpose SO declared,
employing the civil arm as well toward
the accomplishment of pacification and
1
within the lines Of authority and law.
Progress in the hopedfor direction has
been favorable. Our forces have success
fully controlled the greater part of the
islands, overcoming the organized forces
of the insurgents and carrying order and
administrative regularity to all quarters.
What opposition remains is for the most
part scattered, obeying no concerted plan
of strategic action, operating only by the
methods common to the traditions of
guerrilla warfare, which, while ineffective
to alter the general control now estab-
lished, are still sufficient to beget inse-
curity among the populations that have
felt the good results of our control and
thus delay the conferment upon them of
the fuller measures of local self govern
ment, Of education, and of Industrial and
agricultural development 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 extension of a stable administration
over much of the territory of the archi-
pelago. Desiring to bring this about,
appointed in March last civil commits
sion composed of the Hon. William H.
Taft, of Ohio; Prof. Dean c. Worcester,
of Michigan; the Hon. Luke /. Wright, of
Tennessee; the Hon. Henry c. Ide, OF
Vermont. and Prof. Bernard Noses of
California. The aims of their mission and
the scope of their authority are clearly
set forth in my Instructions of April Z,
1890. addressed to the Secretary of War
TO be transmitted TO them:
The Taft Commission.
In the message transmitted to the Con-
gress on the 9Th of December. 1899, said,
speaking of the Philippine Islands:
As long as the insurrection continues the
military arm must necessarily be supreme Blu.
there is no reason why steps should not be taken
from time to time to inaugurate governments
essentially popular in their form us fast as
territory is held and controlled by our troops
To this end am considering the ACCESSIBILITY of
the return of the Commission or such OF the
members thereof be secured to aid the
existing authorities and facilitate this work
throughout the islands.
ITO give effect to the intention thus ex-
pressed, l have appointed Hon. William
H. Taft of Ohio. Prof. Dean C. Worcester
of Michigan, Hon. Luke l. Wright of Ten
nessee, Hon. Henry C. Ide of Vermont,
and Prof. Bernard Moses of California,
Commissioners to the Philippine Islands
to continue and perfect the work of or
ganiZing and establishing civil govern
ment already commenced by the military
authorities, subject in all respects to any
laws which Congress may hereafter enact
THE Commissioners named will meet aud
act as a board, and the Hon. William H.
Taft is designated as president of the
board. 1t is probable that the transfer of
authority from military commanders to
civil siIicers will be gradual and will oc-
cupy considerable period. It's successful
accomplishment and the maintenance of
nd in he firpa will
cuire the most perfect cooperation be-
tween the civil and military authorities
in the island, and both should be directed
during the transition period by the same
EXECUTIVE Department. The Commission
will therefore report to the Secretary of
War. and all their actions will be sub
ject to your approval and control.
You will instruct the Commission to
proceed to the city of Manila, where they
will make their principal Office, and to
communicate with the Military Governor