Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-12-06

recommending at that time specific
and final form Of government for the
territory actually held by the United
States forces and in which as long as
insurrection continues the military arm
must necessarily be supreme stated
my purpose, until the Congress shall
have made known the formal expression
of its will, to USE the authority vested
in me by the Constitution and the
statutes to uphold the sovereignty OF
the United States in those distant
islands as in all other places where our
flag rightfully floats, placing, to that
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, have stesdfastly pursued the
purpose so declared, employing the
civil arm as we'll toward the accom-
plishment of pacifioation and the in
stitutiop Of local governments within
the lines OF authority and law.
Progress 10 the hoped for direction
has been favorable. Gur forces have
successfully 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 sea ttered, 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 established, are
still sufficient to beget insecurity 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 government, of
education and of industrial and agri-
cultural development which we stand
ready to give them.
By the spring of this year the effeo-
tive 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 ad.
ministration over much of territory. OF
the Archipelago. Desiring to bring this
about, ! appointed In March last a
| Civil Commission composed Of the Hon.
William H. TAFT of Ohio; Prof. Dean
@. Worcester Of Michigan; the Hon.
, Luke l. Wright Of Tennessee the Hon.
! Henry q. Ide OF Vermont and Prof.
J Bernard Moses of California. The aims
) Of their mission ard the scope OF their
authority are clearly set forth In my
instructions Of April 7th, 1900, ad-
dressed to the Secretary Of War to be
: transmitted to them: s.
. sfIn the Message transmitted to the
+ CONGRESS on the 9Th OF December, 1899,
3 said, speaking of the Philippine
Islands 'As long as the ihsurreotion
0 continues the military arm must neoes-
{ sarily be supreme. But there is no
: reason why steps should not be taken
5 from tims to time to inaugurate gov
! | 60 oil vanttlor n THAR
!. form as fast as territory is held and
o controlled by our troops. To this end
9 am considering the advisability Of the
t return of the commission, or such Of
a the members thereof as can be secured,
i to aid the existing authorities and
facilitate this work throughout the
0 islands.
i. ITO give effect to the intention thus
d expressed, I have appointed Hon. Will.
liam H. Taft of Ohio, Prof. Dean O.
g Worcester of Michigan; Hon. Luke !.
!. Wright of Tennessee; Hon. Henry Q.
L Ide of Vermont, and Prof. BernatS
% Moses Of California, Commissioners x
Is the Philippine Islands to continue ant
j. perfect the work Of organizing a4t
l. establishing tivil government already
l. commenced by tho military authorities
subject In all respects to any law
le 1.-the Commissioners named vii
% meet aud act as board, and the Hon
le William H. Taft is designated as presi
dent of the board. 1t is probable tina
st the transfer Of authority from militar.
Or commanders to civil officers Will b.
r. gradual and will occupy considerable
ot period. Its successful accomplish men
9, and the maintenance Of peace and orde
ell in the meantime will require the mos
L. perfect cooperation between the ciri
ur and military authorities in the island
or and both should be direoted during tn
ty transition period by the same Executiy
10 Department. The Commission vii
40 therefore report to the Secretary Q
War, and all their action will be sub
al iect to your approval and control.
b. "You will instruct the Commiseio
III to proceed tosthe city of Manila, wher
n they will make their principal office
be and to communicate with the Militar
n Governor of the Philippine Islands
On whom you will at the same time diree
es to render to them every assistanc
bit within his power in the performance {
or their duties. Without hampering thel
of by too specific instructions, they shout
be in general be enjoined, after maxim
Dir themselves familiar with the condition
ng and needs of the country, to devoi
on their attention in the first instance ,
D. the establishment Of municipal JverI
u. ments, in which the natives of I'll
he islands, both in the cities and in u
.r- rural communities, shall be afforde
in the opportunity 10 manage their ON
local affairs to the fullest extent I
of which they are capable and subject
to the least degree OF supervision and col
iii troll which careful study Of the
nd capacities and observation of the worl
for inga Of native control show to be col
~ sstent with the maintenance of Law
of order an loyalty.
les "The next subject in order OF in
fe- portance should be the organization
,ry government in the larger administr
tive divisions corresponding to coul
in ties, departments, or provinces,
Tho which the common interests Of mar
lal or several municipalities falling with
The the same tribal lines, or the san
BILE natural geographical limits, may be
be subserved by a common administr
The tion. Whenever the Commission is
The the opinion that the condition. of affai
.dy in the islands is such that the oentr
list administration may safely be tran
of ferred from military to civil contr
ain they will report that conclusion to 20
of with their recommendations as to q
on form of central government to be q
tablished for the purpose of taking ov
of the control.
the beginning with the LIST day OF Sc
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