Daily inter mountain. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1881-1901, 1900-09-10

Dali
ance. 1t is indisputable that Spain
shall permanently withdraw from every
port in h Philippines. To leave any
part in her feeble power would increase
our difficulties.
Nor can we permit Spain to transfer
any of the stands to another power. Nor
to join the United States in sovereignty
over them. We must either hold them
or turn them back to Spain.
consequently, grave as are the re-
sponsibilities and unforeseen as are the
difficulties which are before us. the
president can see but n path of duty.
the acceptance of the archipelago.
Great difficulties and more serious COM
n interna-
t~ional-would follow any other course.
The president has given to the views
of the commissioners the fullest consid-
GRAFTON, and in reaching the conclusion
above announced, and in the light of
information communicated to the presi-
dent since your departure, has been in
fluenced by his duty to humanity. Mind
full of the distress in the %inancia condi-
ton of Spain, whatever consideration
he may show must come from a sense
of necessity and benevolence rather han
from any real or technical obligation.
From the standpoint of indemnity. both
the archiapelagoes. Porto Rico and the
Philippines. are insufficient to pay our
war expenses. but aside from this do we
not an obligation to the people of the
Philippines which will not permit us to
return them from Spain? Gould we JUS
tify ourselves in such a course. or could
we permit their barter to some other
powe? Willing or not, we have the re-
cn6pSihi1jfv nf H11tV which wa anrn0t
escape.
The president cannot believe any di-
vision of the archipelago can bring us
anything but embarrassment in the
future. The trade and commercial side
as we'll as the indemnity for the cost
yield. They might be waived or COM
promised. but the questions of duty and
humanity appeal to the president so
strongly that he can find no appropriate
answer but the one he has marked out"
CONGRESS TO DETERMINE STATUS.
The treaty of peace was concluded on
December 10, 1898. By it's terms the
archipelago, known as the Phi.i,i,ite
islands, was ceded by Spain tn the
United States. 1t was also provided that
the civil rights and political status Of
the native in habitants of the terrific
ries hereby ceded to the United States
shall be determined by the congress-"
Eleven days thereafter. on the 21st, the
following direction was given to the
of our forces in Manila.
The military commander Of the
States is enjoined to make known
to the inhabitants of the Philipoine
stands that in succeeding to the SOW
ereignty of Spain, in severing the former
political relations of the inhabitants,
and in establishing a new political power.
he authority of the United States Is to
be exerted for the securing of protection
to persons and property of the people of
the island and for the confirmation OF
all their previous rights and relations.
1t will be the duty of the commander Of
the forces of occupation to announce
and proclaim in the most public manner
We come not as invaders or con-
luerors, but as friends, to protect the
natives in their homes, in their employ
nent and in their personal and religious
PHILIPPINE COMMISSION.
In order to facilitate the most humane !
pacific and effective extension OF au-
throughout these islands and to
secure. with the least possible DELAY the
benefits of a wise and generous prctec-
ton of life and property to the inhali-
tants, I appointed in January, 1899. a
commission consisting of Hon. Jacob
Gould, DR.. Schurman of New York. Ad-
nlral Dewey. Charles DENLY, Prof. Dean
;. Worcester of Michigan and Major
ions contained the following: "In the
performance of this duty the commits
loners are enjoined to meet at the ear
lest possible day in Manila and to an
aounce by a public proclamation their
and the mission entrusted to
them. carefully setting forth the While
the military government already pro-
is to be maintained and contin-
ued so long as necessity may require.
will be made to alleviate the bur-
den Of taxation, to establish industrial
and commercial prosperity, and to pro-
vide for the safety of persons and of
property by such means as may be
conducive to these ends.
RECOMMEND IMPROVEMENTS.
TREATY RATIFIED.
''The commissioners will endeavor
interference with the military
authorities of the United States now in
control of the Philippines. to ascertain
ameliOratiOn in the condition of
inhabitants. what improvements in
public order may be practicable, and
for this purpose they will study the ex-
listing political status of the islands.
particularly as regards the forms of To-
cal government, the administration of
justice. the collection of customs and
other taxes, the means of tr%ansporta-
ton. and the need Of public improve
ments. They will report the results of
their observations and actions, and will
such executive action as
may seem necessary n useful. The
commissioners are hereby authorized to
confer with any persons resident in the
from whom they may believe
themselves able to derive information
or suggestion valuable for the purpose
of the commission
1T Is my desire that in all their rela-
tons with he inhabitants of the ISL
the commissioners exercise due
for all the ideals, customs and
institutions of the tribes which COM