New-York tribune., 1900-09-10

but they never did.
AS a result OF the views expressed by the
first Tagalog representative favorable to the
plan of the Commission it appears that he was.
by military order of the insurgent leader
stripped of his shoulder straps. dismissed from
the army and sentenced to twelve years i'm
prisonment.
The views OF the Commission are best set forth
in their own words:
DeplorabIe as war is. the one in which we are
now engaged was unavoidable by US. we were
attacked by a bold adventurous and entnusias-
tic army. No alternative was LEFT 10 us except
ignominious retreat.
n rs not to be conceived of that any American
would have sanctioned the surrender of Mania
to the insurgents, Our obligations to other ma
tions and to the friendly Fflpinos. and TO our, OUT
selves and our flag, demanded that force shouId
be met by force Whatever the future or tne
Philippines may be- there is no course open 70
us now except the prosecution or the war untii
the insurgents are reduced to submission. The
Commission Is of the opinion that there mas
been time since the destruction OF the span
ish squadron by Admiral Dewey wnen ~ Was
possible to withdraw forces from the Islands
either with honor TO ourselves or with SAFETY TO
the habitants.
NATIONS DUTY IN THE PHILIPPINES.
After the most thorough study of the peo-
pies of the archipelago. the Commission re-
ported among other things:
Their lack of education and political expert
ence combined with their racial and liguist-
ic diversties, disqualify them, In spite or their
mental gifts and domestic virtues 10 UNDER
take the task of governing the archipelago at
the present time The most that can be ex-
pected of them is TO cooperate with the Amer
leans in the administration of general affairs.
from Manila as a centre. and to undertake., sub
tect TO American control or guidance tas may
be found necessary the administration OF
provincial and municipal affairs.
Should our power by any fatality be with
drawn the Commission believes that the gov
ernment Of the Philippines would sPeealy, a. S,5 apSe @
necessitate the Intervention of other Powers
and the eventual division of the islands among
them. Only through American occupation
therefore is the idea of a free self-goveTninS
and united Philippine commonwealth at all
conceivable
Thus the welfare of the Fillpinos comedies
with the dictates of National honor in foTbidding
our abandonment OF the archipelago. We can
not from any point Of view escape the response
bilties of government which our sovereignty en-
tails 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
complished in pursuance of their mission until
the rebellion suppressed. and desiring to
place before the Congress the result Of their
observations. I requested the Commission to
return to the United States Their most intelli-
gent and comprehensive report was submitted
to Congress.
In March. 1900. believing that the insurrection
was practically ended, and earnestly desiring TO
pTOIHOIe Oh d Stdblc 6ONciH-
rnent in the archipelago, appointed the follow
ing civil Commission: Hon. William H Taft, OF
Ohio; Professor Dean C. worcester of Michigan;
Hon. Luke I. Wright, OF Tennessee; Hon. Henry
c. Ide. of Vermont. and Hon. Bernard Moses Of
California. My instructions to them contained
fhe following:
You 6he Secretary of War; will instruct the
Commission g. . to devote their attention in
the first instance TO the establishment of munl-
cipal governments IN which the natives Of the
islands, both in the cities and in the rural COM
munties, shall be afforded the opportunity TO
manage their own local affairs to the fullest
tent of which they capable. and subject to
the least degree of supervision and control which
a careful study OF their capacities and observa-
tion of the workings of native control show
to be consistent with the maintenance of law.
mission is of the oplnion that the condition of
affairs in the fslafSdst IS such that the central
administration may safely be transferred from
military to civil conrol they Will report tnat con-
clusiOn to you (the Secretary of War;, with their
recommendations as to the form OF central gov
eminent to be esta 6liShed for the purpose OF
taking over the UDntrot51.
Beginning wIth5 September l. 1900, the au-
thority 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 legislative nature is to be trans
ferTed from the Military Governor OF the isls nds
TO this Commission, to be thereafter exercised by
them In the place and stead of the Military Gov
ernor. under such rules and regulations as you
(the Secretary of War; shall prescribe, until the
establishment of the civil central government
for the islands contemplated in the last forego-
ing 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 reve-
nue. by taxes, customs duties and imposts; the
appropriation and expenditure of the public
funds of the islands, the establishment of an
educational system throughout the islands; the
establishment of a system to secure an ef1-
Cient civil service: the organization and estab-
lshment of courts: the organization and estab-
lshment of municipal and departmental gov
ernments, and all other matters of a civil nature
for which the Military Governor is now
petent to provid= by rules or orders of a egis-
lative character. The Commission will also
have power during the same period to appoint
to office such officers under the judicial, educa-
tional and civil service systems and in the
municipal and departmental governments
shall be provided for.
Until Congress shall take action directed
that:
Upon every division and branch Of the gov
ernment of the Philippines must be imposed
these invioable rules
That no person shall be deprived of life. liberty
property without due process of law; that
private property shall not be taken for public
use without just compensation; that In all GRIM
inal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the
right to a speedy and public trial. to be In
formed of the nature and cause of the accusa-
ton, 10 be confronted with witnesses against
him, to have compulsory process for Obtaining
witnesses in his favor. and to have the assist
ance Of counsel for his defence; that excessive
bail shall not be required, excessive fines i'm
posed, nor cruel and unusual punishment in
hicted; that no person shall be put twice in
jeopardy for the offence, or be compelled
In any criminal case to be a witness against
himself; that the right to be secure against un-
reasonable searches and seizures shall not be
violated; that neither slavery nor involuntary
servitude shall exist except a punishment for
crime; that no bill of attainder or ex post facto
law shall be passed; that no law shall be passed
abridging the freedom Of speech or Of the press
or the rights of the people to peaceable assem-
bly, and petition the Government for q redress