The Minneapolis journal., 1903-04-07

q
been given absolute support by the war
department, under Secretary Root. With
the cessation Of organized resistance the
civil government assumed its proper posi-
tion of headship. The army In the Phil
tppines Is now one OF the instruments
through which Governor Taft does his adj
nlirable work. The, civil government, OF
which Governor Taft Is the head, is SUI
preme and it will do well in the future as
1t has in the past because it will be backed
up in the future as it has been in the
past. %F
The Civil Government
s AS rapidly as the military rule was ex-
tended over the islands by the defeat of
the insurgents, Just So rapidly was it re-
placed by the civil government. AT the
present time the civil government is su-
prerne and the army in the Philippines has
been reduced until it Is sufficient merely
70 provide against, the recurrence of
trouble. In Governor Taft and his asso-
ciates we sent to the Filipinos as upright,
aS conscientious and as able a group OF
SAdminstrat tors as ever any country has
been blessed with having. With them
and under them we have associated the
best men among the Filipinos, so that the
great majority Of the officials, including
many of the highest rank, are themselves
& natives OF IQG 1SLlnOS. Inc
tton is incorruptibly honest; justice Is
rs jealously safeguarded here at home.
The government is conducted purely In
the interests of the people Of the Islands;
they are protected In their religious and
OWL rights; they have been given an ex-
Uelent and We'll administered school sys-
tenn and each Of them now enjoys
rights to .life, liberty and the pursuit of
,haCpiness," such as were never before
known in all the history of the islands.
What Has Been Done for the Natives.
The congress which has just adjourned
has passed legislation Of high Importance
and great wisdom in the interests Of the
Filipino people. First and foremost they
conferred upon them by law the present
admirable civil government; In addition
they gave them an excellent currency, the!
passed measure allowing the organiza
ton of native constabulary; and the!
provided, in the interests Of the Islands
for a reduction Of 25 per cent In the tarlf
on Filipino articles brought to this coun
try I asked that a still further reduc
ition should be made. 1t was not granted
by the last congress- but thlnK that Il
some shape it will be granted by tn
next. And even without it. the recor'
of legislation in the interests of the Fill
pinos is one with which we have r1gh
to feel great satisfaction.
Moreover, congress appropriated $4,000
o00 following the precedent 1t set Whe1
the people of Porto Rico were afflicted b,
sudden disaster; this money to be uset
by the Philippine government in order t.
meet the distress occasioned primaril
by the terrible cattle disease which almos
annihilated the carabae or water buffalo
the chief and most important domesti
animal in the islands. Coming as thi
disaster did upon the heels of the havo
wrought by the insurrectionary war grea
suffering has been caused; and this miser
for which this government Is In no wa
responsible will doubtless in turn increas
the difficulties of the Philippine govern
ment for the next year or so. In cOnse
ouence there will doubtless here and ther
OCCUR sporadic increases Of the arme
8brigandage to which the islands have bee
3habituated from time, immemorial. an
here and there for their own purposes til
bandits may choose to style themselve
patriots or insurrectionists; but these loc;
difficulties will be of little consequenc
save as they give occasion to a few me
here at home again to try to mfslead OF
people. Not only has the military prot
lem in the Philippines been worked o,
quicker and better than we had dared
expect, but the progress socially and
civil government has likewise exceede
our fondest hopes D. ,'2
II. Advice of Rlzal Followed.
g< Remember always that in the Phili]
and is trying to carry out exactly VIII,
~o->. the ..areatest genius and most revere
spatriot ever known = in the EPl1ilippir
islands-Jose Enthusiastically adv
Ecated This man, shortly before his deaf
Sin a message to his countrymen und
date for Dec. 16 1896, condemned unspa
ingly the insurrection Of Aguinaldo, te
minated just before our navy appeart
upon the scene, and pointed out the pa
his people should follow to liberty and e
lightenment. Speaking Of the insure
tion and of the pretense that Filipino i
dependence of a. wholesome charact
could thereby be obtained, he wrote:
When. in spite of my advice, a movement "
begun offered of my own accord, not OF
my services, but my life and even my good na1
to be used In any way they might believe
fective in sitting the rebellion. I thought
the disaster which would follow the succ
sof the revolution, ard deemed myself fortun,
if by any sacrifice could block the progress
such useless calamity.
NY countrymen, have given proof that n
still seek it. But a first step I insist
upon the development Of the people in order til
by means Of education and of labor, they mi,
acquire the proper Individual character and TO
which would make them worthy Of 1t. In
writings 1 have commended to you study
civic virtue without which our redemption d
not exist not do less than c
denim, and I do condemn, this absurd and s
age insurrectfon planned behind my back, VIII
dishonors us before the Filipinos and discret
~ us with those who otherwise would argue
our behalf. I abominate its crueties and =,
# avow any kind of connection with it, regrett
with all the sorrow of my soul that these re
less men have allowed themselves to be
seived. Let them return, then. to their hon
and may God pardon those who have acted In
faith.
This message embodied precisely
exactly the avowed policy upon which
American government has acted in
Philippines. What the patriot Rial
with such force In speaking of the ins
rection before we came to the isla
applies with tenfold greater force to tn
who foolishly or wlckedly opposed
mild and beneficial government we "
CT am wall nOW an,