o us now except the
prosecution of the war until the insurgents are reduced to submission.
The Commission is of the opinion that there has been no time since
the destruction of the Spanish squadron by Admiral Dewey when it was
possible to withdraw our forces from the island either with honor to
ourselves or with safety to the inhabitants.

The course thus clearly indicated has been unflinchingly pursued.
The rebellion must be put down. Civil government cannot be thoroughly
established until order is restored. With a devotion and gallantry
worthy of its most brilliant history, the Army, ably and loyally
assisted by the Navy, has carried on this unwelcome but most righteous
campaign with richly deserved success. The noble self-sacrifice with
which our soldiers and sailors whose terms of service had expired
refused to avail themselves of their right to return home as long as
they were needed at the front forms one of the brightest pages in our
annals. Although their operations have been somewhat interrupted and
checked by a rainy season of unusual violence and duration, they have
gained ground steadily in every direction, and now look forward
confidently to a speedy completion of their task.

The unfavorable circumstances connected with an active campaign have
not been permitted to interfere with the equally important work of
reconstruction. Again I invite your attention to the report of the
Commissioners for the interesting and encouraging details of the work
already accomplished in the establishment of peace and order and the
inauguration of self-governing municipal life in many portions of the
archipelago. A notable beginning has been made in the establishment
of a government in the island of Negros which is deserving of special
consideration. This was the first island to accept American sovereignty.
Its people unreservedly proclaimed allegiance to the United States
and adopted a constitution looking to the establishment of a popular
government. It was impossible to guarantee to the people of Negros that
the constitution so adopted should be the ultimate form of government.
Such a question, under the treaty with Spain and in accordance with our
own Constitution and laws, came exclusively within the jurisdiction
of the Congress. The government actually set up by the inhabitants of
Negros eventually proved unsatisfactory to the natives themselves. A new
system was put into force by order of the Major-General