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TAFT, William Howard (1857-1930), President. Autograph manuscript signed ("Wm H Taft") as Chief Justice of the United States, to Rev. William E. Barton, n.p., 20 November 1927. 6 pages, 4to, very boldly written in ink on 4 sheets of headed Supreme Court stationery, with envelope. Fine.
TAFT'S REPORT TO ROOSEVELT ON PHILIPPINES POLICY
A highly unusual autograph manuscript, carefully copied by the former President, who served as Governor of the Phillippines from 1901 to 1904, headed "From report of Wm H Taft Secry of War on the Philippines to President Roosevelt dated January 23 1908." The lengthy position paper reads, in part: "...For four years Congress in silence permitted Mr. McKinley and yourself, as Commanders-in-Chief of the Army, to adapt and carry a policy in the Philippines...The national policy is to govern the Philippines for the benefit and welfare and uplifting of the people of the Islands and gradually to extend to them...a greater measure of popular self-government...It is plain from all of Mr. McKinley's utterances and your own...that we are trustees and guardians of the whole Filipino people...and that our trust is not discharged until those masses are given education sufficient to know their civil rights and maintain them...." He concludes with a few lines to Dr. Barton: "The foregoing pages are an excerpt from a report...to President Roosevelt after a visit to the Philippines as Secretary of War to open the Philippine Assembly in 1907..." and he believes "it was a fair statement of what I continue to think our Philippine policy should be."
The United States occupied the Philippines in 1898, and a series of insurrections were suppressed. Taft had been appointed Governor-General of the Phillippines by McKinley in 1900 to establish civil government, and in spite of clashes with the military governor, General Arthur MacArthur, he was successful in drafting the charter of government which abolished slavery, established a Bill of Rights, called for a national legislature and extended education.
TAFT'S REPORT TO ROOSEVELT ON PHILIPPINES POLICY
A highly unusual autograph manuscript, carefully copied by the former President, who served as Governor of the Phillippines from 1901 to 1904, headed "From report of Wm H Taft Secry of War on the Philippines to President Roosevelt dated January 23 1908." The lengthy position paper reads, in part: "...For four years Congress in silence permitted Mr. McKinley and yourself, as Commanders-in-Chief of the Army, to adapt and carry a policy in the Philippines...The national policy is to govern the Philippines for the benefit and welfare and uplifting of the people of the Islands and gradually to extend to them...a greater measure of popular self-government...It is plain from all of Mr. McKinley's utterances and your own...that we are trustees and guardians of the whole Filipino people...and that our trust is not discharged until those masses are given education sufficient to know their civil rights and maintain them...." He concludes with a few lines to Dr. Barton: "The foregoing pages are an excerpt from a report...to President Roosevelt after a visit to the Philippines as Secretary of War to open the Philippine Assembly in 1907..." and he believes "it was a fair statement of what I continue to think our Philippine policy should be."
The United States occupied the Philippines in 1898, and a series of insurrections were suppressed. Taft had been appointed Governor-General of the Phillippines by McKinley in 1900 to establish civil government, and in spite of clashes with the military governor, General Arthur MacArthur, he was successful in drafting the charter of government which abolished slavery, established a Bill of Rights, called for a national legislature and extended education.