William McKinley: “Be conciliatory, but firm.”

The Secretary of the Navy is authorized to enlist in the Insular Forte United States Navy, which is hereby established, not to exceed five hundred (500) Filipinos in the following ratings at the rates of pay indicated.

Existing problems demand the thought and quicken the conscience of the country.

Now they are sufficient for all public needs, and we have a surplus instead of a deficit.

It is the constitutional method of ascertaining the public will.