The Camden chronicle. (Camden, Tenn.) 1890-current, 1899-01-13
INSTRUCTIONS CABLED TO GEN.
OTIS by THE PRESIDENT.
FIRM RULES ARE LAID DOWN.
Inhabitants OF Philippine Islands Must
Be Pacifed by Sway of Justice
and Right.

command of TIE United States forces
in the Philippines, to be proclaimed
to the Filipinos as expressive of the
purposes in respect to them:
"Adjutant Generals Office, Wash
ington, December 27, 1898. General
Otis, Manila: By direction of the
secretary of war, 1 have the honor to
transmit herewith instructions of the
president relative to the administra-
ton of affairs in the Philippine islands,
Executive Mansion, Washington,
December q, 1898. To the Secretary
of War, Washington. Sir: The de-
struchon of the Spanish feet in the
harbor of Manila by the United States
naval squadron commanded by Rear
Admiral Dewey, followed by the re-
duction of the city and the surrender
Of the Spanish forces, practically eff
fected the conquest of the Philippine
islands and the suspension of Spanish
sovereignty therein.
"With the signature of the treaty of
peace between the United States and
Spain by their respective plenipoten-
tiaries at Poris, on the 10th inst, and
as the result of the victories of Ameri-
can arms, the future control, disposi-
ton and government of the Philippine
islands are coded to the United States
in fulfllment of the rights of sover-
eighty ihus acquired, and the respon-
sible Obligations of government thus
assured, the actual occupation and adj
ministration of the entire group of the
Philippine islands becomes necessary
and the necessary government hereto
fore maintained by the United States
in the city, harbor and bay of Manila
is to be extended with all possible dis
patch to the whole of ceded territory.
''In performing this duty, the mill
tary commander of the United States
is enjoined to make known to the in
habitants of the Philippine islands
that, in succeeding to the sovereignty
of Spain, in severing the former polit-
ical relations of the inhabitants and in
establishing a new political power, the
authority of the United States is to be
exerted for the security of the persons
and property of the people of the is
lands and for the consummation of all
their private rights and relations.
cit will be the duty of the COM
mander of the forces of occupation to
announce and proclaim in the most
public manner that we come, not as
invaders or conquerors, but as friends
to protect the natives in their homes,
their employments and in their per-
sonal and religious rights.
"All persons who either by active
aid or by honest submission cooperate
with the government of the United
States to give effect to these benef-
cent purposes will receive the reward
of its support and protection. All 9TH
ers will be brought within the lawful
rule we have assumed, with frmness,
if need be, but without severity so far
as may be possible within the absolute
domain of military authority, which
necessarily is and must remain Su-
preme in the coded territory until the
legislation of the United States shall
otherwise provide.
"While the control of all the public
property and the revenues of the state
passes with the cession, and while the
use and management of all public
means of transportation are necessarily
reserved to the authority of the United
States, private property, whether be-
longing to individuals or corporations
is to be respected except for cause duly
established.
Finally, it should be the earnest
and paramount aim of the military adj
ministration to win the confidence,
respect and affection of the inhabi-
tants of the Philippines by assuring to
them in every possible way that full
measure of individual rights and liber-
ties which is the heritage of free peo-
pie and by proving 20 them that
the mission of the United States
is one of benevolent assimilation, sub
shutting the mild sway of justice and
right for arbitrary rule.
SIN the fulfllment of this high mis-
sion, supporting the temperate admin
istration of affairs for the greatest
good Of the governed, there must be
sedulously maintained the strong arm
of authority, to repress disturbance
and to overcome all obstacles to the
bestowal Of the blessings of good and
stable government upon the people of
the Philippine islands under the free
flag of the United States.
CIVILIAN Mckinney.
acknowledge receipt.
"H. @. CoRBIN, Adintant General.
Proclamation Issued At Manila.
A special cable dispatch from Ma
Mia saws: President McKinley's