, 1899-01-06

anus Ihdt, Ill SucceeulnS 10 une SOVeT-
eighty of Spain, in several of the form
er political relations of the inhabitants,
and in establishing a new political pow
er, the authority of the United States
is to be exerted by the sovereignty of
the persons and property of the people
of its support and protection. All others
of all their rights and relations.
1T will be the duty of the command
er of the forces of occupation to an
nounce 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, in their m
Payments, and their personal and re-
ligiors rights.
"All persons, who either by active
aid Or honest submission, cooperate
with the government of the United
States TO give effect to these benefits
and purposes, will receive the reward
of its sport and protection. All others
will be brought within the lawful rule
we have assumed, with firmness if need
be, but without sovereignty so far as
may be possible.
WITHIN the absolute domain of mill
tary authority, which necessarily is and
must remain supreme IN the coded ter
ritory until the legislation of the Unit
ed States shall otherwise provide. the
municipal laws of the territory, 10 re-
spect to private rights and property
and the repression of crime are to be
considered as continuing in force, and
to be administered by the ordinary tri-
bunals as far ais possible.
THE operations of civil and munich
pal government are to be performed by
such officers as may accept the suprem-
acy of the United States by taking the
oath Of allegiance, Or by officers chosen
so far as may be practicable, from the
inhabitants of the island.
while the control of all the public
property and the revenues of the state
passes with the cession, and while the
use and the management of all public
means of transportation are necessarily
reserved to the authority of the United
States, private property, which be-
longs to individuals or corporations,
is to be respected except for cause fully
| established.
The taxes and duties heretofore pay
able by the inhabitants to the late gov
eminent, become payable to the au-
thorities of the United States, unless
1T be seen fit to substitute for them
other reasonable rates or modes Of som
tributtoo 10 the~expensss ot che govern
ment, whether general or local. II pri-
vate property be taken for military use
it shall be paid for when possible in
cash at a fair valuation, and when pay
ment in cash is not practicable, re-
ceipts are to be given.
"All ports and places in the Philip
pine islands in the actal possession Of
the land and naval forces of the Unit
ed States will be opened to the COM
MERGE of all friendly nations. All
goods and wares, not prohibited for
military reasons by due announcement
of the military authority, will be adj
mitted upon payment OF such duties and
other charges as shall be in force at
the time of their Importation.
'iFinally, it should be the earnest and
paramount aim Of the military adminis-
tration to win confidence, respect and
affection Of the inhabitants Of the Phil
ippines by assuring to them in every
possible way that full measure of in
dividual rights and liberty, which is
the heritage of free people and by prov
to them that the mission u the United
States is one OF penevolence, assimila-
tion, substituting the mild sway of JUS
tice and right for arbitrary rule.
I'm the fulfllment of this high mis-
sion, supporting the temperate admin
~istration Of affairs for the greatest good
of the governed, there must be sedul-
ously maintained the strong arm of
authority, to repress disturbance and
to all obstacles to the bestow-
al of the blessings of good government
upon the people of the Philippine ISL
ands under the free flag of the United
States.
"WIULIAM M'KINLEY."