The Caldwell tribune. [volume] (Caldwell, Idaho Territory [Idaho]) 1883-1928, 1899-01-07
INSTRUCTIONS TO OTIS
Manner in Which the Philip
pines will be Governed.
HEV RULE TO BE KIND BUT FIRM
Natives Must Protection 30 Be
Afforded 70 the People in Full
Enjoyment of All Their
Rights.


Washington, Jan. 5-The following
is the text of the instructions sent to
General Otis, in command of the Unit.
ed States forces ut in the Philippines,
to be proclaimed to the Philippines as
expressive Of the purpose of the United
States with respect to them:
Adjutant Generals ONCE, Washing
ton, Dec. 27.-By direction of the sec
rotary of war, 1 have the honor to
transmit herewith instructions of the
president relative to the administra-
ton Of affairs in the Philippine Is
laucs.
Washington, D. c.. Dec. 21.-To the
Secretary of War, Sir: The destruc
ton Of the Spanish feet in the harbor
of Manila by the United States naval
squadron commanded by Dewey, fol
lowed by the reduction of the city and
the surrender of the Spanish forces,
practically eifecCing the conquest of
the Philippine islands aud the suspeu-
sion of Spanish sovereignty therein.
With the signature of the treaty Of
peace between the United States and
Spain by their respective plenipoten-
tiaries at Paris on the 10th instant, and
as a result of victories of American
arms, the future control, disposition
and government of the Philippine is.
lands are coded to the United States.
In fulfllment ofythecrights of sover-
eighty thus acquired and the response
bic obligations of government thus as
sumed, the actual occupation and ad-
ministration of the entire group of the
Philippine islands becomes immediate.
ly necessary, and the military govern
ment heretofore maintained by the
United States in the city, harbor and
bay of Manila is to be extended with
all possible dispatch to the whole OF
the coded territory.
In performing this duty, the military
commander of tho United States is en-.
| joined to make known to the inhabi.
tants of the Philippine islands that in
succeeding to the sovereignty Of Spain
in severing the former political rela,
lions of the inhabitants and in estab
fishing new political power, the au
thority of the United States is to bt
exerted for the sovereignty of the per
sons and property of the people of the
islands and for the confirmation Of al
their private rights and relations.
1t will be the duty of the commander
of the forces of occupation to announce
and proclaim in the most public man
ner that we come, not as invaders Of
conquerOlS, but as friends, to protec
the natives in their homes, in their EN-
Payments and in their personal anC
religious rights. All persons, whl
either by active aid or honest submis
sion cooperate with the government o
the United States to give effect t
these beneticent purposes will receive
the reward of its support and protec
ton. All others will be brought with
in the lawful rule we have assumed
with firmness if need be, but withou
severity so far as may be possible.
Within the absolute domain of mill
tary authority which necessarily is ant
must remain supreme in the coded ter
ritory until the congress of the Unitet
States shall otherwise provide, the mu
nicipal laws of the territory, in respec
to private rights and property, an
the repression of crime, are to be con
sidered as continuing in force to be ad
ministered by the ordinary tribunals a
far as possible.
The operations of civil and munic
pal government are to be performed b
such officers as may accept the supren
acy of the United States, by taking tn
oath of allegiance, or by officers chosel
so far as may be practicable, from Ii
inhabitants of the island.
While the control Of all the publ
property and the revenues of the state
passes with the cession, and while til
iuse and the management of all publ