Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-04-05

InONlGG Oh lie 1lAdA1A1D
INTERESTS OF ALL THE PEG
PIE.
New York, April 4.-The Manila cor
respondent Of the Journal cables the
text Of the proclamation to the people
issued to-day by the United States
Philippine commission. The proclama-
ton reads:
The commission desires to assure the
people or the Philippine Islands of the
cordial gCou will and fraternal feeling
which is entertained for them by the
President of the United States and by
the American peop.e.
The aim and object Of the American
government, apart from the fultillment
of the solemn obligations it has as
sImed toward the family of nations by
its acceptance of sovereignty over the
Philippine Islands. is the well-being,
prosperity and happiness Of the Philip
pine people and their elevation and adj
vancement to position among the
most civilized people of the world.
The President believes that this fe-
licity and perfection of the Philippine
people is to be brought about by the
assurance of peace and order by the
guarantee of civil and religious liber-
ty, by the establishment of justice, by
the cultivation of letters, science and
the liberal and practical arts, by the
enlargement OF intercourse with foreign
nations, by expansion of industrial
pursuits, by trade and commerce. by
multiplication and improvement Of the
means of internal communication, by
development, with the aid of modern
mechanical inventions, of the great nat
ural resources OF the archipelago, and,
in a word, by the uninterrupted devo-
ton of the people to the pursuit of use
full objects and the realization of those
noble ideas which constitute the higher
civilization of mankind.
Unfortunately these pure aims and
purposes of the American government
and people have been misinterpreted
to some of the inhabitants of certain
islands, and as a consequence the
friendly American forces have, with
out proYocation Or cause, been openly
attacked. And why these hostilities?
What do the best Filipinos deeire?
Can it be more than the United States
is ready to give? They are patriots
and want liberty.
In the meantime the attention of the
people of the Philippines is invited to
certain regulative principles by which
the United States will he guided in it's
relations with them. These are deem
ed to be the points of cardinal import
2nce:
First-The supremacy of the United
States must and will be enforced
throughout every part of the archipel-
ago, and these who resist it can &C
complish 10 other end than their own
ruin.
Second-To the Philippine people
will be granted the most ample liberty
aid self-government reconcilable with
the maintenance of a wise, just, stable,
effective and economical administra-
ton OF ublic affairs and compatible
with the sovereign and International
rights and the obligations of the United
States.
Third-The civil rights of the Phil
ippine people will be guaranteed and
protected to the fullest extent; relig-
ious freedom will be assured, and all
persons shall be equal and have equal
standing in the eyes of the law.
Fourth-Honor, justice and friend
ship forbid the use of the Philippine
people or the islands they inhabit as
an object or means of exploitation
The purpose Of the American govern
ment is the welfare and the advance
ment of the Philippine people.
F'ifth-There shall be guaranteed to
the Philippine people an honest and
effective civil service in which, to the
fullest extent to which it is practical,
natives shall be employed.
SiXth-The collection and applica-
ton OF all taxes and other revenues
will be placed upon a sound, econom-
ical basis, and the public funds, raised
justly and collected honestly, will be
applied only to defray the regular and
proper expenses incurred by and for
the establishment and maintenance of
the PHILIPPINE government and such
general improvements as the public
interests may demand. Local funds
collected will be used for local pur-
poses and not to be devoted to other
ends. With such prudent and honest
fiscal administration it is believed that
the needs of the government will, in a
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