The Sauk Centre herald. (Sauk Centre, Stearns County, Minn.) 1886-current, 1899-04-06
! TO FILIPINOS
United States Commission Issues
Its Proclamation Giving
Assurance
Of the Good Will and Fraternal
Feeling of This Country To
ward Them.
It Also Promises Certain Def
mite Reforms and Self
Government.
Leading Men of the Island In
vited to Confer and EX-
change Views.

. OhesAASO AS"S
NEW YORK, April 5.--The Journal
has the following cable from Manila:
The text of the United States Philip
pine commission proclamation has been
issued.
The commission desires to assure the
people of the Philippine islands of the
cordial good will and fraternal feeling
which is entertained for them by the
president of the United States and by
the American people.
The aim and object of the American
government, apart from the fulfillment
of the solemn obligations it has as
sumed towards the family of nations by
its acceptance of sovereignty over the
Philippine islands, is the
Well Being, Prosperity and Happiness
of the Philippine people and their ele-
walton and advancement to a position
among the more civilized peoples of the
world. The president believes that this
felicity 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 liberty,
by the establishment of justice, by the
cultivation of letters, science and the
liberal and practical arts, by the en-
largement of the intercourse with for
eign 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 word, by the uninterrupted devotion
of the people to the pursuit of useful
objects and the realization of those
noble ideas which constitute the higher
civilization of mankind.
Aims Are EIisinterpreted.
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 consequence, the
friendly American forces have, without
provocation or cause, been openly at
tackled. And why these hostilitles?
What do the best Filipinos desire? 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 be guided in its
relations with them. These are deemed
to be the points of cardinal Importance:
First-The supremacy of the United
States must and will be enforced
throughout every part of the archipel-
ago, and those who resist it, can &C
complish no end other than their own
ruin.
/ Second-To the Philippine people will
be granted the most ample liberty and
self-government reconcilable with the
maintence of a wise, just, stable, effec-
tive and economical administration of
public affairs and compatible with the
sovereign and international rights and
the obligations of the United States.
Civil and Religious Rights.
Third-The civil rights of the Philip
pine people will be guaranteed and pro-
tected to the fullest extent; religious
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 government
is the welfare and the advancement Of
the Philippine people. KS
Fifth-There shall be guaranteed to
the Philippine people an honest and
effective civil service in which, to the
fullest extent to which it is practicable,
natives shall be entertained.
Sixth--Co Collection of all taxes and
other revenues will be placed upon a
sound, economical basis and public
funds, raised justly and collected hon.
estly, will be applied only to defray the
regular and proper expenses incurred
by and for the establishment and main
tenance of the Philippine government
and such general improvements as the
public interests may demand.
Local funds collected will be used for
local purposes 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 short
time, become compatible with consid-
cradle reduction in taxation.
Seventh--A pure, speedy and effective
administration of justice will be estab-
lished; whereby may be eradlcated the
evils arising from delay, corruption and
exploitation.
Eighth-The construction of roads.
railroads and similar means of cori-
Iunicaticn and transportation, and Of
.ther public works nianifestly TO tne, sd.
vanlage Of the Philippine people vii j,
promoted.
Ninth Domestic and foreign sr-sss
znd commerce, agggicultuse and olhes