Butler citizen. [volume] (Butler, Pa.) 1877-1922, 1899-01-12
Mckinley to Otis.

President McKinley's inst tructions to
| Gen. Otis, in command at Manila, trans
mitted through the Secretary of War,
regarding the government of the Philip
pines were as follows:
With the signature of the treaty Of
peace between the United States and
Spain by their respective Plenipotentl-
aries at Paris. on the 10th inst, and as
| the result of the victories of American
arms. the future control, disposition
| and government of the Philippine Is
lands are ceded to the United States.
In fulfilment of the rights of sovereign
| ty thus acquired, and the responsible
obligations of government thus assum-
ed, the actual occupation and admins
| tration of the entire group Of the Phlll-
ppine Islands become Immediately nee
essary, and the military government
heretofore maintained by the United
States in the city, harbor and bay of
Manila Is TO be extended with all posi-
BILE despatch to the whole of the ceded
erritcry.
In peri orming this duty the military
commander of the United States is en-
| Joined to make known to the inhabitants
of the Philippines Islands that in sue
ceeding to the sovereignty of Spain, in
severing the former political relations
of the inhabitants and in establishing
a new political power the authority OF
the Uuited States is to be exerted for
the security of the persons and property
of the people of the islands, and for the
confirmation of all their private rights
and relations 1t will be the duty of
| the commander of the forces of occupa-
| ton to announce and proclaim in the
most public manner that we come, not
as invaders or conquerors, but az friends
to protect the natives in their homes, IN
their empioyments and in their personal
aud religious rights. All persons who,
either by active aid or by honest sub
mission, cooperate with the Govern
ment of the United States to give effect
to these beneficent purposes, will re
ceive the reward of its support and pro
lection All others will be brought
within the lawful rule we have assumed
with firmness if need be, but without
severity so far as may be possible.
Within absolute domain of military
authority, which necessarily is and
| must remain supreme in the ceded
| territory until the legislation of the
| United States shall otherwise provide,
the municipal laws of the territory, In
respect 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 trlb-
unals so far as practicable. The opera
tions of civil and municipal government
are TO be performed by such officers as
may accept the supremacy of the Unit
ed States by taking the oath of allegi-
ance, or by officers chosen IA far a5
| NAV be practicable from the inhabitants
| of the islands.
| w HlIt tUt GDulIOI vi ttll p'apiiN
| property and the revenues of the State
passes with the cession, and while the
use nd management are necessarily re-
served 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 The taxes and duties here
tofore payable by the inhabitants to the
late Government become payable to the
authorities of the United States, unless
it is seen fit to substitute for them other
reasonable rates OF modes of contribu-
ton to the expenses of government,
whether general on local If private
property be taken for military use, it
shall be paid for when possible IN cash
at fair valuation, and when payment
in cash is not practicable, receipts are
to be given
All ports and places in the philippine
Islands III the actual possession OF the
land and naval forces of the United
States will be opened to the commerce
of all friendly nations. All goods and
wares not prohibited for military rea-
sons by due announcement of the mill
tary authority will be admitted upon
payment Of such duties and other charg-
es as shall be in force at the time of
their importation
Finally, it should be the earnest and
paramount aim of the military admins
tration to win the confidence, respect
and affection of the inhabitants of the
Philippines by assuring to them in ev-
cry po ,sible way that full measure OF
individual rights and liberties which IS
the heritage of free peoples, and by
proving to them that the mission OF the
| United States is Of benevolent assimlla-
tion, substituting the mild sway of jus
tice and right for arbitrary rule. In
the falfilment of this high mission, sup
porting the temperate administration of
affairs for the greatest good of the gov
erned, there must be sedulously maip-
tanned the strong arm of authority to
repress disturbances and To overcome
all obstacles to the bestowal of the bless
ing of good and stable government up
on the people of the Philippine Islands
under the free flag of the United States