Bismarck weekly tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1943, 1899-04-07
TO FILIPlN0S
United States Commission Issues
Its Proclamation Giving
Assurance
Of the Good Will and Fraternal
Feeling Of This Country To-
ward Them.
1t Also Promises Certain Def.
inite Reforms and Self
Government.
Leading Men Of the Island In
vited to Confer and Ex-
change Views.

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 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
and improvement of the
means of internal communication: by
development, with the aid of modern
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 BIisinterpreted.
Unfortunately these pure aims and
purposes Of the American government
and people have been misinterpreted to
some of the inhabitants of certain
and, as a consequence, the
friendly American forces have, without
or cause, been openly at
tackled. And why these hostilit,esf
What do the best Filipinos desire? Can
it be more than the United States is
ready to give? Theyeare 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 it's
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 ac-
complish no end other than their own
ruin.
Second-To the Philippine people will
be granted the most ample liberty and
Belf-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.
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.
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 Collection Of all taxes and
other revt tnues will be placed upon
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
md such general improvements as the
public interests may demand.
Local funds collected will be used 70,
local purposes and not to be devoted to
other ends.
With such prudent and honest ascal