The Kootenai herald. [volume] (Kootenai, Idaho) 1891-1904, 1899-04-08
ADDRESS TO THE F|L|P|NOS
GOOD GOVERNMENT ASSURED.
Mckinley Addresses them Through the
Commissioners The United states
plainly put Before Them-Good viii
FraternaI Feeling Assured.

spOndent cables the text OF the United
States Philippine commissioners procla-
nation.
The commission desires to assure the
people Of the island OF the cordial good will
and fraternal feeling which is entertained
for them by the president and the Ameri-
can people. The present aim and object
OF the United States, apart from the full
tllment of the solemn obligations it has
assumed toward the family OF nations Dy
its acceptance Of sovereignty over the Phil
ippine islands, is the well-being, prosperity
and happiness OF the Philippine people, and
their elevation and advancement to a posi-
ton among the most civilized people of the
world.
The president believes 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, the cultivation of letters, sci
enee and the liberal and practical arts,
by the enlargement of intercourse with for
eign nations, the expansion of industrial
pursuits, by trade ana commerce, by null
tiplication and Improvement of the means
OF internal communication, by internal
development, with the aid of mechanical
inventions, of the great natural resources
Of the archipelago, and, in word, the I'M
interrupted devotion of the people to the
pursuit of useful objects and the realiza-
ton of those noble ideas which consti-
tute the higher civilization of mankind
Unfortunately, the pure aims and pur-
poses of the American government have
been misinterpreted to the inhabitants of
certain islands, and as a consequence,
friendly American forces nave, without
provocation or cause, been openly attack
eu. What do the best Filipinos desirey
Can it be more than the United States is
ready to giveY 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.
l. The supremacy of the United States
must and will be enforced throughout
every part of the archipelago and those
who resist it can accomplish no other than
their own ruin.
?. To the Philippine people will be
granted the most ample liberty and self
government reconcilable with the main
tenance of a wise, just, stable and effect
i've and economical administration of pub
lie affairs, and compatible with the SOW
ereign and international rights and obi
cations of the United States.
B. The civil rights of the Philippine PEG
pie will be guaranteed and protected to
the fullest extent.
4. The purpose of the American gov
eminent is the welfare and advancement
Of the Philippine people.
D. There shall be guaranteed an honest
and effective civil service and to the full
est extent to which it shall be practical,
natives shall be employed.
q. Employment and collection of taxes
and revenues will be placed upon sound,
economical basis. Local funds collected
will be used for local purposes and not be-
devoted to other ends
7. a pure, effective and speedy admins
tration of justice will be established.
$. The construction OF roads, railroads
and similar means of communication and
transportation and other public works will
be promoted.
9. Domestic trade and commerce. agri-
culture and other industrial pursuits shall
be the objects of constant solicitude and
fostering care.
TO- Effective provision will be made for
the establishment of elementary schools,
in which the children of the people may
be educated and appropriate facilities will
be provided for higher education.
IL. Reforms in all departments of gov
eminent and all corporations closely touch
ing the common life of the people will be
undertaken without delay and effected
coniormably with right and Justice, in a
way to satisfy the well founded demands
and higher sentiments and aspirations of
the people
Such is the spirit in which the United
States comes to the people of the Philip
pine islands, and the president has in
structed the commission to make this pub
llcly known. In obeying his behest, the
commissioners desire to join the president
IN expressing their good will towards the
Philippine people, and to extend to the
leading representative men an invitation
to meet them for the purpose of personal
acquaintance and the exchange of views
and opinions.
Jacob Gould Schurman, U. S. Commits
sioner.
George Dewey, U. S. Navy.
Elwell S. Otis, Major General, U. s.
Army.