Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1899-01-06

to Gen. Otis, in command of the United
States forces in the Philippines, to be
proclaimed the Philippines as express
i've of the purposes of the United States
with respect to them:
Adjutant Generals Office.
Washington, December 81, 1898.
General Otis, Manila:
BY the direction of the Secretary of
War, | have the honor to transmit
herewith instructions OF the President
relative to the administration OF af
fairs in the Philippine islands.
Executive Mansion.
Washington, December q, 1898.
40 the Secretary of War.
'Sir:-The destruction of the Spanish
fleet in the harbor at Manila by the
United States naval squadron, COM
manded by Rear Admiral Dewey, fol-
lowed by the reduction of the city and
the surrender of the Spanish forces,
practically effected the conquest of the
Philippine islands and the suspension
OF Spanish sovereignty therein.
with the signature of the treaty of
peace between the United States and
Spain by their respective plenipoten
tiares at Paris, on the 10th inst, and
as the result of victories of American
arms, the future control, disposition
and government of the Philippine is
lands are coded to the United States.
ty thus acquired and the responsible
obligations of government thus as
sumed the actual occupation and adj
ministration of the entire group of the
Philippine islands becomes Immediate
ly necessary, and the military govern
ment heretofore maintained by the
United States in the city, harbor and
bay of Manila is to be extended with
all possible dispatch to the whole of
the coded territory.
In performing this duty, the mill
tary commander of the United States is
S1toined to make known to the inhabi
tants of the Philippine Islands that in
succeeding to the sovereignty of Spain
in severing the former political rela-
tions of the inhabitants and in estab-
fishing a new political power, the au-
thority of the United States is to be
exerted for the security of the persons
|and property of the people of the ISL
lands and for the confirmation of all
dheiS private Xights and relations. 1t
10ffy 0fFfe commander Of
the S6fces of occupation to announce
and proclaim in the most public man.
ner that we come. not as invaders or
conuerors, but as friends, to protect
the natives in their homes, in their
employments and in their personal and
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 eff
feet to these benefcent purposes will
receive the reward of it's support and
protection. All others will be brought
within the lawful rule we have assum-
ed, with firmness, if need be, but with
cut severity SO far as may be possible.
within the absolute domain of mill
tary authority which necessarily must
remain. coded territory until the legis-
lation of the United States shall other
wise provide, the municipal laws of the
territory in respect to private rights
and property and the repression of
crime are to be considered as continu-
ing in force and to be administered by
the ordinary tribunals so far as prac-
ticable. The operations of civil and
municipal government are to be per-
FORMED by such officers as may accept
the supremacy of the United States by
taking the oath of allegiance, or by Of
ficers chosen as far as may be practi-
cable from the inhabitants of the ISL
ands.
while the control of all the public
property and the revenues of the State
passes With the eession, and while the
use and management of all public
means of transportation are necessarily
reserved 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
heretofore payable by the inhabitants
TO the late government, become payable
to the authorities of the United States
unless it be seen fit to substitute for
them other reasonable rates or modes
Of contribution to the expenses of
government, whether general or local.
/ If private property be taken for mill
tary use, it shall be paid for when
possible in cash at a fair valuation,
and when payment in cash is not prac-
ticable receipts are to be given
''All ports and places in the Philip
pine islands in the actual possession of
the United States will be opened to the
commerce of friendly nations All
goods and wares not prohibited by
military reasons by due announcement