The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1900-12-03

the happiness, peace. and prosperity Of
the people of the Philippine Islands, and
the measures adopted should be .uade e
conform TO their customs, their h2hi S,
extent consistent with the accomplish
ment Of the Indispensable requisites Of
just and effective government.
"At the same time the Commission
should bear in mind, and the people Of
the Islands should be made plainly 20 IN
derstand, that there are certain great
principles Of government which have been
made the basis of our governmental sys-
tenn which we deem essential to the rule
OF law and the maintenance of individual
freedom and of which they hare, unfor-
tuHateiy, been denied the experience pos
sessed by US; that there are also certain
practical rules of government which We
have found to be essential to the pres
eryatioH OF these great principles OF lib
erty and law. and that these principles
and these rules OF government must be
established and maintained in their isl
ands for the sake Of their liberty and
happiness, however much they may cen
fict with the customs or laws OF pro-
cedare with which they are familiar.
1T is evident that the most enlightened
thought of the Philippine Islands fully
appreciates the Importance OF these prin-
ciples and rule5, and they viii inevitably
within q short time command universal
assent. Upon every division and branch
of the government Of the Philippines,
therefore, must be imposed these inYiol-
able rules:
That no person shall be deprived Of life,
liberty, or property without due process
of law; that private property shall not be
taken FOR public use without Just com
pensation; that in all criminal prosecu-
lions the accused shall enjoy the right
to a speedy and public trial to be in
NJ he ma n al
accusation TO be confronted with the
witnesses against him. to have compulsory
process for obtaining witnesses in his IA
vor, and to have the assistance of counsel
for his defence; that excessive bail shall
not be required. nor excessive fines ius-
posed, nor cruel and unusual punishment
inflicted; that no person shall be put
twice in jeopardy for the same offence,
or be compelled in any criminal case to
be a witness against himself; that the
right to be secure against unreasonable
searches and seizures shall not be Eio-
lated; that neither slavery nor inyOldn-
tary seryitude snaH exist except as a
punishment for crime: that no bill Of at
tainder -pGst-facto law shall be
passed; that no law shall be passed
abridging the freedom Of speech or Of
the press. or the rights of the people 70
peaceably assemble and petition the Gov
eminent for redress of grievances; that
tabiishment CO religion, or prohibiting The
free exercise thereof, and that the free
exercise and enjoyment of religious pro
fession and worship without discrimina-
ton or preference shall forever be al
lowed.
Rights of Religious Orders.
cit will be the duty of the Commission
to make a thorough investigation into the
titles to the large tracts of land held or
claimed by individuals or by rel gious Ct
ders; into the justice Of the CLAIMS and
complaints made against such land
holders by the people of the island or any
part OF the people, and TO seek by wise
and peaceable measures a Just settlement
Of the controversies and redress OF
wrongs which have caused strife and
bIoodshed in the past In the perform
ance OF this duty the commission is en-
joined 10 see that DO injustice is done TO
nave regard for substantial rights and
equity disTegarding techuicaiities SO far
as substantial right permits, and to OBJ
serve the following rules:
That the provision Of the Treaty of
Paris pledging the United States TO the
protection of all rights of property il the
islands, and IS well the principle Of cur
own Government which prohibits the tax
ing OF private property withoUt due pro-
cess Of law. shall not be violated that the
welfare of the people % the islands,
which should be a paramount coRsiaera-
ton, shall be attained consistently with
this rule OF property right; that Il II be
comes necessary Ter the public interest OF
the people OF the islands 10 dispose OF
claims TO property which the Commission
finds TO be not lawfully acquired and held
disposition shall be made thereof by due
legal procedure, in which there shall be
full opportunity for fair and impartial
hearing ana judgment; that II the same
public interests require the extlnsulsb-
ment of property rights lawfully acquired
and held due compensation shall be made
out Of the public treasury therefor; that
no form CT religion and no minister Of re-
Lyon shall be forced upon any community
or upon any citizen of the islands; that,
upon the other hand no minister OF re-
ligion shall be interfered with CT modest
ed in following his calling, and that the
separation between state and church shall
be real, entire, AMI absolute.
1T viii be the duty Of the Commission TO
promote and extend and, as thes- find &C.
casi0n, to improve, the system Of edEca-
ton already inaugurated by ts.s military
authorities In doing this they shouta re-
| gard as OF first Importance the ext5r sion
OF a system Of primary education which
shall be free 70 all, and which shalt tend
ship and for the ordinary avocations Of a
civilized community This instrE5tion
should be given in the first instance in
every part of the islands IN the language
of this people In view of the great num-
! Der Of languages spoken by the different
tribes, it is especially important to the
| prosperity of the islands that a common
medium OF communication may be sab
| lished, and II is obviously desirable thar
| this medium should be the English Ian
I guage- Especial attention should be at
| once given to affording full opportunity
| TO ali the people of the islands to acquire
! the use of the English language.
1T may be well that the main changes
| which should be made in the system Of
| taxation and in the body of the laws under
/ which the people are governed, except
! such changes as have already been made
/ by the military government, should be
relegated TO the civil government which is
/ to be established under the auspices of
/ the Commission. It viii, however. be the
duty of the Commission to enquire dill
I gently as TO whether there are any fur
| Their changes which ought not 10 be de-
/ layed and If so. they are authorized to
make such changes, subject to your ap-
/ prevail. IN doing so they are to bear in
| mind that taxes which tend TO penaliZe or
repress industry and enterprise are TO be
/ avoided; that provisions for taxation
should be simple, so that they may be IN
! derstood by the people; that they should
affect the fewest practicable subjects Of
| taxation which will serve for the general
| distribution Of the burden
! The main body of the laws which regu-
late the rights and obligations Of the peo-