The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-09-11

specify ldpSS INTO anarchy, which would
excuse, if it did not necessitate the inter-
vention of other powers, and the eventual
division of the islands among them Only
| through American occupation, therefore,
is the idea of a free, self governing and
united Philippine commonwealth at all
conceivable.
Thus the welfare of the Filipinos coin
cides with the dictates of national honor
in forbidding our abandonment of the
archipelago. We cannot from any point
of view escape the responsibilities of gov
eminent which our sovereignty entails;
and the commission is strongly persuaded
that the performance of our national duty
| will prove the greatest blessing to the
| people of the Philippine Islands"
CIVIL COMMISSION APPOINTED.
Satisfied mat nothing further could be
accomplished in pursuance of their mis-
sion until the rebellion was suppressed
and desiring 10 place before the Congress
| the result of their observations, l re-
quested the Commission to return to the
| United States. Their most intelligent and
comprehensive report was submitted TO
Congress.
In March, 1900, believing that the in
surrection was practically ended and earn
estly desiring to promote the establish
ment of a stable government in the archi-
peIago, appointed the following Civil
Commission: Hon. William H. Taft, Of
Ohio; Prof. Dean C. Worcester, of Mchi-
gan; Hon. Luke l. Wright, of Tennessee;
Hon. Henry G. Ide, of Vermont, and Hon.
Bernard Moses, Of California.
My instructions to them contained the
following:
"You (the Secretary of War; will in
struct the Commission to de-
vote their attention in the first instance
| to the establishment of municipal gov
ernments in which the natives of the
islands, both in the cities and in the rural
communities, shall be afforded the oppor-
tunity to manage their own local affairs
| to the fullest extent of which they are
capable, and subject to the least degree
1 of supervision and control which a care
| full study of their capacities and obser-
vations of the workings of native con-
| troll show to be consistent with the main
tenance of law, order and loyalty.
Whenever the Commission is of the opin-
| ion that the condition of affairs in the
| islands is such that the control admins
tration may safely be transferred from
military to civil control they will report
that conclusion to you (the Secretary of
| War;, with their recommendations as TO
the form of central governrnnt to be es-
tablished for the purpose of taking over
| the control.
GOVERNMENT OF THE PHILIPPINES.
beginning with the first day of Sep
TENDER, 1900, the authority to exercise,
subject to my approval, through the
Secretary of War, that part of the power
of government in the Philippine Islands,
/ which is of legislative nature is to be
transferred from the Military Governor
| of the islands to this Commission, to be
thereafter exercised by them in the place
and stead of the Military Governor, under
such rules and regulations as you (the
! Secretary of War; shall prescribe, until
/ the establishment of the civil central
! government for the islands contemplated
in the last foregoing paragraph or until
| Congress shall otherwise provide. The
exercise of this legislative authority will
| include the making of rules and orders
having the effect of law for the raising of
/ revenue by taxes, customs duties and
| imposts; the appropriation and expendi-
| ture of the public funds of the islands !;
4 the establishment of an educational Sys-
tenn throughout the islands; the eStab-
l lishment of a system to secure an eff
cient civil service; the organization and
| establishment of courts; the organization
and establishment of municipal and de-
4 partmental governments, and all other
/ matters of a civil nature for which the
Military Governor is now competent to
provide by rules or orders of a legislative
| character The Commission will also
have power during the same period to ap-
Xoint to office such officers under the
judicial, educational and civil service sys-
TENS and in the municipal and depart
mental governments as shall be provided
for ="
Until Congress shall take action 1 di-
rected that upon every division and
branch of the Government of the Philip
pines" must be imposed these inviolable
| rules:
! THAT no person shall be deprived Of
life, liberty or property without due pro-
cess of law; that private property shall
not be taken for public use without just
compensation; that in all criminal preso-
cutions the accused shall enjoy the right
| ito a speedy and public trial, to be inform
ed of the nature and cause of the accusa-
JlO0 TO De CONFRONTED WIFI Iue WHIHeooeo
against him. to have compulsory process
| for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and
to have the assistance of counsel for his
| defense; that excessive bail shall not be
| required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor
cruel and unusual punishment inflicted;
I that no person shall be put twice in
| jeopardy for the same offense, or be COM
| PEELED in any criminal case to be wit
| ness against himself; that the right to be
| secure against unreasonable searches and
| seizures shall not be violated that Meth
er slavery nor involuntary servitude shall
| exist except as a punishment for crime;
| that no bill of attainder, or ex-postfacto
| law, shall be passed; that no law shall be
/ passed abridging the freedom of search
or of the press, or the rights of the peo-
1 pie to peaceably assemble and petition
/ the government for a redress of griev-
4 ances; that no law shall be made re-
speeding the establishment of religion, or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof and
| that the free exercise and enjoyment of
| religious profession and worship without
discrimination or preference shall forever
/ be allowed.
sIt will be the duty Of the Commission
! +o op6 avtand and as thpv find