The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1900-09-29

will be guided by the experience thus &C
quired, so far as II may be applicable 10 the
condition existing In other portions OF the
Philippines. They Will avail themselves, to
the fullest degree practicable, OF the con-
illusions reached by the previous commits
sion to the Philippines.
''In the distribution OF powers among the
governments organized by the commission
the smaller subdivision, 20 that all the
powers which can properly be exercised by
the municipal government shall be vested
In that government and all the powers OF
a more general character which can be ex-
ercised by the departmental government
shall be vested In that government, and so
that In the governmental system. which Is
the result of the process, the central gov
eminent OF the islands. following the ex-
ample of the distribution of the powers be-
tween the states and the national govern
ment of the United States. shall have no
direct administration except OF matters or
purely general concern and shall nave only
such supervision and control over local
governments as may be necessary TO Sc
cure and enforce faithful and efficient ad-
minstration by local officers.
Natives to Choose officials.
1.-THE many different degrees Of civiliza-
ton and varieties of custom and capacity
preclude very definite instruction as to the
part which the people shall take In the Sc
lection of their own officers: but these gen.
cases the municipal officers who administer
the local affairs of the people are to be Sc
lected by the people, and that wherever
to be selected in any way natives OF the Is
lands are to be preferred, and II they can
be found competent and willing to perform
the duties they are to receive the omces
at will be necessary to fill some offices
for the present with Americans which after
a time may well be filled by natives OF the
islands. As soon as practicable system
for ascertaining the merit and fitness OF
candidates for civil office should be put In
force. An Indispensable qualification for
all offices and positions of trust and au-
thority In the Islands must be absolute and
unconditional loyalty TO the United states,
and absolute and unhampered authority
and power to remove and punish any OH
Ger deviating from that standard must at
all times be retained in the hands of the
central authority of the Islands.
''In all forms of government and admins
trative provisions which they are author
lied to prescribe. the commission should
bear In mind that the government which
they are establishing is designed not for
our satisfaction, or for the expression of
our theoretical Views, but for the happi-
ness. peace and prosperity Of the people
of the Philippine Islands, and the measures
adopted should be made TO conform to
their customs, their habits. and even their
prejudices, to the fullest extent consistent
with the accomplishment Of the indispens-
able requisites of just and effective govern
ment.
On Denial of Some Civil Rights.
"At the same time the commission should
bear In mind, and the people OF the Islands
should be made plainly to understand, that
there are certain great principles or gov
eminent which have been made the basis
of our governmental system which we
deem essential to the rule of law and the
maintenance of individual freedom, and OF
which they have, unfortunately, been de-
MED the experience possessed by us; that
government which we have found to be
essential to the preservation of these great
principles of liberty and law, and that
these principles and these rules OF govern
ment must be established and maintained
in their Islands for the sake of their liber-
ty and happiness, however much they may
conflict with the customs or laws OF proce-
dure with which they are familiar.
1T Is evident that the most enlightened
thought of the Philippine Islands fully APP
preciates the Importance of these principles
and rules, and they will inevitably within IA
short time command universal assent. Up
on every division and branch of the gov
eminent of the Philippines, Therefore must
THAT no person shall be deprived OF
life, liberty or property without due process
OF law that private properly snail not be
sation: that in all criminal prosecutions
the accused shall enjoy the right to a
speedy and public trial, to be informed OF
to be confronted with the witnesses agains,
him. to have compulsory process for OBJ
| tanning witnesses I'm his favor and to have
| that excessive bail shall not be required
nor excessive fines imposed. nor cruel anC
| unusual punishment inflicted that no per-
son shall be put twice In JEOPARDY for the
same offense. or be compelled In any Grim
| inal case to be n witness against himself
| that the right to be secure against unrea-
| sonable searches and seizures shall not BIT
| violated; that neither slavery nor lnvolun-
| tary servitude shall exist except as a pun
| ishment for crime; that no bill of attainer
| or ex post facto law shall be passed that
| N aDridpInR
| dom Of speech or of the press or the rights
| of the people to peaceably ssemble and
| petition the government for a redress OF
| grievances; that no law shall be made re-
! speeding an establishment of religion OIL
prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and
| that the free exercise and enjoyment OF re-
| ligious profession and worship without
discrimination or preference shall forever
be allowed
Relative to Church Property.
at will be the duty of the commission &c
make a thorough investigation into the
titles to the large tracts Of land held OF
| claimed by individuals or by religious or
ders into the justice OF the claims and com.
plants made against such landholders by
the people of the island or any part of the
| people, and to seek by wise ana peaceablt
| measures a just settlement of the con
| troverses and redress of wrongs which
| have caused strife and bloodshed in tho
past. In the performance OF this duty the
| commission is enJoined to see that no in
| justice is done; to have regard for sub
stantial rights and equity. disregarding
| technicalities so far as substantial right
permits, and TO observe the following rules
| That the provision of the treaty oil
| Paris, pledging the United States to the pro-
| lection of all rights of property in the Is
| lands, and as well the principle of our owl
| government which prohibits the taking o.
| private property without due process Of
law, shall not be violated; that the welfar,
of the people of the island, which shoul,
be a paramount consideration, shall be a
| tanned consistently with this rule of prop
erty right; that IL 1t becomes necessary FOL
the public interest of the people of the Is
| lands to dispose of claims to property
| which the commission finds to be not la w
| fully acquired and held disposition shall b,
made thereof by due legal procedure, In
| which there shall be full opportunity 70
fair and impartial hearing and judgment
! that IL the same public interests requr,
the extinguishment of property rights law
fully acquired and held due compensation
| shall be made out of the public treasur,
therefor; that no form of religion and n,
minister OF religion shall be forced upor
any community or upon any citizen of tn,
| islands; that upon the other hand. no min
lister of religion shall be interfered with o
molested In following his calling, and tina
the separation between state and churcl
shall be real entire and absolute
For Free Education.
at will be the duty of the commission &
promote and extend, and. as they find occa
sion, to improve the system OF education
thorities. In doing this they should regar,
as Of first Importance the extension OF
| system OF primary education which shall
| be free to ALL and which shall tend to ut tn
people for the duties OF citizenship and 10
the ordinary avocations OF. a civilized com