Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-09-27
HOME RULE FOR ISLANDS
President McKinley's Instructions
to the Philippine Commission
Given TO the Public.
FiLIPIk0S TO Be FAIRLY DEALT WITH.
Observation-Disclosures and Equity to
Rule - Largest Measure OF self
Government Compatible with Con-
ditions Is Accorded.

ditions Is Accorded.
Washington. Sept. ls.-Pre>iGe"s Nc
Kin.eys letter OF Instructions "a the
present Philippine commission. OF
which Judge William Ii. Talk is chair
man. WAS made public Nesje- NY. 1t
bears date April :. 1906. and j atl
| dressed to the secretary of Ma. After
asserting that much can ~ G"ar 10
establish civil government even before
the .nsurrection is entirely e"l:>hed,
The president outlines The duties o. the
commission as follows:
The establishment OF municipal govern
mentS. III which the natives OF the ISLANDS,
! both in the cities and in the ,U,a! COM
munities. shall zoe afforded the opportunity
TO manage their OWN local affairs 10 ,he
| fullest extent OF which they arc capable,
and Subjtct to the least degree of super
| vision ans: control which careful ~.NdN OF
their capacities and observations At the
workings of native control show to Ne con-
| sistemt with the maintenance Of law order
| and loyalty.
''Whenever the commission is Of The opin-
| ion that the condition OF affairs il. the Is
| lands is such that the central adnlilIStia-
ton may safely be transferred from mill
tary To civil control. they will renoi, that
1
| tions as to the form OF ccnual government
| to be established for lhe purpose Of taking
! over the control
Principles OF Governments.
In the distribution of powers among the
| governments organized by the commission
| the presumption is always to be in .,lVo: of
| the smaller subdivision. that AL the
| powers which can properly be oNclg I>.d by
| The municipal government snal! be- vested
/ in that government. and all the powers of
| a more general character which ,an be
| exercised by the {, partnental s,Nrrmn!o mt.
| shall be vested IN that goverMlll' III. and SO
| that in the governmental system, which is
the result OF the process, the C"l.t.;tl gov
| ernmeIt of the islands. fullowlS the .X-
| ample Of I'll" distribution of the p, ~ rs be-
| tween the states and the natinil@. S"Nvrn-
ment of the United States. shall have no di-
| rect administration except of matters OF
| purely general concern and shall have only
| such supervision and control "Vei local
| governments as may be necessary to
cure and enforce faithful ana [: ii il: =, Id
| ministra.ion 10y loca! officers.
Officers Must Re Loyal
at will be necessary To fill som offices
for the present with Americans wi!eh att
er time Will be flied !y natives pi the is
| land. As soon as lracticahic Il syst IN for
| as"ertaining the meri, and lilu,ss 90. vanui-
| dates for civil office should b, put III .u,re
| An Indispensable qualification tur al! offices
and positions Of trust and authority in The
islands must be absoli4te Hn,! um,,sl oitio,la1
loyalty To the United States, and al So.utc
! and uhhampered authority and power to
remove and punish any officer a. Waiting
from that standard must at all TINY bc re-
tanned in the hands OF the cont...l .UtEor-
ity OF the islands.
For the Natives.
I'm all the forms of government ard adj
/ m:nis'rative provisions which they are
authorized to prescribe the con:@i<slou
should bear in mind tnat The government
which they are establishing is q sigl..d
not for our satisfaction 90. for tia Xptps-.
sion Of our Theoretical vi, VS. btt tor ,ie
happiness. pence aud prosperity %! lac pc
| pie OF tn" Philippine isla@ds. and tile neas-
ures adopted Should b. made l., ,.uMiorIn
10 their customs their habits. asa cen
their preiudi@es TO The fullest extent con-
sistcnt with The accomplishment Of the
Indispensable requisites of just ,...l cffee-
| tive government. Al the same time
! the commission should bear il, mud and
the people of the islands should II, mad,
plainly To understand. that there ar, GER
/ tain great principles of goVcr,n.t Mt which
have been made the basis of our govern
! mental system which we deem essential
TO the rule of law and the maintenance Of
| individual Freedom and of which h.y nave
unfortunately been denied the Experience
/ possessed by us; that there are also certain.
/ Nracn%"l rules OF s"v' rnment which we
/ have found to be essential to the IN, - :,v;l-.
ton OF these great principles OF liherty and
| law, and that these principles and these
| rules of government must be este bish,d
| and maintained in heir islands for NE ga l.e
! Of their liberty and happiness. however
much they may conflict with IT," iStolns
/ or laws of procedure with which. they are
! familiar
Justice nnd Equity.
Explicit instruction are given that
Justice and equity shall be observed that
/ the provisions Of the treaty OF Paris shall
be followed and that the churci. e. hlish-
nlents shall be properly treated. y special
para graph concerns the promotion %. c,lll-
cation both il, native languages and in
| English. As to taxation, tn" commission
is instructed to make changes very slowly
and only 50 as 10 simplify hc syst, IN and
| avoid burdens to trade and industry The
| letter concludes:
Pledge Faithfully kept
"The articles Of capitalization Of HE Cttv
! Of Manila on The 18th Of August 1895, cou-
| Guided with these words:
This city, its inhabitants its churches
! and religious worship. it's educational es-
adjustments, and its private property Of
| all descriptions are placed under he sre-
cal safeguard of the faith and honor Of
| the American army.
81 believe that this pledge has been faith
fully kept. AS high and sacred an oblisa-
| ton rests upon the government Of the
| United States TO give protection for prop
erty ard life, civil and religious freedom,
| and wise. firm and unselish guidance in
the paths of peace and prosperity 20 all
/ the people Of the Philippine islands.
| charge this commission to labor Tor the full
| performance OF this obligation. which con-
| Germs the honor and conscience of their
| country, in the firm hope that through their
| labors all the Inhabitants Of the Philip
| pine islands may come to look back with
/ gratitude to the day when God gave VIC
/ tory 10 American arms at Manila and set
their land under the Sovereignty end he
protection Of the people Of the United
| States.