The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-12-04

II Is tNfutlt tAaN tiAE AAVoA fnAANHt-
ened thought OF the Philippine Islands
fully appreciates the Importance Of these
principles and rules. and they viii inevi-
tably within a short time command uni
versal assert. Upon every division and
branch OF the government Of the Philip
pines. therefore, must be imposed these
inviolable rules:
THAT no person shall be deprived Of
life. liberty, or property without due proc
ess of law: that private property shall
not be taken for public use without just
compeusa ton; that in all criminal prose
cutions the accused shall enjoy the right
to a speedy and public trial. to be inform
ed of the nature and cause of the ac-
cusation, to be confronted with the wit
nesses against him, to have compulsory
process fog obtaining witnesses in his
favor. and to have the assistance Of coun-
sci for his defense; that excessive bail
shall not be required, nor excessive fines
imposed. nor cruel and unusual punish
ment inflicted: that no person shall be
put twice m jeopardy for the same Of
Tense. or be compelled in. any criminal
case to be a witness against himself; that
the right to be secure against unreason-
able searches and seizures shall not be
violated: that neither slavery nor invol-
untary seryitude shall exist except MS a
punishment for crime; that no bill of at
tainder or ex-post-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 to
peacoably assemble and petition the Gov
eminent for a redress Of grievances; that
no law shall be made respecting an es-
tablishment of 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.
alt 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 religious
orders: into the justice of the claims and
complaints made against such landhold-
ers by the people of the island or any
part of the people, and to seek by wise
and peaceable measures just settlement
of the controversies and redress of
wrongs which have caused strife and
bloodshed in the past. In the perform
ance of this duty the Commission is en-
Joined to sec that no injustice is done;
to have regard for substantial rights and
equity, disregarding techniealities 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 in the
islands, and as well the principle of our
own Government which prohibits the tax
ing of private property without due
process of law, shall not be violated: that
the welfare of the people of the islands,
which should be a paramount considera-
ton, shall be attained consistently with
this rule OF property right that il it be-
comes necessary for the public interest
of the people of the islands to dispose
Of claims to property which the Commits
sion 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 and judgment; that il
the same public interests require the eX-
tinguishment of property rights lawfully
acquired and held due compensation shall
be made out of the public treasury there
for; that no form of religion and no min
lister of religion shall be forced upon
any community or upon any citizen of
the islands; that upon the other hand
no minister of religion shall be interfered
with or molested in following his call
ing, and that the separation between
state and church shall be real, entire,
and absolute.
1T will be the duty of the Commission
to promote and extend. and, as they find
occasion, to improve, the system of edu-
cation already inaugurated by the mill
tary authorities. In doing this they
should regard as of first importance the
extension of n system of primary educa-
ton which shall be free to all, and which
shall tend to fit the people for the duties
of citizenship and for the ordinary avo-
cations of a civilized community. This
instruction should be given in the first
instance in every part of the islands in
the language of the people. In view of
the great number of languages spoken
by the different tribes, it is especially
important to the prosperity of the is
lands that a common medium of commu-
nication may be established. and it is
obviously desirable that this medium
should be the English language. Espe-
cial attention should be at once given to
aifording full opportunity TO all the peo-
pie of the islands to acquire the use of
the English language.
ut may be well that the main changes
which should be made in the system OF
taxation and in the body of the laws I'M
der which the people are governed, ex-
cept 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. 1t will,
however, be the duty of the Commission
to inquire diligently as TO whether there
are any further changes which ought not
TO be delayed. and if So they are author
lied to make such changes, subject to
your approval. In doing so they are to
bear in mind that taxes which tend TO
penalize or repress industry and enter
prise are to be avoided; that provisions
for taxation should be simple, so that
they may be understood by the people;
that they should affect the fewest praeti-
cable subjects of taxation which will
serve for the general distribution of the
burden.
''The main body of the laws which reg
ulate the rights and obligations of the
.,aonIa should 10 maintained with rs If