New-York tribune., 1900-09-18

pledging the United States to the protection
Of All rights OF property in the islands. and
which prohibits the taking Of private property
without due process Of law shall not be vio-
lated; that the welfare Of the people of the
islands. which should be a paramount considera-
tion, shall be attained consistently with this
rule OF property right; that if it becomes neces-
sdEy Ior the public interest OF the people or
the Islands 70 dispose OF claims 70 property
which the Commission find TO be not lawfully
acquired and held DISPOSITION shall be made
thereof by due legal procedure in which there
shall be full opportunity fqE fair and impartial
nearing and Judgment; that if the same public
interests require the extinguishuent Of property
rights lawfully acquired and held due compensa-
Ion snail be made out Of the public treasury
thereIor; that no form of religion and no min
ister Of religion shall be forced upon any COM
Hlunlty or upon any citizen Of the islands; that
upon the other hand no minister of religion shall
oe lhterIered with or molested in following his
caIllng, and that the separation between State
and Church shall be real. entire and absolute.
4t IS eNlcent that the most enlightened thought
OF the Philippine Islands fully appreciates the
Importance of these principles and rules. and
they will inevitably within a short tine com
nand universal assent. Upon every division
an6 branch OF the government Of the Philip
pines therefore must be imposed these invio-
liable rules
Personal RIGHTS AND INDIVIDUAL LIB
ERTY.
That no person shall be deprived Of life lib
tLly or property without due process Of law;
that private property shall not be taken for
public use without lust CONDENSATION: that in
al criminal prosecutions the accused shall enjoy
me right TO speedy and public trial TO be in
formed Of the nature and cause Of the accusa-
non to be confronted with the witnesses against
MN, to have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses in his favor and to have the assist
- touise! lot MS deLence5 tnat excessive
- St.74t hot oe required nor excessive hnes
imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishment in
tAcIed, that no person shall be put twice in
jeopardy FOR the same offence OF be conn PEELED
IN any criminal to be a witness against
himself; that the right to be secure against IN
reasona bic searches and seizures shall not be
NlQidJeQ- nor in A
serNltude shall exist except as a punishment
.or crime; that no bill OF attainder or ex-post-
facto law shall be passed: that no law shall be
PASSED abrldging the freedom Of speech or of
the press, or the rights Of the people to peace
ably assemble and petition the Government for
d 'eoIess or grievances that no law shall be
mace respecting an establishment Of religion. or
prohibiting the free exercise thereof and that
me tree exercise and enjoyment OF religious pro
fession- and worship without discrimination or
preference shall forever be allowed.
EDUCATION
It will be the duty of the Commission 10 pro-
mote and extend, and, they fnd occasion, TO
augurated by the military authorities In doing
this they should regard as Of first importance
ton which shall be free TO all and which shall
tend to t the people for the duties Of citizenship
and for the ordinary avocatiOns 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 diff
terent tribes. il is especially important 10 the
prosperity of the islands that a common med-
urn Of communication may be esta blished. and II
is obviously desirable that this medium should
De the EngAsh language especial attenllon
should be at once given 20 affo-djng full oppor-
tunity to all the people Of the islands 10 acquire
the use Of the English language.
TAXATION.
It may be we'll 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 al
ready been made by the military government,
should be relegated to the civil government which
is 70 be established under the auspices Of the
Commission. II VIII, however be the outy OF
the Commission 10 inquire diligently as 70
whether there are any further changes which
ought not TO be delayed. and. If So they are au-
thoriZed TO make such changes. subject 10 your
approval In doing so they are 10 bear in mind
that taxes which tend 10 penalize or repress in
dustrv and enterprise are to be avoided: that
provisions for taxa tion should be simple. so that
they may be understood by the people; that
they should affect the fsWest practicable sub
jects Of taxation which will serve for the gen
eraI distribution OF the burden
The main BODY Of 1he laws which regulate
the rights and obligations Of the people should
be maintained with as little interterence as
possible Changes made should be mainly in pro-
cedure and in the criminal laws TO secure speedy
and impartial trials, and at the same time ef-
fecttve administration and respect for lndlVld-
In dealing with the uncivilized tribes of the
islands the Commission should adopt the same
course followed by Congress IN permitting the
tribes of our North American Indians 70 main
their tribal organization ana gov Hl llIct!t
ard under which many Of those tribes are now
living in peace and coutentnent surrounded by
a civiIiza ton 10 which they are una bic or un-
willing 10 conform. Such tribal governments
should however be subjected 10 wise and hrm
regulation: and. without undue or petty inter
ference constant and active effort should be
exercised 20 prevent barbarous practices and
introduce civilized customs
Upon all officers and employees OF the United
States both civil and military, should be I'M
pressed a sense Of the duty 10 observe not
merely the material but the personal and social
rights of the people Of the Islands, and to treat
them with the same courtesy and respect for
their personal dignity which the people OF
the United States are accustomed 70 require
from each other
TIE articles Of capitulation of the City Of
Manila on the 18th Of August, 1888 concluded
with these words:
This city. its inhabitants. IT'S churches and
RELIGIOUS worship, its educational establish
nents and its private property Of all descr7p-
rions are placed under the special safeguard
OF the faith and honor Of the American Army ~
I believe that this pledge has been faithfully
kept 4 6 high and sacred obligation rests
upon the Government Of the United States 10
give protection for property and life, civil and
RELIGIOUS freedom. and wise firm and UnSel1sn =
guidance in the paths Of peace and prosperity
to all the people OF the Philippine Islands
charge this Commission 70 labor for the full
performance Of this obligation, which concerns
The honor and conscience Of their country, in
the firm hope that through their labors all the
inhabitants Of the Philippine Islands may come
10 look back with gratitude 70 the day when
God gave victory 70 American arms at Manila
the protection Of the people Of the United
states WILLIAM MKINLEY.
poTTTTCAT pP0CPECTS N OTFTD4