The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1900-06-29

Whatever the effect OF the proclama-
tion Of amnesty issued by General Mac
Arthur at Manila by direction Of the
president. it must be said that it is,
as il should be. complete and unre-
served ana affords no ground for dis
trust. It promises complete immu-
nifty for the past and absolute liberty
Of action for the future" to all per-
sons. who. within ninety days, re-
nounce the insurrectiOn and acknow-
ledge and accept ''the sovereignty Of
the United States in and over the
Philippine Islands" Less than this. Of
course. it would be impossible for the
administration. under the provisions
Of the treaty Of Paris. to demand at
the present time. whatever may be the
opportunity or duty Of the future
The only reservation in the proposed
amnesty concerns persons who may
have violated the laws OF war. but
the Importance Of the exception can
hardly be estimated at this distance.
The proclamation offers every possi-
BILE facility for the pacifcation Of the
islands ana the return to their homes
Of those who have been engaged in
war. and practically invites the leaders
10 come to Manila. at the expense Of
the United States. to confer with the
American authorities. There is also an
offer to pay the people for their arms.
which appears wise provision.
As has been said before, the actual
value Of this proclamation depends en-
tlrely upon the readiness of the Fill
pInos to avail themselves Of it. OF
this we can Judge only ~ our general
knowledge Of their desires and demands
and by the conditions formulated at
the conference Of Filipino leaders at
Manila and presented to General Mac
Arthur on the same day upon which
the proclamation was issued. Whether
these terms would be acceptable to
Aguinaldo also we have no means of
knowing. II he viii be satisfied With
nothing short of absolute independence
and can hold his followers to this, there
is no common ground On which to meet
and the fight must go on to exhaus-
tor. on the other hand, if the men
who met at Manila are fairly repre-
sentative Of the actual authority or in
fiuence necessary to bring about
general acquiescence in what they
agree upon. their program offers few
II any difficultias that may not be over
come. The terms which they regard as
necessary to an honorable peace are:
amnesty, which is already assured;
the return Of confscated property,
which may be taken for granted; en-
ployment for the revolutionary generals
and suceor for needy soldiers, details
that may be easily provided. and a
guarantee to the Filipinos Of the ex-
srcise Of personal rights accorded to
Americans by their constitution" with
The establishment Of civil government
at Manila and in the provinces" Ger
tainly no American would wish or
would consent to any permanent set
tlement that did not secure to every
man under the aag the constitutional
guarantee Of personal rights, and If
the Fnipinos have no more exacting
demands than these to make the
American commissioners have an open
field.
There is one more demand which
these people evidently regard as es-
sentlal that is likely to prove the most
embarrassing Of ALL That is the ex-
nulslon Of the friars. Though some
ecelssiastics have defended the relig-
ious orders in the Philippines. there
cannot be any question either Of the