The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1900-12-04

IN the constitution OF departmental or
provincial governments they viii give
/ especial attention TO the existing govern
ments Of the Island Of Negros, consutut-
ed, with the approval Of the people OF
that island. under the order OF the mill
tary governor OK July p, 1899. and after
verifying, go far as may be practicable,
the reports of the successful working
Of the government they viii be guided
by the experience thus acquired 50 far as
it may be applicable to the condition ex-
listing in other portions Of the Philippines.
They viii avail themselves to the fullest
degree practicable, Of the conclusions
reached by the previous commission 10
the Philippines.
Scheme Of Philippine Government.
In the distribution Of power among
the governments organized by the com
mission, the presumption is always to De
in favor Of the smaller subdivision, so
that all the powers which can properly
be exercised by the municipal govern
ment shall be vested in that government
/ and all the powers of . more general
character which can be exercised 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 government
Of the islands, following the example OF
/ the distribution of the powers between
! the states and the national government
| of the United States shall have no direct
administration, except Of matters OF
purely general concern, and shall have
only such supervision and control over
| local governments as may be necessary
TO secure and enforce faithful and eff
cient administration by local officers.
THE many different degrees of civiliza-
ton and varieties of custom and capacity
among the people of the different Islands
preclude very definite instruction as to
the part which the people shall take in
the selection Of their own officers; but
these general rules are to be observed;
Little Hope for Carpet EsaGgers.
THAT in all cases the nun cDal Of
fcers, who administer the local affairs Of
/ tn. people are to be selected by the peo-
pie and, wherever officers of more eX-
tended Jurisdiction are to be selected in
any way, natives of the islands are to
be preferred, and if they can be found
and willing to perform the duties they are
TO receive the officers in preference TO any
others.
1T will be necessary to I'LL some offices
for the present with Americans, which
after a time may well be filed by na-
tives of the islands. As soon as practi-
cable q system for ascertaining the fitness
Of candidates for civil Offices should be
put in force. An indispensable qualifca-
/ ton for all offices and positions Of trust
and authority in the islands must be alb
solute and unconditional loyalty to the
United States and absolute and unham-
pered authority and power to remove and
punish any officer deviating from the
| standard must at all times be retained
in the hand OF the central authority Of
the Islands.
Government Is for Philippines.
In all of the forms of government and
administrative provisions which they are
authorized to prescribe the commission
should bear in mind that the government
which they are establishing is designed
not for our satisfaction or for the ex-
/ preston of our theoretical views, but for
the happiness, peace and prosperity Of
| the people Of the Philippine Islands, and
! the measures should be made to con
form to their customs, their habits and
even their prejudices to the fullest ex-
tent consistent with the accomplishment
( Of the indispensable requisites of just and
/ effective government.
At the same time the commission should
/ bear in mind and the people Of the
/ island should be made plainly to under
stand, that there are certain great prin-
I ciples of government which have been
made the basis of cur governmental sys-
/ tenn which we deem essential to the rule
/ of law and the maintenance Of individual
freedom. and of which they have, unfor-
tunately been denied the experience pos
sessed by US; that there are also certain
practical rules Of government which we
have found to be essential to the preser-
walton of these great principles Of lib
erty and law and that these principles
and these rules Of government must be
/ established and maintained IN their
/ islands for the sake Of their liberty and
! happiness. however much they may con-
/ hict with the customs or laws Of pro
cedure with which they are familiar.
Basic Principles of Liberty Defined
/ 1t is evident that the most enlightened
thought of the Philippine Islands fully
! appreciates the importance Of these
principles and rules. and they VIII IN
/ evitably within short time command
universal assent Upon every division
and branch Of the government Of the
philippines. therefore. must be imposed
three involable rules: That no person
SHAH be deprived Of life liberty or prop
ertv without due process Of law, that
private property shall not be taken for
public use without just compensation
/ that in all criminal prosecutions the ac-
cused shall enjoy the right to speedy
and public trial to be informed II the
nature and cause Of the accusation 10 be
+ confronted with the witnesses against
them. TO nave compulsory process for OBJ
4 tanning witnesses ia MS favor. and 10
have the assistance If counsel fCr his
defense: that excessive balls saaIt
NOT be required: no excessive fines I'M
/ poed nor cruel and unusual punishment
inflicted: thar no person shaH be put
+ twice in Jeopardy fer the same o0ense. or
be compelled In ans criminal case to 1e
witness against himself, that The -ight
10 secure against unreasonable searehes
ana seizures shall not % violated, thar
neither slavery nor involuntsry =erTituls
SHAN exist except 80 punishment FOR
crime. that 10 btll % alta nder ~ eE-post
sscto law shah 81 passed. FRAT no law
shall re passed abridg7nE ne y e6om 81
sreech or AZ the press or the rights - rh
rearls 10 peaceahiy assemble ard 7etleoa
the governor for rerss ~ grievances
rhat ~ law shall - made respecting ~
estabH shment IL religion % prohibiting
rha frse exercise there ana mar t7e