The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-09-12
The Basis of American Rule In the
Philippines.
From President McKinley's Letter 0, Acc,l
ance)

ance.)
Y Y NTIL CONGRESS shall take
action l directed that upon
every division and branch
of the government of the
Philippines must be imposed these in
viOlable rules:
That no person shall be deprived Of life, liberty
or property without due process of law; that pri
vate property shall not be taken for public use
without just compensation; that in all criminal
prosecutions the accused shall enjoy the right
to a speedy and public trial, to be informed OF
the nature and cause of the accusation, to be
confronted with the witnesses against him, TO
have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses
in his favor and to have the assistance of counsel
for his defense; that excessive bail shall not be
required, excessive fines imposed, nor cruel
and unusual punishment inflicted that person
shall be twice put in jeopardy for the same Of
tense, or be compelled in any criminal case to
Ne a witness against himself; that the right TO be
secure against unreasonable searches and seizures
shall not be violated; that neither slavery nor in
voluntary servitude shall exist except as a pun
ishment of crime that no bill OF attainder, or
ex post facto law shall be passed. that no law
shall be passed sbridging the freedom Of speech
or of the press, or Of the rights Of the people to
pcaceaby assemble and petition the government
for redress Of grievances; that no law shall be
made respecting the establishment OF religion,
prohibiting the free exercise thereof, and that
the free exercise and enjoyment of religious pro-
fession and worship without discrimination or
preference shall forever be allowed.
1t will be the duty Of the commission TO pro-
mote and extend, and, as they find occasion to
| improve, the system Of education already inaug-
urated by the military authorities. In doing this
| they should regard as Of first Importance the
extension OF a system OF primary education which
shall be free to all, and which shal, tend to st
| the people for the duties OF citizenship, and for
the ordinary avocatons of civilized communi
| ty Especial attention should be at once
| given TO aTordng full opportunity 10 all the
people Of the islands to acquire the use OF the
English language.
Upon all officers and employees OF the United
States, both civil and military, should be i'm.
pressed Of the duty to 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 per-
| sonal dignity which the people OF the United
States are accustomed to require from each other.
The articles of capitulation of the
city of Manila on the l3th of August,
1898, concluded with these words:
This city. its inhabitants, it's church.
es and religious worship its education
al establishments and its private prop
erty of all descriptions are placed un-
der the special safeguard of the faith
and honor Of the American army" /
believe that this pledge has been
faithfully kept. AS high and sacred an
obligation rests upon the government
OF the United States to give protec-
ton for property and life, civil and
religious freedom, and wise, firm and
unselfsh guidance in the paths OF
peace and prosperity. to all the people
Of the Philippine Islands. l charge
this commission to labor for the full
performance of this obligation, which
concerns the honor and conscience ot
their country, in the firm hope thai
through their labors all the inhab
Litants Of the Philippine Islands may
come TO look back with gratitude t
the day when God gave victory to tn,
American arms at Manila and set thei
land under the sovereignty and IN,
protection Of the people of the United
States.