The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1900-09-10
LETTER OF
ACCEPT ANCE.
Continued From Third pago.) I
peoples Of the archipelago. the commits
sion reported. among other things:

sion reported, among other things:
..Thelr lack OF education and political
experience, combined With their racial
and linguistic diversIties, dlsqualIfy
them, In spite Of their mental gifts md
domestic virtues, 10 undertake the task
OF governing the archipelago mt the
present time. The most that can be ex-.
pccted Of them Is TO cooperate with
the Americans In the administration OF
general affairs. from Manila as a cen-
ter, and TO undertake.. subject to Amcri-l
can control or guidance las may. be
: found necessary the administration of
provincial and municipal affairs. go
SHOULD our power By any fatality be
withdrawn, the commission believes
that the government Of the Philippines
Z would speedily lapse into anarchy,
which would excuse. II II did not ncGes-
state the Intervention Of other powers.
md the eventual division of the Islands
among them. Only through American
occupation, therefore, is the iden OF a
free. self-governing aud united Philip
pine commonwealth at all conceivable.
THUS the welfare OF the Filip!nos
comedies with the dictates OF national
honor In forbidding our abandonment OF
the archipelago. We cannot from any
point of view. escape the responsibility
les OF government which our sovereign
ty entails; and the commission is
strongly persuaded that the perform
ance OF our national duty will prove the
greatest blessing to the people OF the
Philippine Islands,"
Commission Requested to Return.
Satisfied that nothing further could
be accomplished in pursuance of their
mission until the rebellion was sup
pressed, and desiring 10 place before
the Congress the result of their obser-
vations. / requested the commission to
the United States. Their most intelli-
gent and comprehensive report was
submitted to Congress.
In March, 1900, believing that the in
surraction was practically ended and
earnestly desiring to promote the es-
tablishmentof a stable government In
the archipelago. 1 appointed the fol-
lowing civil commission.
Hon. William II. Taft, Of Ohio; Prof.
Dear c. Worcester, of NIlchisan; Hon.
Luke !. Wright. OF Tennessee: Hon.
Henry c. Id2, OF Vermont, and Hon.
Bernard Moses, OF California. My In
structioas to them contained the follow
ing:
''You (the secretary of war; will in
struct the commission sss to devote
their attention In the first instance to
the establishment Of municipal govern
ments In which the natives OF the is
lands, both in the cities and In the;rural
communities, shall be afforded the OPP
portunlty 10 manage their own local
affairs to the fullest extent OF which
they are capable. and subject to the
least degree of supervision and control
which careful study OF their capacl-
ties and observation Of the Workings OF
native control show TO be consistent
with the maintenance OF law. order
and loyalty. 80" Whenever. the com.
mission Is OF the opinion that the con-
ditlon OF affairs in the Islands Is such
that the central administration may
safely be transferred from military to
civil control they will report that con-
clusion to you (;he secretary OF war)
with their recommendations us to the
form Of central government to be es-
tabllshed for the purpose Of taking
over the control.
The Commissions Power.
Beginning with the first day of Sep
TENDER, 1900. the authority to exercise,
subject to my approval, through the
secretary of war, that part OF the pow
er OF. government In the Philippine Is
lands which is OF a legislative nature
Is TO be transferred from the military
governor Of the Islands to this commits
sion. to he thereafter exercised by them
In the place and stead OF the military
governor, under such rules and resula-
lions as You tthe secretary OF war)
shall prescribe, and the establishment
OF the civil central government Tor the
Islands contemplated In the last fore
going paragraph or until Congress shall
otherwise provide. exercise OF this leg
islative authority will include the
making Of rules and orders having the
effect OF law for the raising Of revenues
by taxes, customs duties and lmposts;
the appropriation and expenditure OF
the public funds OF the islands; the
establishment of n system to secure
an efficient civil service: the organiza-
ton and establishment OF municipal
and departmental governments; and
all other matters OF civil nature for
which the military governor is now
competent TO provide by rules or orders
OF a legislative character the commits
sion will also have power during the
same period to appoint to office such
officers under the judicial. educational
and civil service systems, and in the
municipal and departmental govern.
ments as shall be provided for" 49,.
Until Congress shall take action, III
rec.ed that
Upon every division and branch OF
the government OF the Philippines must
be Imposed these Inviolablc rules:
Shall Have Life and Liberty.
That no person shall be deprived OF
li.c.- liberty or property without due
process Of law; that private property
shall not be taken for public use with
out lust compensation; that in all
criminal prosecutions the accused shall
enjoy the right to Il speedy and public
trial. TO be Informed OF the nature and
cause OF the accusation. to be confront.
ed with the witnesses against him. TO
have compulsory process for obtaining
witnesses In his favor. and TO have the
assistance Of counsel for hia defense:
that excessive bail shall not be required.
nor excessive fines imposed. nor rrue,
and unusual punishment inflicted; that
no person shall be put twice In jeop-
ardy for the same offensc, or be COM
= PEELED In any criminal case 10 be a wilt
ness against himself: that the right 10
be secure against unreasonable
searches and seizures shall not be vlo.