The Van Buren press., 1901-04-06
THE OATH OF ALLEGIANCE.
Gen. Macarthur Notifies the War
Department that Aguinaldo
Has Taken the Oath.
he FIRST INVESTIGATED CONDITIONS,
His Alleged Action Taken After Re-
Chief Justice ArelIunO-COpy of
the Oath Indicated as Having
Been Subscribed To.

Chief Justice ArelIunO-COpy Of
the Oath Indicated as Having
Been Subscribed To.
Washington, April 3.-Secretary
Root has made public the following
received at the war de-
partment Tuesday morning, at eight
o'clock:
Manila, Adjutant General, Wash.
ington: Since arrival at Manila Aguiu-
aldo has been at Malacanani investi-
eating conditions in the archipelago
He has relied almost entirely upon
the instructive advice Of Chief Justice
Arellano. AS result to-day, he sub
scrbed and swore to the declaration
on page II Of my annual report.
"MAC ARTHUR"
The oath referred to is as follows:
The Prescribed Oath.
81 hereby renounce all allegi-
ance to any and all so-called revo-
lutionary governments in the
PHILIPPINE islands, and recognize
and accept the supreme authority
of the United tSates of America
therein; do solemnly swear that
/ will bear true faith and allegi-
ance to that government; that
will at all times conduct myself as
faithful and lawabiding citizen
of the said islands, and will not,
either directly or indirectly,
hold correspondence with or give
intelligence to an enemy of the
United States, nor will i abet,
harbor or protect such enemy;
that ] impose upon myself these
voluntary obligations without
any mental reservations or pub
pose of evasion, so help me God"
Four asterisks in the cablegram
mark passage withheld from pub
about which the officials will
say nothing now.
News Received with Satisfaction.
The news of Aguinaldo's action was
received with evident satisfaction by
the war department, and the opinion
was expressed that good results would
follow among those who have still
been holding out against the United
States. The taking Of he oath in IL
self is regarded as giving Aguinaldo
status of loyalty TO the United States
quite different from those still il
arms.
The Departments Instructions.
The departments instructions fol
the government of armies in the iiclC
rcciles as follows;
"rhe commander will throw tn,
burden of war, MS much as lies within
his power. on the disloyal citizens o
the revoltod portion or province, ant
If he deems appropriate or If his gov
eminent demands of him that every
citizen shall, by an oath Of allegiance
declare his fidelity to the Legitimate
government, he may eXpel, transfer
imprison or fine the revolving citizens
who refuse to take the oath, etc.
whether It Is eXpedicnt TO do so
and whether reliance can be placed
upon such oath, The commander or his
government has the right to decide
Considered II Expcdicnt.
In the present case Gen. Macarthur
has considered II cSpodicnt TO have
Agulnaldo take this oath and appar'
emily mas held that reliance can he
placed upon the oath, The army reg
uations make no distinct provision
that the taking of the oath shall give
complete liberty to n person, although
the aboyc.quotcd provision shows tina,
those manifcsting loyalty by sub
scribing TO an oath of allegiance are
to lac spared from the hardships OF
war and that only those remaining
disloyal are to be visited with The
harsh treatment Of war.
Oncnscs Against Articles Of War.
The war department authorities say
that otlcnscs against the articles OF
war, excepted IN the proclamation OF
amnesty refer TO murders and Hike
dcprcdntions, Only recently five Fill
Pine officers were executed for such
olonscs. II IA NOT known here whether
Aguinnldo was responsible IN any ease
for such oIlenscs, though from The
fact that Gen, Macarthur allowed him
to take the oath Of allegiance, II is as
sumcd that the commanding general
does not hold AguinNldo TO be charge
able with violation of articles OF
war.
The Good Onlccs Of ApuInaid0,
II Ii believed Gen, Macarthur viii
keep the cY-lcadcr under his eye ANA
avail himself of the good offices OF
Agulnaldo IN loyallaing the remnant
of the insurgcnt forces,
THE G0EBEL MURDER CASES