Milford chronicle., 1902-07-11
AMNESTY FOR FILIPINOS
President Roosevelt Grants All In
surrectOrs a Free Pardon.
THEY MUsT swEAR ALLEeIANcE

80 mOSt 0W EAR ALLEGIANCE
Independence Day Was Made the Be-
ginning of Civil Rule Throughout the
lslands-eeneral chaffee Relieved
As Military Governor.
Washington. July 5.-The president
has formally declared the restoration
OF peace in the Philippine archipelago;
he has placed the islands under COM
plete civil control and has extended
general amnesty to the Filipinos who
have been in rebellion. These three
things marking one of the most i'm
portant chapters in Philippine history,
were accomplished through the issue
OF three separate orders and proclama-
lions, one by the president over his
own signature, extending amnesty; one
through Secretary Root, by the presi-
dents order relieving General Chaffee
from his duties as military governor,
and third, which takes the shape of
a general order addressed to the entire
army of the United States in which
Secretary Root takes occasion to ex-
press the presidents high appreciation
of the work it has accomplished. both
in Cuba and in the Philippines.
The amnesty proclamation is as fol-
lows:
Whereas, Many of the inhabitants of
the Philippine archipelago were in in
surrection against the authority and
sovereignty of the kingdom of Spain
at divers times from August, 1896, I'M
til the cession of the archipelago by
that kingdom to the United States Of
America, and since such cession many
OF the persons so engaged in insurrec-
ton have until recently resisted the
authority and sovereignty of the Unit
ed States; and
Whereas. The instruction against
the authority and sovereignty of the
United States is now at an end and
peace has been established in all parts
of the archipelago, except in the coun-
try inhabited by the Moro tribes. to
which the proclamation does not apply;
and
Whereas, During the course of the
instruction against the kingdom of
Spain and against the government of
the United States, persons engaged
therein, or those in sympathy with and
abetting them, committed many acts in
violation of the laws of civilized war
fare, but it is believed that such acts
were generally committed in Ignorance
of those laws, and under orders issued
by the civil or military insurrectionary
leaders;
Now, Therefore, be it known that 1,
Theodore Roosevelt, President of the
United States of America, by virtue of
the power and authority vested in me
by the Constitution do hereby proclaim
and declare, without reservation or
condition, except as hereinafter pro
vided, full and complete pardon and
amnesty to all persons in the Philip
pine archipelago, who have participated
in the instructions aforesaid, or who
have given aid and comfort to persons
participating in said instructions. for
the offenses of treason or sedition. and
for all Offenses political in their char
acter committed in the course of such
instructions pursuant to orders issued
by the civil or military insurrectionary
authorities, or which grew out of in
ternal political feuds or dissensions be-
tween Filipinos and Spaniards or the
Spanish authorities, or which resulted
from internal political feuds or dissen-
sions among the Filipinos themselves
during either of said Instructions;
Provided, however, That the pardon
and amnesty hereby granted shall not
include such persons committing crimes
since May l, 1902, in any province of
the archipelago in which at the time
civil government was established, nor
shall it include such persons as have
been heretofore finally convicted OF the
crimes of murder, rape, arson or rob-
berry by any military or civil tribunal
organized under the authority of Spain
or of the United States of America. but
special application may be made to the
proper authority for pardon by any
person belonging to the exempted
classes, and such clemency as is con-
sistent with humanity and justice will
be literally extended; and further,
Provided, That this amnesty and
pardon shall not affect the title OF
right of the government of the United
States or that of the Philippine Islands
to any property or property rights
heretofore used or appropriated by the
military or civil authorities of the
United States or that of the Philippine
Islands organized under authority of
the United States by way of confisca-
ton or otherwise; and
Provided, further, That every person
who shall seek to avail himself OF this
proclamation shall take and subscribe
the following oath before any authority
in the Philippine archipelago authoriz-
ed to administer oaths, namely: l, -
solemnly swear or affirm, that recog-
nize and accept the supreme authority
of the United States of America in this
Philippine Islands, and will maintain
true faith and allegiance thereto; that
I impose upon myself this obligation
voluntarily without mental reservation
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