Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1902-07-12
AMNESTY FOR
THE FILIPINOS.
President Roosevelt Issues His Proclamation---
Islands Placed Under Full Civil Control
---Arnoy Praised for Achievements
in Cuba and Philippines.

w lOll. uAJ P1
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 his
tory, were accomplished through the
issue of three separate orders and
proclamations, one by the president,
over his own signature, extending am
nesty; one through Secretary Root,
by the presidents order, relieving Gen.
Chaffee from his duties military gov
ernor, and a third, which takes the
shape of general order, addressed to
the entire army of the United States,
in which Secretary Root takes occasion
to express the presidents high appre-
citation of the work it has accomplished
both in Gu, and in the Philippines.
Proclamation of Amnesty.
The amnesty proclamation is as fol-
lows:
"By the President of the United States
A proclamation:
Whereas, many Of the inhabitants of the
Philippine archipelago were in insurrection
against the authority and sovereignty OF
the kingdom of Spain at divers times from
August, 1896, until the cession Of the archi-
pelego by that kingdom to the United
States of America, and since such cessfon
many of the persons so engaged in insur-
rection have until recently resisted the au-
thority and sovereignty of the United
States. and,
he ircl q
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 country Inhabited by the
Moro tribes, to which this proclama ton
does not apply; and,
Whereas during the course Of the in
surrection against the kingdom of Spain
and against the government of the United
States, persons therein, or those in SYM
pathy with and abetting them, committed
many acts in violation Of the laws Of CIV
slized warfare 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 lead
e1s; and.
whereas, it is deemed to be wise and
human, in accordance with thel ben eficent
purposes of the government of the United
States towards the Filipino people, and con-
ducive to peace, order and loyalty among
them, that the doors of such, acts who have
already suffered punishment shall not be
held criminally responsible but shall be
relieved from punishment for participation
in these instructions, and for unlawful
acts committed during the course thereof
by a general amnesty and pardon;
Full and Complete Pardon.
'Now, therefore, be it known, that I,
Theodore Roosevelt, president Of the United
States of America, by virtue Of the power
and authority vested in me by the consti-
ton, do hereby proclaim and declare, with
out reservation or condition except as here
matter provided, a full and complete par
don and amnesty to all persons in the
Philippine archipelago who have partici-
pated in the instructions aforesaid, or who
have given aid and comfort to persons par
ticipating in said instructions, for the
offenses of treason, or sedition, and for all
offenses political in their character COM
mitted in the course Of such instructions
pursuant to orders issued by the civil
military insurrectary authorities or which
grew out of internal political feuds or dis
sessions between Filipinos and Spaniards
or the Spanish authorities, or which re-
suited from internal political feuds or dis
sensions among the Fflipinos themselves
during either Of said instructions;
Exceptions.
"Provided, however, That the pardon
and amnesty hereby granted shall not in
c1ude such persons committing crimes since
May l, 1902, in any province CT the archi-
pelago in which at the time civil govern
ment as established, nor shall it include
such persons as have been heretofore
finally convicted of the crimes Of murder,
rape, arson, or robbery by any military or
civil tribunal organized under the authority
of Spain or of the United States of America
but which special application may be made
to the proper authority for pardon by any
person belonging to the exempted classes,
and such clemency as is consistent with
humanity and justice will oe literally ex-
tended; and further,
provided, That this amnesty and pardon
shall not affect the title or right of the gov
eminent of the United States or that of the
Philippine islands to any property or prop
erty right heretofore used or appropriated
by the military or civil authorities Of the
government of the United States or that of
the Philippine islands organized under au-
thority of the United States by way Of con-
flscation or otherwise; and.
Oath of Allegiance.
provided further That every person who
shall seek to avail himself of this proclama-
ton shall take and subscribe to the follow
ing oath before any authority in the Philip
pine archipelago authorized to administer
oaths, namely:
T. -, solemnly swear Cor aff1rm)
that 1 recognize and accept the supreme au-
thority of the United States of America in
the Philippine islands and will maintain
true faith and allegiance thereto, that
impose upon myself this obligation volun-
tarily ithout mental reservation or pur-
pose of evasion, SO help me God.
<'Given under my hand at the city of
Washington this fourth day Of July in the
year of our Lord one thousand nine hum
dred and two, and in the one hundred and
twenty-seventh year of the independence
of the United States
THEODORE ROOSEVELT"
@'By the president:
'-Elihu Root, Secretary of War
TRIBUTE TO THE ARMY.