The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-07-10
FILIPINOS FREED
AMNESTY PROCLAMATION IsS,lrn
BY PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT.
All of the Minor Offenders Who Com.
mitted Acts Violating the Ru,as
of War Through Ignorance
Thereof or Upon Orders Of S,.
perior Officers are Exonerated.


has formally declared the restorat;on
of peace in the Philippine archipelago
and has placed the islands under CON-
plete civil control and has extended
general amnesty to the Filipinos who
have been in rebellion. These tbreo
things, marking one of the most imnor.
tant chapters in the Philippine history
we've accomplished through the issue ~
three separate orders and proclamations
-one by the president over his own
signature, extending amnesty; one nv
Secretary Root, by the president S order
relieving Gen. Chaffee from his duties
as military governor, and third which
takes the shape of general order. ad.
dressed to the entire army of the Unit.
ed States, in which Secretary Root takes
occasion to express the presidents high
appreciation of the work it has accom-.
lished, both in Cuba and in the Philin.
pines. The amnesty proclamation fol-
lows:
Whereas, many of the inhabitants
OF the Philippine archipelago were in
the instruction against the authority
at diverse times from August, 1896, un-
til the cession of the archipelago to the
United States of America and since
such cession, many persons have until
recently resisted the authority and
sovereignty of the United States; and
Whereas, during the course of the
insurrection against the kingdom of
= a of = o
States, the persons engaged therein, or
those in sympathy with and abetting
them, committed many acts in violation
of the laws of civilized warfare, but it
is believed that such acts were generally
committed in ignorance of such laws
and under orders issued by the civil or
military insurrectionary leaders; and,
Whereas. it is deemed to be wise
and humane. in accordance with the
beneficent purposes of the government OF
the United States toward the Filipino
people, and conducive to peace, order
and loyalty among them, that the doors
of such acts who have not already
suffered punishment shall not be held
criminally responsible, but shall be re-
lieved from punishment for participa-
tion in these instructions, and of the
unlawful acts committed during the
course thereof bya general amnesty and
pardon,
Nov, Therefore. BE it known that
l, Theodore Roosevelt, president of the
United States, by virtue of the power
and authority vested in me by the con-
stitution, do hereby proclaim and de-
clare without reservation or condition,
except as hereinafter provided, full
and complete pardon and amnesty to
all persons in the Philippine archipela-
60 who have participated in the insur-
rections 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 character, committed
IN the course of such instructions pur-
suant to orders issued by the civil or
military authorities, or which grew out
OF internal political feuds or dissentions
between Filipinos and Spaniards. or the
Spanish authorities, or which resulted
from the internal political feuds or dis
sentions 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 /, 1902, in any province OF
the archipelago and at the time civil
government was established, nor shall
II include such persons as have been
heretofore finally convicted of the
crimes OF murder, arson or robbery, 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 be-
longing to the exempted class, and such
clemency as is consistent with humanity
and justice will be literally extended
and, further,
Provided that this amnesty ana
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 hereto
lore used or appropriated by the mill
tary or civil authorities of the govern
ment of the United States or that OF
the Philippine islands organized under
authority of the United States by way
OF confiscating or otherwise"
Then follows the oath of allegiance
prescribed to be taken. and after thar
the order relieving General Chaffee
from his duties as military governor,
Following this is the general order OIL
Secretary Root to the army.