The following proclamation has been issued by the American Civil Commission on Philippine Affairs The treaty of Peace between the United States and Spain, ratified several weeks ago by the former, having on March 20th been ratified by the latter, the cession to the Union States, as stipulated by the Treaty, of the sovereignty which Spain possessed and exercised over the Philippine Islands has now, in accordance with the laws of nations, received a complete and indefeasable consummation.
In order that the high responsibilities and obligations with which the United States has thus become definitely charged may be fulfilled in " way calculated to promote the best interests of the inhabitants of the Philippine Islands, His Excellency, the President of the United States, has appointed the undersigned a Civil Commission on Philippine affairs, clothing them with all the powers necessary for the ex-excise of that office. people of the Philippine Islands of the The Commission desires to assure the Cordial goodwill and fraternal feeling which is entertained for them by His Excellency the President of the United States and by the American people. The aim and object of the American Government, apart from the fulfilment of the solemn obligations it has assumed toward the family of nations by the acceptance of sovereignty over the Phllipotae letands, i the wellbeing aussi gro-sperity and the happiness of the Philippine people, and their elevation and advancement toa pos ion among the most civilised people of the world.
lis Excellency the President of the United States believes'that this felicity and perfection of the Philippine people is to be brought about by the assurance of peace and order; by the guarantee of civil and religious liberty; by the establishment of justice; by the cultivation of letters, science, and the liberal and tical arts; by the enlargement of intercourse with foreign nations; by the ex pansion of industrial pursuits, trade, and commerce; by the multiplication ' and improvement of the means of international communication; by the development—with the aid of modern mechanical inventions—of the great natural resources of the Archipelago; and, in a word, by the uninterrupted devotion of the people to the pursuit of those useful objects and the realisation of those noble ideals which constitute the higher civilisation of mankind..
Unfortunately, the pure aims and purposes of the American Government and people have been misinterpreted to some of the inhabitants of certain of the Islands. As a consequence, the friendly American forces have, without provocation or cause, been openly attacked.
And why these hostilities? What do the best Filipinos desire Can it be more than the United States is ready to give? They are patriots and want liberty, it is said. The commission emphatically asserts that the United States is not only willing, but anxious, to establish in the Philippine Islands an enlightened system of Govern: ment under which the Philippine people may enjoy the largest measure of h rule and the amples liberty consonant with supreme ends of government and compatible with those obligations which the United States has assumed towards the civilised nations of the world.
The United States striving earnestly for the welfare and advancement of the Philippine Islands, there can be no real conflict between American sovereignty and the rights and liberties of the Philippine people. For just.as the United States stands ready to furnish armies, navies, and all the infinite resources of a great and powerful nation to maintain and support its rightful supremacy over the Philippine Islands, so it is even more solicitous to spread peace and happiness among the Philippine people to guarantee them a rightful freedom; to protect them in their just privileges and immunities; to accustom them to free self-government in an ever- increasing measure and to encourage them in those democratic aspirations, sentiments, and ideals which are the promise and potency of a fruitful national development.
It is the expectation of the Commission to visit the Philippine peoples in. their ye provinces, both for the purpose of cultivating a more intimate mutual quaintance and also with a view to ascertaining from enlightened native opinion what form or forms of government. seem best adapted to the Philippine peoples, most apt to conduce to their highest welfare, and most conformable to their customs, traditions, sentiments, and cherished ideals. Both in the establishment. and maintenance of government in the Philippine Islands it will be the policy. of the United States to consult the views and wishes, and to secure the advice, co-opera tion and aid, of.the Philippine people In the meantime the attention of the Philippine people is invited to certain regulative principles by which the United States will be guided in its relations with them, The following are deemed of cardinal importance 1.—The supremacy of the United States must and will be enforced throughout every part of the Archipelago, and those who resist it can accomplish no end other than their own ruin.
2.—The most ample liberty of self-government will be granted to the Philippine people which is reconcilable with the maintenance of a wise, just, stable, effective, and economical administration of public affairs and compatible with the sovereign and international rights and obligations of the United States.
3.—The civil rights of the Philippine people will be guaranteed and protected to the fullest extent; religious freedom assured; and all persons shall have an equal standing before the Inw.
'4.—Honour, justice, and friendship; forbid the use of the Philippine people or Tslands as an. object or means off exploita. tion. The purpose of the American government is the welfare and advancement of the Philippine people.
5.—There shall be guaranteed to the Philippine people an honest and effective civil service in which, to the fullest extent practicable, natives shall be employed.
6.—The collection and application of taxes and revenues will be put upon a sound, honest, and economical basis. Public funds, taised justly and collected honestly, will' be applied only in defraying the regular and proper expenses incurred by and for the establishment and maintenance of the Philippine government and for such general improvements as public interest may demand. Local funds, collected for local purposes, shall not be diverted to other ends. With such a prudent and honest fiscal administration it is believed that the needs of the government will in a short time become compatible with a considerable reduction in taxation.
7.—A pure, speedy and effective: administration of justice will be established whereby the evils of delay, corruption and exploitation will be effectually eradicated.
'8.—The construction of roads, railroads and other means of communication and transportation, as well as other public works of manifest advantage to the Philippine people, will be promoted.
9.—Domestic and foreign trade and commerce, agriculture and other industrial pursuits, and the general development of
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.