Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 90, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 11 July 1902 — PEACE IS DECLARED. [ARTICLE]

PEACE IS DECLARED.

PRESIDENT ROOSEVELT MAKES IMPORTANT PROCLAMATION. Archipelago Is Proclaimed Pacified and Pardon la Extended to Political Offenders—Civil Rule la Established— Commendation for U. 8. Soldiers. President Roosevelt on Thursday formally declared the restoration of peace in the Philippine archipelago, placed the islands under civil control and extended general amnesty to the Filipinos who have been in rebellion. These three things, marking an important chapter in United States history and probably the most important in the history. of the Philippines, were accomplished through the issue of three separate orders and proclamations—one by the President over his own signature extending amnesty, one through Secretary Root by the President’s order relieving Gen. Chaffee from his duties as military governor, and a third which takes the shape of a general order addressed to the entire army of the United States, in which Secretary Root expresses the President’s high appreciation of the work it has accomplished both in Cuba and in the Philippines.

Says Peace Is Established. The amnesty proclamation is as fallows: “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 archipelago by that kingdom to the United States of America, and since such cession many of -the persons so engaged in insurrection have until recently resisted the authority and sovereignty of the United States; and “Whereas, The insurrection 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 country inhabited by the Moro tribes, to which this proclamation does hot apply; and Ignorance Cause of Lawlessness. “Whereas, During the course of the insurrection 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 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 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 doers of such acts who have not already suffered punishment shall not be held criminally responsible, but shall be relieved from punishment for participation in these insurrections ami for unlawful acts. committed during the course thereof by a general amnesty and pardon;

Complete Amnesty Is Granted. “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 constitution, do hereby proclaim end declare without reservation or condition, except as hereinafter provided, a full and complete pardon and amnesty to all persons in the Philippine archipelago who Jave participated in the insurrections foresaid or who have given aid and comfort to persons participating in said insurrections for the offenses of treason or sedition and for all offenses political in their character committed in the course of such insurrections pursuant to orders Issued by the civil or military insurrectary authorities or which grew out of internal political feuds or dissensions between Filipinos and Spaniards or the Spanish authorities or which resulted from internal political feuds or dissensions among the Filipinos themselves during either of said insurrections. “Provided, however, that pardon and amnesty hereby granted shall not include such persons committing crimes since May 1, 1902, in any proving 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 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 be liberally extended; and further

Property Rights Unaffected. “Provided, That this amnesty and pardon shall not affect the title or 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 government of the United States or that of the Philippine islands organized under authority of the United States by way of confiscation or otherwise; and “Provided further, That every person who shall seek to avail himself of thia proclamation shall take and subscribe thfe following oath before any authority in the Philippine archipelago authorized to administer oaths, namely: “ ‘I, —solemnly swear (or affirm) that I recognise and accept the supreme authority of the United States of America in the Philippine Islands and will maintain true faith and allegiance thereto; that I impose upon myself this obligation voluntarily, without mental reservation or purpose of evasion, so help me God.* “Given under my hand 1 at the city of Washington this 4th day of July, In the year of our Lord 1902, 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.”