The destruction of the Spanish fleet in the harbor of Manila by
the United States naval squadron commanded by Rear-Admiral Dewey,
followed by the reduction of the city and the surrender of the
Spanish forces, practically effected the conquest of the Philippine
Islands and the suspension of the Spanish sovereignity therein. With
the signature of the treaty of peace between the United States and
Spain by their respective plenipotentiaries at Paris on the 10th
instant, and as a result of the victories of American arms, the
future control, disposition, and government of the Philippine
Islands are ceded to the United States. In the fulfillment of
the rights of sovereignity thus acquired and the responsible
obligations of government thus assumed, the actual occupation and
administration of the entire group of the Philippine Islands becomes
immediately necessary, and the military government heretofore
maintained by the United States in the city, harbor, and bay of
Manila is to be extended with all possible despatch to the
whole of the ceded territory.
In performing this duty the military commander of the United
States is enjoined to make known to the inhabitants of the
Philippine Islands that in succeeding to the sovereignity of
Spain, in severing the former political relations, and in
establishing a new political power, the authority of the United
States is to be exerted for the securing of the persons and property
of the people of the islands and for the confirmation of all their
private rights and relations. It will be the duty of the commander
of the forces of occupation to announce and proclaim in the most
public manner that we come, not as invaders or conquerors,
but as friends, to protect the natives in their homes, in
their employments, and in their personal and religious rights. All
persons who, either by active aid or by honest submission,
co-operate with the Government of the United States to give effect
to these beneficent purposes will receive the reward of its support
and protection. All others will be brought within the lawful
rule we have assumed, with firmness if need be, but without
severity, so far as possible. Within the absolute domain of
military authority, which necessarily is and must remain
supreme in the ceded territory until the legislation of the
United States shall otherwise provide, the municipal laws of the
territory in respect to private rights and property and the
repression of crime are to be considered as continuing in force, and
to be administered by the ordinary tribunals, so far as practicable.
The operations of civil and municipal government are to be performed
by such officers as may accept the supremacy of the United
States by taking the oath of allegiance, or by officers chosen,
as far as practicable, from the inhabitants of the islands. While
the control of all the public property and the revenues of the state
passes with the cession, and while the use and management of all
public means of transportation are necessarily reserved to the
authority of the United States, private property, whether belonging
to individuals or corporations, is to be respected except for cause
duly established. The taxes and duties heretofore payable by the
inhabitants to the late government become payable to the authorities
of the United States unless it be seen fit to substitute for them
other reasonable rates or modes of contribution to the expenses of
government, whether general or local. If private property be taken
for military use, it shall be paid for when possible in cash, at a
fair valuation, and when payment in cash is not practicable,
receipts are to be given. All ports and places in the Philippine
Islands in the actual possession of the land and naval forces of the
United States will be opened to the commerce of all friendly
nations. All goods and wares not prohibited for military reasons by
due announcement of the military authority will be admitted upon
payment of such duties and other charges as shall be in force at the
time of their importation. Finally, it should be the earnest wish
and paramount aim of the military administration to win the
confidence, respect, and affection of the inhabitants of the
Philippines by assuring them in every possible way that full measure
of individual rights and liberties which is the heritage of free
peoples, and by proving to them that the mission of the United
States is one of
BENEVOLENT ASSIMILATION
substituting the mild sway of justice and right for arbitrary
rule. In the fulfillment of this high mission, supporting the
temperate administration of affairs for the greatest good of the
governed, there must be sedulously maintained the strong arm of
authority, to repress disturbance and to overcome all obstacles to
the bestowal of the blessings of good and stable government upon the
people of the Philippine Islands under the free flag of the United
States.