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 not apply; and
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 these 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 and for unlawful
acts committed during the course thereof by a general amnesty and
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 by the Constitution, do hereby proclaim and declare, without
reservation or condition, except as hereinafter provided, a full and
complete pardon and amnesty to all persons in the Philippine archipelago
who have participated in the insurrections aforesaid, 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 insurrectionary authorities,
or which grow 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 the pardon and amnesty hereby granted
shall not include such persons committing crimes since May 1, 1902, in
any province 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 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
_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 this proclamation shall take and subscribe the following
oath before any authority in the Philippine archipelago authorized to
administer oaths, namely: "I solemnly swear (or affirm) that I recognize
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 at the city of Washington, this 4th day of July,
A.D. 1902, and in the one hundred and twenty-seventh year of the
Independence of the United States.