The Philippine-American War Documents
President Theodore Roosevelt's Proclamation
Formally Ending the Philippine "Insurrection"
and Granting of Pardon and Amnesty
July 4, 1902
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, eighteen hundred and ninety-six,
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 those laws, and
under orders issued by the civil or 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 towards 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 in
me 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 grew out of internal political feuds or dissension between
Filipinos and Spaniards or the Spanish authorities, or which resulted
from internal political feuds or dissension 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 first, nineteen hundred
and two, 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;
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 fourth day of July in
the year of our Lord one thousand nine hundred and two, and in the one
hundred and twenty-seventh year of the Independence of the United
States.
Source: U.S. Senate. The Mabini Case. 57th Congress., 2nd Session.
Doc. No. 111 (Jan. 26, 1903). Bold text of insurrection by the website
author.
Source of Treaty Texts: The Statutes At Large of the United States of
America from March 1897 to March 1899 and Recent Treaties, Conventions,
Executive Proclamations, and The Concurrent Resolutions of the Two
Houses of Congress, Volume XXX, published by the U.S. Government
Printing Office, 1899. Copy courtesy of the U.S. Library of Congress,
Asian Division.
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