Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-07-21
President Mckinley Issues a Proc.
lamation Regarding Santiago.
The FULL TEXT OF The DOCUMENT.
Private Property TO he Respected
dom Of the Psople tn Be Abridged Only
When Necsasary-suppiis Taken
for Army to BE Paid for.

last night by direction OF President
Mckinley. 1t provides in general
terms for the government Of the prov.
ince Of Santiago de Cuba and Is the
first document Of the kind ever pre-
pared by president Of the United
States. The paper is not only an au.
thorization and instruction Of Gen.
Shafter for the government Of the
captured territory, but also q procla-
nation to the people Of the territory
Of the intentions Of the government Of
the United States regarding them and
their interests The full text Of the
document is as follows:
To the Secretary OF War: Executive Man.
sion, Washington, July 10 Sir: The capitula-
ton OF the Spanish forces In Santiago de Cuba
and in the eastern part OF the province Of San
tiago and the occupation Of the territory by
the forces OF the United States, render 1t me-
cessary to instruct the military commander OF
the United States as to the conduct which he Is
to observe during the military occupation
The first effect Of the military occupation Of
the enemys territory Is the severance Of the
formal political relations OF the Inhabitants
and the establishment OF new political
power Under this changed condition Of things
the inhabitants, so long as they perform their
duties. are entitled to security In their persons
and property and in all their private rights
and relations 1t Is my desire that the inhabit-
ants Of Cuba should be acquainted with the
Ty..tto 10 AT -
the fullest extent It's obligations in this regard
1t will, therefore, be the duty Of the COM
mander OF the army OF occupation TO announce
and proclaim In the most public manner that
we come not to make war upon the inhabitants
OF Cuba nor upon any party or faction among
them, but to protect them in their homes In
their employments and In their personal and
religious rights All persons who either by
active aid or by honest submission, cooperate
with the United States In Its efforts to give OF.
feet to this benefCent purpose, will receive the
reward OF Its support and protection. Our oc-
cupation should be as free from severity as
possible.
Though the powers Of the military occupant
are absolute and supreme, and Immediately
operate upon the political condition Of the In
habitants, the municipal laws Of the conquered
territory, such as affect private rights Of per-
son and property and provide for the punish
ment OF crime, are considered as continuing In
force, so far as they are compatible with the new
order Of things, until they are suspended or
superseded by the occupying belllgerent, and
in practice they are not usually abrogated, but
are allowed to remain In force, and to be i'd
ministered by the ordinary tribunals substan-
TALLY as they were before the occupation
This enlightened practice Is, so for as possible,
TO be adhered to on the present occasion. The
Judges and the other oficials connected with
the administration Of justice may II they &C.
cept the supremacy Of the United States, con-
tinue to administer the ordinary law Of the
land, as between man and man. under the SUI
pervision Of the American COMMUNICATIVE
chief The native constabulary will so far as
may be practicable, be preserved The free
dom OF The people to pursue their accustomed
occupations will be abridged only when 1t may
BE- necessary to do So
While the rule OF conduct Of the American
commander -in-chef will be such as has Just
been defined. it will be his duty to adopt meas
ures OF different kind II, unfortunately, the
course Of the people should render such meas
ures Indispensable to the maintenance OF law
and order. He will then possess the power to re-
place, or expel, the native officials, In part or
altogether to substitute new courts Of his own
constitution for those that now exist or to
create such new or supplementary tribunals as
may be necessary In the exercise Of these
high powers the commander must be guided by
his Judgment and his experience and high
sense Of justice
One Of the most important and most practi-
cal problems with which 1t will be necessary
to deal is that Of the treatment Of property and
the collection and administration of the reve-
nues 1t is conceded that all public funds and
securities belonging to the government OF the
country in It's own right and all arms and sup
plies and other movable property Of such gov
eminent, may be seized by the military occu-
pant and converted to his own use. The real
property Of the state he may hold and admin
lister ut the same time, enjoying the revenues
thereof but he Is not to destroy II save in the
case Of military necessity. All public means
of transportation, such as telegraph lines,
cables, railways and boats belonging to
the state may be appropriated to his use,
but unless in case Of military necessity,
.nes alu NV W 10 ue''IoSeu an ohurcnes
una buildings uevolcu 10 reiRlous worship
anu 70 .le ur's anu sc'cnves, aii schooihouses
are, so far as possible, TO be protected, and oil
destruction or intentional DETACHMENT OF such
places. Of historical monuments or archives or
OF works of science or art. is prohibited save
wnen requireu ny urRvhe military necessity
friva.e PROPERTY WHETHER oeiohglhg 10 lhol-
Viuuais OF corporations ~ 10 oe respected ana
can DC eohnsca'eu ohiy ~ hereafter inaioatea'
means o' transportation sueii as Telegraph
INES anu caoics railways anu ooats may al
'houRh .hey oeiohe 10 private Individuals or
corporations, pe seizeo ny INC miltary occu-
pant out unless destroyed unoer military ne
cessity' are ho' 10 90 retained
While It Is held TO be the right of the con-
Queror to levy contributions upon the enemy in
their seaports, towns or provinces which may
to apply the proceeds to defray the expense OF