Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1898-07-23
THE NEW GOVERNMENT
Of Our Newly Acquired Province Of
Santiago de Cuba.
GUARANTEES PERFECT SECURITY
A State Paper issued by tho President
Which Marks nm Epoch In tho His
tory of Our Nntion-The First of tho
Kind Ever Issued.

Kind Ever ISSuou.
washington, July ia state paper
that will be historic, marking an epoch
in American history was Issued last
night by direction of President Nc
Kinley. 1t provides in general terms
for the government of the province Of
Santiago de Cuba, and is the first docu-
mcnt of the kind ever prepared by
president of the United States.
BY order of Secretary Alger, Ad-
jutant General Corbin last night cabled
the document to General Shafter, in
command of the military forces at
Santiago. The paper is not only an
authorization and instruction OF Cen
eral Shafter for the government OF the
captured territory. but also proca-
nation to the people of the territory of
the intentions of the government OF the
United States regarding them and their
interests. 1t makes the formal estab-
lishment of new political power in
the Island of Cuba and insures to the
people Of the territory over which the
power extends absolute security in the
exercise of their private rights and re-
lations. as we'll as security TO their per-
sons and property. The document is
addressed to the secretary of war. and
Will be published in English and Span
Ism. 1t is in substance as follows:
ish. 1t is as follows:
THE capitulation Of the Spanish
forces in Santiago de Cuba and in the
eastern part of the province of San
tiago and the occupation of the terri
tory by the forces OF the United States,
render II necessary to instruct the mill
tary commander of the United States
as to the conduct which he Is to OBJ
serve during the military occupation.
THE first effect of the military &C.
cupation of the enemy's territory is
the severance of the former political
relations of the inhabitants and the
establishment OF a new political power.
Under this changed condition of things,
the inhabitants. so long as they per-
form their duties. are entitled to Sc
curity In their persons and property,
and in all their private rights and re-
ations. 1t is my desire that the inhabi-
tants of Cuba should be acquainted
with the purpose of the United States
to discharge to the fullest extent its OBJ
legations in this regard. 1t Will there
fore be the duty of the commander of
the army Of occupation TO announce
and proclaim in the most public man
ner 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 sub
mission, cooperate with the United
States in its efforts to give effect to
this beneficent purpose will receive the
reward Of its support and protection.
Our occupation should be as free from
severity as possible.
Though the powers of military oc-
cupation are absolute and supreme.
and Immediately operate upon the po-
litical condition of the inhabitant, the
municipal laws of the conquered ter
ritory. such as affect private rights Of
person and property and provide for
the punishment 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 belliger
ally abrogated, but are allowed to re-
main in force and to be administered
by the ordinary tribunals substantially
as they were before the occupation.
This enlightened practice is. SO far as
possible, to be adhered to on the pres
ent occasion. The judges and the other
officials connected with the admins
tration of justice may. If they accept
the supremacy of the United States,
continue to administer the ordinary law
of the land. as between man and man,
under the supervision of the American
COMMUNICATIVE chief. The native con-
stabulatory will, so far as may be
practicable, be preserved. The freedom
of the people to pursue their accus-
toned occupations will be abridged
only when it may be necessary to do so.
while the rule of conduct of the
American ccmmander-in-ch will be
such as has been defined. it will be his
duty to adopt measures of different
kind, II. unfortunately the course of
the people should render such measures
indispensable to the maintenance of
law and order He will then possess
the power to replace or expel the native
officials in part or altogether. to sub
stitute new courts of his own examina-
ton for those that now exist. or to
create such new or supplementary trib-
unals as may be necessary.
exercise of these high powers the COM
mander must be guided by his judy
ment and his experience, and high
sense of justice.
lone of the most important and most
practical problems with which it will
be necessary to deal is that of the
treatment of property and the collec-
ton and administration of the reve-
nues. 1t is conceded that all public
funds and securities belonging to the
government of the country in its own
right, and all arms and supplies and
other movable property of such gov
eminent may be seized by the military
occupant and converted to his own use.
The real property of the state he may
hold and administer, at the same time
enjoying the revenues thereof, but he
is not to destroy it save in the case
Of military necessity. All public means
of transportation. such as telegraph
lines. cables. railways and boats be-
longing to the state may be appropri-
ated to his use. but. unless in case Of
military necessity, they are not to be
destroyed. All churches and buildings
devoted 10 Judges and the police and
devoted to religious worship and to
the arts and sciences, and all school
houses are, so far as possible to be
protected, and all destruction or in
territorial DETACHMENT of such places
Df historical monuments or archives. or
of works of science. or art. is prohib-
tied, save when required by urgent
military necessity.
Private property taken for the
use of the army is TO be paid for when
possible, IN cash at fair valuation.
and when payment in cash is not pos
sible receipts are to be given.
"All ports and places in Cuba which
may be in the actual possession of our
land and naval forces will be opened
to the commerce Of neutral nations, as
we'll as our own. in articles as contra
band of war, upon payment Of the pre-
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