The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-19
TO GOVERN CUBA.
President Mckinley Issues His
Instructions
For the Administration of At
fairs in the
CONQUERED COUNTRY.
Rights of People and Property
to Be Respected
And Existing Institutions to
Be Little Disturbed.

Washington, July ia state paper
that viii be historic, marking an epoch
in American history, has been issued by
direction of President Mckinley.
1t provides in general terms for the
government of the province of Santi-
ago de Cuba and is the first document
of the kind ever prepared by a Presi-
dent Of the United States
By order Of Secretary AIger, Adiu-
tant General COrbin cab1ed the docu-
ment to General Shafter, in command
of the military forces at Santiago. The
paper is not only an authorization and
instruction of General Shafter for the
government of the captured territory
but also proclamation to the people
OF the territory of the intentions of the
government of the United States re-
gardlng them and their interests
II marks the formal establishment of
a new political power in the island of
Cuba and fnsures the people of the ter
r1tory over which the power extends
absolute security in the exercise of their
private rights and relations as well as
security to their persons and property.
The full text of the document is as fol-
lows:
"Adjutant Generals Office. Washing
ton, July Is, 1898.
General Shafter, Santiago, Cuba:
The following is sent you for your
information and guidance. 1t will be
published in such manner in both Eng
lish and Spanish as will give it the
widest circulation in the territory I'M
der your control:
Executive Mansion WASHINGTON.
July Is, 1898.
" To the Secretary of War. Sir:
" The capitulation of the Spanish
forces in Santiago de Cuba and in the
eastern part of the province of Santi-
ago and the occupation of the terri
tory by the forces of the United States
render it necessary to instruct the mil
fear
as to the conduct which he is to observe
during the military occupation.
% The first effect of military occupa-
ton of the enemy's territory is the sew
erance of the former political relations
of the inhabitants and the establish
ment of a new political power. Under
this changed condition of things, the
inhabitants, so long as they perform
their duties are entitled to security of
their persons and property and in all
their private rights and relations.
g It is my desire that the inha bitants
of Cuba should be acquainted with the
purpose of the United States to dis
charge to the fullest extent it's Obliga-
lions in this regard. 1t will therefore be
the duty of the commander of the army
of occupation to announce and proclaim
in the most public manner that we
come not to make war upon the in
habitants of Cuba, nor upon any party
or faction among them, but to protect
them in their homes, in their employ
hgiOus rights. All persons who, either
by active aid or by honest submission
cooperate with the United States in
it's efforts to give effect to this benefi-
cent purpose will receive the reward of
its support and protection. Our Occu-
patton should be as free from severity
as possible.
" Though the powers Of the military
occupant are absolute and supreme,
and Immediately operate upon the po-
Htical condition of the inhabitants, the
municipal laws of the conquered terri
tory such as affect private rights, of
persons and property, and provide for
the punishment of crime, are cOnsideFed
as continuing in force, so far as they
are compatible with the new order of
things, until they are suspended or SUI
perseded by the occupying belligerent,
and in practice they are not usually alb
rOgated, but are allowed to remain in
force and to be administered by the or
binary tribunals, substantially as they
were before occupation. This enlight-
ened practice is, so far as possible, to
be adhered to on the present occasion.
90 The judges and the other officials
connected with the administration of
justice may, if they accept the supre-
macy of the United States, continue to
administer the ordinary law of the land,
as between man and man, under the
supervision of the American command
er-in-chief. The native constabulary
will, so far as may be practicable, be
preserved.
sc The freedom of the people to pur-
sue their accustomed occupations will
be abridged only when it may be neces-
sary to do 50.
"'WhiIe~ the rule of conduct of the
American commander-in-chief will be
such as has just been defined, it will be
his duty to adopt measures of differ
ent kind, if, unfortunately, the course
of the people should render such meas
ures Indispensable to the maintenance
of law and order. He will then pos
sess the power to replace or expel the