Hutchinson gazette. [volume] (Hutchinson, Kan.) 1895-1902, 1898-07-21
HISTORIC DOCUMENT.
President Mckinley Issues a Re-
mArkable State Paper,
new POLITICAL POWER IN CUBA.
General shaGter Explicitly Instructed
~ 10 tlhe CourSe IL be Pursued ia
GOVernlng the surrendered
Territory.

| Nh'hlHkNuHt buil i'fF"sh oNhlN Hh
per that will be historic, marking an
epoch In American history, was is
sued last night by direction Of Presl-
DENT Mckinley. II provides In gem
eral terms for the government Of the
province of Santiago de Cuba, and is
the first document Of the kind ever
repaired by u president OF the United
States.
by order OF Secretary Alger Adju-
tant General Corbln last night cabled
the document TO General Shafter, in
command Of the military forces at
Santiago, The puper Is not only an
authorization and instruction OF Gem
eral Shafter for 1.-THE government Of
the captured territory, bur also a
proclamation TO bhe people Of the ter
rltOry OF rhe intentions Of bhe gov
ermment Of the United States regard
Ing them and uhelr interests, IL
marks the formal establishment OF a
new political power In the island OF
Cuba, and lnsures to the people Of
the territory over which the power
extends absolute security In the eSer-
else of their private rights aud rela-
lions, us we, as security 20 their per-
sons aud property, The full text Of
the document rs as follows:
Adiutant Generals Office,
Washington, July 49, 1898,
General shafter, Santiago, CUba.
The following Is sent you for your
information and guidance. IL will be
published in such manner In both
English and Spanish as win give II
the widest circulation in the territory
under your control:
Executive Mansion,
Washington, july Is, 1898,
To the Secretary OF War,
Slr,-'rhe equalization Of the Span
lsh forces in Santiago de Cuba and in
the eastern part OF the province OF
Santiago and the occupation Of the
territory by ME forces Of the United
States render it necessary to instruct
The military commander Of the United
States Ms to the conduct which he Is
to observe during the military occu-
patton.
The first effect Of the military occu-
patton Of the enemy'S terrtory lis the
severance OF the former political re-
lNtous OF the Inhabitants and the es-
lahllshmrnt Of new political power
Under this changed condition Of
| tli thn Ia Ian 1. tn lnnu
they perform their dwties, are enti-
tied TO security In their persons and
property and In all their private
ricihls and relations, lit Is my desire
that the inhabitants OF Cuba should
he acquainted with uhe purpose of
the l'nited States to discharge, to the
fullest extent. lts obligations in this
regard, II will, therefore, be the
duty Of the commander Of the army
of occupation TO announce and pro-
claim 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 ther homes, in their
emuploymentS AND in their personal
and religious rights. All persons
who, either by achiye aid or honest
submission, cooperate with the
United States In Ills efforts 10 give
effect to this benencent purpose will
receive the reward Of It's support and
protection, Our occupation should be
AS free from severity us possible.
Though the powers off the military
occupant are absolute and supreme,
and Immediately operate upon the
political condition of the inhabitants,
the municipal laws of the conquered
territory, such as affect private
rights of persons and property, and
provide for the punishment Of crime,
are considered as continuing in force,
so far AS they are compa tible with
the new order of things, until they
are suspended or superseded by the
occupying belligerent, and in prac-
tice they are not usually abrogated,
but are allowed to remain in force,
and TO be administered by the ordi-
nary trbunals substantially as they
were before The occupati ton. This en-
Heightened practice is, so far as pos
sbble, to be adhered to on the present
occasion, The Judges and the other
officials connected with the admins
tration Of justice may, IL they accept
the supremacy of the United States,
continue to administer the ordinary
laws of the land, as between man and
man, under the supervision OF the
American commander-in-chief. The
native conStabulary will, so far as
may be practicable, be preserved.
The freedom of the people to pur-
sue their accustomed occupations will
be abridged only when 1t may be nee
essary to do so.
While 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 a
different kind, it, unfortunately, the
course of the people should render
such measures Indispensable TO the
maintenance of law and order. BE
win then possess the power TO re-
place, or eNpel, 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 eXer-
else of these high powers, the COM
mander must be guided by his judg-
ment and his experience, and high