The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-10-21
PORTO RICO IS OURS.
The Stars and Stripes Raised Over
the Island Yesterday.
TIE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP.
international Law May Perhaps Confer
American citizenship Upon the
Porto Ricans-The Spaniards
In Cuba Must Go.


San Juan de Porto Rico, Oct. "a
Promptly at noon yesterday the Amer
lean flag was raised over San Juan.
The ceremony was quiet and dignifed,
unmarried BY disorder of any kind
The Eleventh regular infan try, with
two batteries Of the Fifth artillery,
landed in the morning. The latter
proceeded to the forts, while the in
fantry lined up on the docks. It was
a holiday for San Juan, and there
were many people in the streets. Rear
Admiral Schley and Gen. Gordon, &C
cOmpanied by their stats, proceeded
to the palace in carriages. The
Eleventh infantry regiment and band,
with tr cop II, Of the Sixth United
States cavalry, then marc he'd through
the streets and formed in the square
opposite the palace. at 11:4O a m
Gen Brooke, Admiral Schley and Gen.
Gordon, the United States evacuation
commissioners, came ont OF the palace
with many naval officers and for med
on the right side of the square. The
streets behind the soldiers were
thrOnged with townspeople, who stood
waiting in dead silence.
At last the city clock struck the
hour of -, and the crowds, almost
breathless and with eyes fixed upon
the fagpOle, watched for develop
ments. At the sound Of the first gun
from Fort MORO, Maj Dean and
Lieut. Castle, of Gen. BrOoke's staff,
hOisted the stars and stripes, while
the band played the ''Star Spangled
Banner" All heads were barred and
the crowds cheered. Fort Morro, Fort
San Cristobal and the United States
revenue cutter Manning, lying in the
harbor, fired q guns each COngrstu-
IatiOns and handshaking among the
American officers followed. Ensign
King hOisted the stars and stripes on
the Iutendencia, but all other flags on
the various public buildings were
hOisted by military officers Stimuli
taneOusly with the raising Of the flag
over the captain generals palace,
many others were hoisted in different
parts of the city.
THE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP.
Washington, Oct 19.-The United
States is now formally in possession
Of the island of Porto Rico as sover-
eign. The war department has re-
ceived the following:
san Juan Porto Rico, Oct l8-Secretary OF
War. Washington: Flags have been raised on
public buildings and forts in this city and sa-
luted with national salutes- The occupation
Of the island is now cOmplete.-BrOoke-
In view of the fact that at noon yes
terday, with the acquisition Of Porto
Rico by the United States, about $780,
600 inhabitants OF that island lost
their Spanish citizenship, the question
as to what shall become Of these peo-
pie politically becomes Of Importance.
T. 7~--
citizens in Porto Rico have already
taken steps to become natural
lied as United States citizens.
This is an error, for existing
laws provide no way in which this
change of citizenship can be effected
by the residents Of the island. There
is no United States court there before
which a declaration of intention can
be fled and in fact no machinery at
all which can be put in motion to
change citizenship. Inquiry into this
subject at the state department dis
closes the fact that it has been usual
to provide bodily transfer Of the
citizenship OF people conditioned as
those in Porto Rico, IN the treaty Of
peace which terminates a war. It may
be prudent for the commission at
Paris to avoid any reference to
Porto Rico again, IN which case
congress will be called upon by the
president to confer citizenship upon
the Porto Ricans in the same act as
that which must be passed TO provide
a stable form OF government for the
island. Should either Of these courses
be found impracticable, however, it is
said at the department that interna-
tiOnal law in its operation would con-
fer American citizenship upon these
Porto Ricans, the general principle
being that, where a treaty Of cession
is silent upon the subject, citizenship
changes with the soil In the case Of
the acquisition of New Mexico, the
residents Of the territory were given
American citizenship by specific pro-
vision Of the treaty
sPANIAEDs IN CUBA MUST 60.
Havana, Oct IA conference last
ing three hours was held yesterday
morning between Gen. Wade, Gen
Butler and Admiral Sampson as to the
contents Of the five official notes de-
livered TO the American commissioners
Monday BY the Spanish evacuation
commission. The Spaniards claim
that It would be practically impossible
to effect evacuation IN the short period
Of time fixed by the Americans They
insist that the sovereignty Of Spain
will continue until the final treaty Of
peace Is signed IN Paris In reply
Admiral Sampson personally dictated
a brief note, stating emphatically that
December 1 would positively be the
date on which SPANS rights, claims
and sovereignty in the island Of Cuba
would cease TO exist.