The Mena star., 1898-07-20
FOR RULING CUBA.
Property and Personal Rights of
 Citizens to Be Respected.
President Mckinley Sends Instructions to shafter-Present Judges and officiais to Remain in Omce-Churches and
 Schools to Be Protected

epoch in American history. was issued last night by direction of President Mckinley. It 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 a 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 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 9.-Sir: The capitula- tion 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 it ne- cessary to instruct tue military commander of the United States as to the conduct which he is to observe during the military occupation
 Private Rights to He Respected.
 The first effect of the military occupation of the enemy's territory is the severance of the formal 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 perform their duties are entitled to security in their persons and property and in all their private rights and relations It Is my desire that the inhabit- ants of Cuba should be acquainted with the purpose of the United States to discharge to the fullest extent it's obligations in this regard
 We Come Not to Make War.
 It 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 then, hut .c 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 it's efforts to give ef- feet to this benefcent purpose, will receive the reward of it's support and protection Our oc- cupation should be as free from severity as possible
 Present Judges Not to B. Disturbed.
 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 suspended or superseded by the occupying belligerent, and in practice they are not usually abrogated but are allowed to remain in force. and to be ad- ministered by the ordinary tribunals Substan- tially as they were before the occupation This enlightened practice is. so far possible. to be adhered to on the present occasion. The judges and the other officials connected with the administration of justice may, if they ac- l cept the supremacy of the United States con- 1 tinue to administer the ordinary law of the land, as between man and man. under the su- ! pervision Of the American commander-in- chef The native constabulary will so far as
 
 dom of the people to pursue their accustomed 1 occupations will be abridged only when it may be necessary to do so.
 Authority of Military Command supreme. While the rule of conduct of the American commander -in- chief wilt be such as has just been defined t w=:ii 5c his duty to adopt meas ures of different kind, if 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. to create such new or supplementary tribunals as may be necessary.
 Churcaes and Schon- Undisturbed l One of the most important and most practi- eel problems with which Ii viii be necessary to deal is that of the trea.a 1t Of property and the collection and sdmini> ration of the rove nueS It is conceded ,lAt all public funds and securities beloaeirs he government of the country in its rignt. and all arms and sup plies and other mpy ble property of such gov- ernment. may ized by the military occu- pant and cony cd to his own use The real | property of state he may hold and admin ister al a same time enjoying the revenues thereof, tut h. Is not to destroy 1t save in the 1 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. they are not to be destroyed All churches and buildings devoted to religious worship and to the arts and sciences, all schoolhouses, are so far possible. to be protected, and all destruction or intentional defacement of such | places. of historical monuments or archives, or of works of science art, is prohibited, save when required by urgent military necessity l Private property, whether belonging to indi- yiduals corporations is to be respected. and | can be confiscated only as hereafter indicated. Means of transportation, such as telegraph lines and cables railways and boats may, all though they belong to private individuals or corporations, be seized by the military occu- pant, but unless destroyed under military ne- cessity, are not to be retained
 Revenues to B. Judiciaily Expended.
 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 be in his military possession by conquest, and | to apply the proceeds to defray the expense of the war, this right Is to be exercised within such limitations that it may not savor Of con fscation As the result of military occupation the taxes and duties payable by the inhab- itants to the former government become pay able to the military occupant unless he sees fit to substitute for them other rates or modes Of contribution to the expenses of the govern ment The moneys so collected to be used for the purpose of paying the expenses of gov- ernment under the milsary occupation, sue h 4..-1