Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1898-07-22
1T MARKS AN EPOCH.
Presidents Proclamation for Govern
mcnt of Captured Territory.-
First Ever Issued.

Washington, July ia state paper
that will be historic, marking an epoch
in American history, was issued Mon
day by direction of President McKin-
ley. 1t provides in general terms for
the government of Santiago de Cuba
and is the first document of the kind
ever prepared by president of the
United States. Gen. Shafter is in
structed to have the document pub
lished in such manner in both English
and Spanish as will give it the widest
circulation in the territory under his
control. The full text of the document
follows:
Executive Mansion, Washington, July
IS, 1S9s.-To the Secretary of War.-Sir: The
equalization of the Spanish forces in Santi-
ago de Cuba and In the eastern part Of
the province of Santiago and the occupa-
ton of the territory by the forces of the
United States render 1t necessary to in
stTuct the military commander of the Unit
ed States as to the conduct which he is to
observe during the military occupation.
1.-THE first effect of the military occupa-
ton of the enemy's territory is the sew
GRANGE of former political relations of the
inhabitants and the establishment of new
political power. Under this changed cond-
tion 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 rela tons 1t
is my desire that the inhabitants of Cuba
should be acquainted with the purpose of
the United States to discharge to the fullest
extent Its obligations in this regard 1t will
therefore be the duty of the commander of
the army of occupa tion to announce and
proclaim in the most public manner that
To 10
habitants 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 submission, cooperate with the
United States in its efforts to give effect to
this beneficent purpose will receive the re-
ward of It's support and protection. Our
occupation should be as free from severity
as possible.
Though the powers of the military oc-
cupant are absolute and supreme, and i'm
mediately operate upon the political con-
dition of the inhabitants, the municipal
laws of the conquered territory, such as
affect private rights of persons and prop
erty 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 sus-
pended or superseded by the occupying
pSAi6StSHSt anu III pEdCllcE lNGE are NOT
usually 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 present occasion.
The judges and other officials connected
with the administration of justice may, IL
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
ommander-in-chief. The native conf
stabulary will, so far as may be practicable,
be preserved. The freedom of the people
will be abridged only when 1t may be neo-
essary to do so.
While the rule of conduct Of the Amer
lean commander-in-chief will be such as
has just been defined, 1t will be his duty
to adopt measures of a different kind II,
unfortunately, the course of the people
should render such m cures indispensable
TO the maintenance of law and order. He
VIII then possess the power to replace or
expel the native officials In part or alto
gether, 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 ex-
ercise Of these high powers the COM
nsander must be guided by his judgment
and bis experience, and a hlghssense Of
justice.
One of the most important and most
practicable problems with which 1t will be
necessary to deal is that of the treatr ent
of property and the collection and admins
tratien Of revenues. It is conceded that
all public funds and securities belonging to
the government Of the country In Its ovid
right. and all arms and supplies and other
movable property of such government,
may be seized by the military occupant
and converted to his own use. The real
property of the state he may hold and adj
minister. 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 belonging to the state, may be ap-
proprtated to his use. but unless In case
OF military necessity they are not to be de-
stroyed.
".All churches and buildings devoted to
religious, worship and to the arts and sci
e eneess, all schoolhouses are, SO far as
ton or Intentional DETACHMENT Of such
places, Of historical monuments or archives
Or OF works of science or art is prohibited
save when required by urgent military
Private property. whether belonging to
!naiyiaHa!s or corporations. is to be re-
railways and boats. may, although they
belong to private individuals or corpora
but unless destroyed under military nee s
pity are not to be retained.
the army Ii to be paid for when possible
in cash at a fair valuation, and when pay
ment IN cash is not possible receipts are to
while 1t is held to be the right of the
conquerors to levy contributions upon the
enemy IN their seaports. towns or prov.
inces which may be in his military possess
ceeds to defray the expense Of the war,
this right is. to be exercised within such
Limitations that 1t may not SAVIOR of con-
fscation. 40 the result Of military occu-
patton the taxes and duties payable by the
Inhabitants to the former government be-
come payable to the military occupant, I'M
less he sees fit to substitute for them other
rates or modes of contribution to the ex-
penses Of the government. The moneys SO
collected are TO be used for the purpose of
Der the military occupation, such as the
salaries OF the judges and the police, and
nor the payment OF the expenses OF the
ar TGii norris NJ ~. -. - c,n. ,,,,o, ;, :,
be in the actual possession Of our land
and naval forces will be opened to the
Commerce Of all neutral nations, as well as
our own, In articles not contraband of war,
upon payment Of, the prescribed rates Of
the importation.
WILLIAM M'KINLEY.
"By Order of the Secretary of War:
III q C9RRIM- inta Mt Ganaral-"
No yellow Fever at Tampa,
Tampa, Fla, July 2O.-The troops
left behind here after the departure
of the regiments to be ordered to