La Junta tribune., 1898-12-10

state. NJ the plenipotentiary Of the
United States, signed protocol pro-
viding;
Article I. Spain will relinquish all
claim of sovereignty over and title TO
Cuba.
| Art . Spain viii cede to the
| United States the island OF Porto Rico
and other islands now under spanish
| sovereignty III the West Indies. and
| also nm island In the Ladrones. to bc
selected by the United States.
| Art 3. The United States viii oc-
cupy and hold the city. bay and hnr-
OF . treaty of peace which shall deter
| mine the control. disposition and gov
| ernmeut OF the Philippines"
The fourth article provided for the
appointment Of joint commissions on
| the part of the United States and
| Spain. 10 meet in Havana and San
Juan respectively, for the purpose Of
! arranging and carrying out the details
| OF the stipulated evacuation OF Cuba.
| Porto Rico and other Spanish Islands
| in the West Indies.
| The fifth article provided for the APP
| pointmcnt Of not more than fivc COM
| mlssioners on each side. TO meet in
Paris not later than October LIST. and
1 ~ It anu ''h-
| clusion OF a treaty OF peace. subject
to ratification according TO the respect
| i've constitutional forms OF the two
countries.
The sixth and last article provided
/ that upon the signature of the protocol
| hostillties between the two countries
| should be suspended and that notice to.
| that effect should he given as soon rs
possible by each government to the
commanders of its military and naval
forces.
suspension of Bostiiitiea.
Immediately upon the conclusion OF
the protocol. | issued proclamation
Of August 18th, suspending hostilities
on the part OF the United States. The
necessary orders to that end were AT
once given by telegraph. The block
ade OF the ports of Cuba and San Juan
de Porto Rico was In like manner
| raised. On August 18th the muster out
OF 100000 volunteers. or near that
number lis was found to be practicable.
was ordered
ON December LIST. lO1 .6iI officers and
men had been mustered out and dis
charged from the service; 9.002 more
viii be mustered out by the 10Th OF
the month Also corresponding num-
brr of generals and general STAN OH
GERS have been honorably discharged
from the service.
The military committees to superin-
tend the evacuation of Cuba. Porto
Rico and the adjacent islands. were
forthwith appointed.
For Cuba-Major General James +.
Wade. Read Admiral William 7. Samp-
son. Major General Matthew C. But
Ter: for Porto Rico. Major General John
c. Brooke. Rear Admiral Winfield $.
Schley. Brigadier General w. Gordon:
who soon afterward met the Spanish
commissioners at Havana and San
Juan respectively.
The Port Rlcan Joint Commission
speedily accomplished Its task and by
October 18th the evacuation of the is
land was commenced. The United
States flag was raised over the island
at noon that day.
The administration of its affairs has
been professionally entrusted to mill
tary governor until the Congress shall
otherwise, provide. The Cuban joint
high commission has not yet termin-
ated its labors. Owing to the difficult
ties in the way of removing the large
numbers of Spanish troops still in Gu
ba. the evacuation cannot be com
pleted before the first of January next
Inc Feace COmmbosloD.
Pursuant TO the fifth article of the
protocol. l appointed William r. Day.
lately secretary of state: Cushman X.
Davis. William p. Frye and George
Gray. senators of the United States.
and Whitelaw Reid, to be the peace
commissioners on the part Of the Unit
ed States. Proceeding In due season
TO Paris. they there met on the first
of October five commissioners SINH
larly appointed on the part Of Spain.
The negotiations have made hopeful
progress, SO that l trust soon to be
able to lay definite treaty OF peace
before the Senate. with review of
the steps leading to Its signature.
do not discuss at this time the gov
ernment or the future Of the new DOS
sessions which will come to us as the
result of the war with Spain. Such a
discussion will be appropriate after
the treaty of peace shall he ratified.
In the meantime. and until Congress
has legisiated otherwise. 1t will be my
duty to continue the military govern
ment which has existed since our oc-
cupation. and give its people security
In life and property and encourage
, ment under just and beneficent rule.
As soon as we are In possession of
Cuba and have pacified the island 1t
will be necessary to give aid and d.
rection to this people TO form gov
ernment for themselves. This should
| be undertaken at the earliest moment
consistent with safety and assured
success. II Is important that our re-
lations with these people shall be of
the most friendly character. and our
commercial relations close and recip-
rocai. 1t should be our duty to assist
In every proper way to build up the
waste places of the island, encourage
the industry of the people and assist
them to form a government which
| shnll be free and independent. thus
realizing the best aspirations Of the
Cuban people.
Spanish rule must be replaced by a
| just. benevolent and humane govern