Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1898-07-21
AN HISTORIC PAPER.
Form of Government For Santiago
Cab:cd to Shartcr.

American history was issued Tonight h,
direction of President Mckinley. 1t pro
vdos in general terms for the government
Of the province of Santiago dc Cuba, anC
Il the FIRST document Of the kind ever pre-
pared by Il President of the United States
BY order of Secretary Alger. Adit. -G"n
Corbn tonight cablc1 the document e
Gen Shaftcr in command of the milltar!
forces at Santiago. The paper Is not onl!
authorization and instruction of Gen
Shafter for the Government of the captur
ed territory but also a proclamation L
the people of the territory of the nten
ticns of the government of the Unite,
States regarding them aud their Interests
1t marks tho formal establishment Of
new political power In the island of Cub;
and insures to the people of tho terrtor.
over which the power extends absolute Sc
curity in the exercise of their private
Fights and relations, as well rs sccurit.
to their persons and property
The full text OF the document Is as
follows:
Adiutant Generals Onico.
Washinstcn july Is, 1898.
Gen. Shaftcr. Santiago de Cuba:
The following Is sent you for your in
formation and guidance. 1t will Inc
published IN such manner I'm both Ems
widest circulation in the territory ua-
der your control.
Executive NJ insion,
Washington. July IL, 1898.
To the Secretary of War:
sr:-rhe capitulution of the Spanish
fcrcos In Santiago de cuba and in the
eastern Part of the Province of SAM
tiaSo and the occupation of the terri
tory by the forces Of the United States
render it n"ccs sary to instruct the
military commander of the United
states as to the conduct which he is
to observe during the military occupa-
ton
Tho first effect Of the military ocCu-
patton of the encmy's territory is the
severance OF the former political rcla-
tions of the nhabitants and the estab-
liShment OF "A new political power. Tn
der this Changed condition of things
the inhabitants, so long as they per-
form their duties are entitled to Sect
rity III their persons, and property and
in all their private rights and rela-
tons 1t Is my desire that the inhahi-
tants of cuba should be acquainted
with the purpose Of the United States
to discharge to the fullest extent It's
obligdticnS in this regard 1t VIII
therefore be the duty of the command
er OF the army of occupation to an-
nOuntc ard prOCla m in the most pub
lie manner that We come not to make
war upon the inha bltants of Cuba. nor
upon amy party or faction among them
but to protect them In their homes,
I'm their cmployments and in their per-
sonal and religious rights. All persons
who, either by active aid or by honest
submission cooperate with the United
StH1ns In its nffnrtS triNn on tn,
this bcncdcent purpose will receive the
reward Of its support and protection.
our occupation should be as free from
severity as possible.
Though the powers of the military
occupant are absolute and supr, me
and Immediately operate upon the po-
litical condition of the inhabitants, tho
municipal laws of the conquered ter
rltory, such as affect private rights of
persons and property and provide for
the punishment of crime, are consid-
cred rs continuing in force, so far rs
as they are compatible with the new
condition of things. until they are sus-
pended or superseded by the occupy
ing hclllgcrcnt, and in practice they
arc not usually abrogated, hat arc al
lowed to remain in force and 10 be adj
miniStcrcd by the ordinary tribunals,
substantially as they were before the
occupation. This enlightened practice
Is. a. far as possible. to be adhered to
on the present occasion. The Judges
and the other officials connected with
the administration of justice may. II
they accept the supremacy of the Uni
ted States, continue to administer the
ordinary law 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 he practicable. be preserved. The
freedom of the people to pursue their
accustomed occupations will be
abridged only when 1t may he neces-
sary to do 50.
While the role of the conduct Of the
American commander-in-chief will he
such as has just been defined, It will
he his duty to adopt measures Of a diff
fcront kind, IT, unfortunately. the
course of the people should render
such measures Indispensable to the
maintenance of law and order. lie
Will then possess the power to replace
or cNpel the native officials I'm 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 he
necessary. In the exercise Of these
his powers the commander must be
guided by his judgment and his ex-
pcrlcnCc ana n high sense of Justice
one of tho most important and most
practical problems with which it will
be necessary to deal is that Of the
treatment Of property and the admin
istraton of the revenues. 1t Is con-
coded that all public funds and securi-
ties belonging to the government of the
country in its own right and all arms
and supplies and other movable proper
ty of such government may be seized
by the military occupant and be con-
Vertcd for his own use,
Tho real property of the state he
may hold and administer at the same
time enjoying the revenues thereof,
but he Is not to destroy it save in case
of military necessity
All public means of transportation,
such as telegraph lines, cables, rail-
ways boats, belonging to the State,
may be appropriated to his use hut
unless In case of military necessity
they are not to be destroyed, All
churches and buildings devoted to re-
liglous worship and to the arts and
sciences, all school houses, are, so
far rs possible, to be protected and
all destruction or intentional deface-
ment of such places of historical mon
umcnts or archives, or of works of
science, or art, Is prohibited, save
when required by urgent military nee
essity.
Private property, whether belonging
to individuals or corporations Is to be