The Iola register. [volume] (Iola, Allen County, Kansas) 1875-1902, 1898-10-21
PORTO RICO IS OURS.
The Stars and Stripes Raised Over
the Island Yesterday.
THE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP.
International Law May Perhaus Confer
American Citizenship Upon the
Porto Ricans-The Spaniards
in Cuba Must go.

San Juan de Porto Rico oct TO-
Promptly at noon yesterday the Amer
lean flag was raised over San Juan.
The ceremony was quiet and dignitied,
unmarried by disorder of any kind.
The Eleventh regular infantry, 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. 1t was
holiday for San Juan, and there
were many people in the streets. Rear
Admiral Schley and Gen. Gordon, ac-
companied by their stats, proceeded
to the palace in carriages The
Eleventh infantry regiment and band,
with troop II, of the Sixth United
States cavalry, then marched through
the streets and formed in the square
opposite the palace. At 1l:40 a. M.
Gen Brooke, Admiral Schley and Gen.
Gordon, the United States evacuation
| commissioners, came out of the palace
with many naval officers and rmed
on the right side of the square. The
streets behind the soldiers were
thronged with townspcople, who stood
waiting in dead silence.
At last the city clock struck the
hour of II, and the crowds, almost
breathless and with eyes fixed upon
the flagpole. 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
A. L'g,r~t
San Cristobal and the United States
revenue cutter Manning, lying in the
harbor, fired 81 guns each. Congratu-
lations and handshaking among the
| American officers followed. Ensign
King hoisted the stars and stripes on
the Intendencia, but all other flags on
the various public buildings were
hoisted by military officers. Stimuli
taneouslv with the raising of the flag
over the captain generals palace,
many others were hosted in different
parts of the city.
The work of the United States evac-
uation commission is now over and all
the reports viii be forwarded to WASH
ington on Thursday next The labors
of both parties have terminated with
honors for all concerned. The Ameri-
can commissioners worked without
the least delay and in the most thor
ough and effective manner.
THE QUESTION OF CITIZENSHIP.
Washington, Oct. 10 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 1s-Secretary Of
War, Washington: Flag, have been raised on
public buildings and forts In this city and sa-
luted with national salutcS 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,
900 inhabitants of that island lost
their Spanish citizenship, the question
as TO what shall become of these peo-
Pile politically becomes Of Importance.
Madrid advices rcport that leading
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 filed 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 a bodily transfer of the
citizenship of people conditioned as
those in Porto Rico, in the tredty of
peace which terminates a war, 1t may
be prudent for the commission at
= Paris to avoid any reference to
, Porto Rico again, in which case
e congress will be called upon by the
e president to confer citizenship upon
| the Porto Ricans in the same act as
- that which must be passed to provide
t n stable form of government for the
Z island. Should either of these courses
be found impracticable, however, it is
said at the department that interna-
I tional law in its operation would con-
$ fer American citizenship upon these
/ Porto Ricans, the general principle
I being that, where treaty of cession
is sil mt 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.
sPANIARDs IN CUBA MUST GO.
Havana, Oct. ia conference last
= ing three hours was held yesterday
i morning between Gen. Wade, Gen.
Butler and Admiral Sampson as to the
S contents of the five official notes de-
e livered to the American commissioners
}, Monday by the Spanish evacuation
e commission. The Spaniards claim
h that it would be practically impossible
! to effect evacuation in the short period
d of time fixed by the Americans They
e insist that the sovereignty of Spain
/, will continue until the final treaty OF
i peace is signed in Paris. In reply
t Admiral Sampson personally dictated
i brief note, stating emphatically that
d December 1 would positively be the
:, date on which SPANS rights, claims