The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1898-10-27
PORTO RICO IS OURS
Spaniards Give Up Control
of the Island.
THE FLAGRAISING AT SAN JUAN
Simple and Dignif1ed Ceremony by the
American Evacuation Commission
ers-Question Of Citizenship.

American Evacuation Commission
ers-Question of citizenship.
San Juan de Porto Rico, Oct. 20.-
Promptly at noon today. the American
Gag was raised over San Juan. The
ceremony was quiet and dignified, un-
marred by disorder of any kind.
The Eleventh regular infantry, with
two batteries of the Fifth artillery,
landed this morning. The latter pro-
ceeded to the forts, while the infantry
lined up on the docks. It was holt
day for San Juan, and there were many
people in the streets. Rear-Admiral
Schley and General Gordon, accom-
panied by their stats, proceeded to the
palace in carriages. The Eleventh in
fantry regiment and band, with troop
H, of the Sixth United States cavalry,
then marched through the streets and
formed in the square opposite the pal
ace.
At 11:40 A. M, General Brooke, Ad-
miral Schley and General Gordon, the
ers, came out Of the palace with many
naval officers and formed on the right
side of the square. The streets behind
the soldiers were crowded with towns
people, who stood waiting in dead
silence
At last the city clock struck the
hour of IL. and the crowds, almost
breathless, and with eyes fixed upon
the fagpole, watched for developments.
At the sound of the first gun from Fort
Moro, Major Dean and Lieutenant
Castle, of General Brooke q staff, hoist
ed the Stars and Stripes. while the
band played the "Star Spangled Ban
ner." ALI heads were barred. and the
crowds .cheered. Fort Moro, Fort San
Crlstobal and the United States rev.
enue cutter Manning, lying in the
harbor, fred 81 guns each. Senior Mu-
nox Rivera, who was president of the
recent autonomous council of secretar-
les, and other officials of the late insu-
lar government were present at the
proceedings.
Congratulations and Handwriting
among the American officers followed.
Ensign King hoisted the Stars and
Stripes on the Intendencia, but all 9TH
er flags on the various public buildings
were hoisted by military officers. Sim
ultaneously with the raising Of the flag
over the captain-general's palace many
others were hoisted in different parts
of the city.
The work of the United States evacu-
alton commission is now over, and all
the reports will be forwarded to Wash
ington Friday next. The labo1s OF
both parties have terminated with hon.
ors for all concerned. The American
commissioners worked without the
least delay, and in the most thorough
and effective manner.
Question of Naturalization.
Washington, Oct. 20.-In view OF
the fact that at noon today. with the
acquisition of the island Of Porto Rico
by the United States, about 500. 600
inhabitants of that island lost their
Spanish citizenship, the question as to
what shall become of these people polit-
ically becomes Of Importance.
Madrid advices report that leading
citizens in Porto Rico have already
taken steps to become naturalized az
United States citizens. This is an err
ror, for existing law provides no way
in which this change Of citizenship can
be effected by the residents Of the is
land. There is no United States court
there before which declaration OF In
tention 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 depart
ment discloses the fact that 1t has been
usual to provide bodily transfer OF
the citizenship Of people conditioned
as those in Porto Rico, in the treaty Of
peace which terminates war. It may
be prudent for the commission at Paris
to avoid any reference to Porto Rico
again, In which case congress will be
called upon by the president to confer
citizenship upon the Porto Ricans in
the same act as that which must be
passed to provide stable form OF gov
eminent for the island. Should either
Of these courses be found impraotica-
BILE, however, it is said at the depart
ment that international law In It's oper-
alton would confer American citizen
ship upon these Porto Ricans, the gen.
eral principle being that where treaty
of cession is silent upon the subject oil
citizenship. it changes with the soil.
In the case Of the acquisition of New
Mexico, the residents Of the territory
we're given American citizenship by
specific provision of the treaty.
Los Angeles, CAL, Oct. 18.-Word
reached this city tonight that the
Southern Pacific overland train No. 8,
the westbound, was ditched 50 miles
west Of Yuma. Mail Agent George F.
Kellogg was killed. As far as learned
there were no other fatalities. The
cause of the accident is not definitely
known, but il is thought the engine,
baggae-car and mail-car were derailed
on account of the track being buried
in sand.
Dewey Coming Home.
San Francisco. Oct. 30. The Even
ing Post says that Admiral Dewey will
arrive in this city December 8. He.
will come here on the steamer City Of