The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-10-19
Porto Rico Formally Becomes
Part of the United States.
Stars and Stripes HOisted Over
the Governors Palace
PROMPTLY AT NOON.
Great Rejoicing Among Natives
and Americans.
Statutes Fired From EEL MORO
and San Cristobal.

San Juan de Porto Rico, Oct. 10
Promptly at noon yesterday the Ameri-
can flag was raised over San Juan. The
ceremony was quiet and dignified IN
marred by disorder Of any kind
The Eleventh regular infantry, with
two batteries of the Fifth artillery,
landed in the morning. The latter pro-
ceeded to the forts while the infantry
lined up on the docks. 1t was a holiday
for San Juan and there were many
people in the streets Rear Admiral
Sehley and General Gordon, accompan-
led by their staffs proceeded to the
palace in carriages. The Eleventh in
1antry regiment and band with troop
I'll, OF the Sixth United States cavalry,
then marched through the streets and
formed in the square opposite the
palace.
At 11:40 a. m General Brooke, Ad-
sniraI Schley and General Gordon, the
United States evacuation commission
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 thronged with towns
people. who stood waiting in dead
silence At last the city clock struck
the hour of u and the crowds almost
breathless and with eyes fixed upon the
flag pole watched for developments.
At the sound of the first gun from FL
Moro, General Gordon and Lieutenant
Castle of General Brooke's staff hoist
ed the stars and stripes, while the band
played the Star Spangled Banner" All
heads were barred and the crowds cheer
ed. Fort Moro, Fort San Cristobal and
the United States revenue cutter Man
ming, lying in the harbor, fired twenty
one guns each Senior Munox Rivera,
who was president of the recent auto
nomfst council secretaries and other
officials of the late insular government
were present at the proceedings.
Congratulations and hand shaking
among the American officers followed.
Ensign King hoisted the stars and
stripes on the iDtendencia, but all other
flags on the various public buildings
were hOisted by military officers. Sim
u1taneOusly with the raising of the flag
over the captain generals palace, many
others were hoisted in different parts of
the city.
The work of the United States evac-
uation commission is now over and all
the reports will be forwarded to Wash
dngton on Thursday next. The labors
of both parties have terminated with
honors for all concerned. The American
commissioners worked without the least
delay and in the most thorough and
effective manner.
Washington, Oct 19.-In view Of the
fact that at noon yesterday, with the
acquisition of the island of Porto Rico
by the United States, about 5000, 900 in
habitants Of that place lost their Span
fish citizenship, the question as to what
shall become of these people politically
becomes OF importance NaQFIQ auFlCG5
report that leading citizens in Porto
Rico have already taken steps to be-
come naturalized as United States
citizens. This is an error for existing
law provides no way in which this
change of citizenship can be effected by
the residents of the island. There is no
United States court before which
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 discloses 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, treaty of peace which terminates
a war. 1t may be prudent for the COM
mission at Paris to avoid any reference
to Porto Rico again, in which case con-
gress will be called upon by the presi-
dent to confer citizenship upon the
Porto Ricans in the same act as that
which must be passed to provide a
stable form of government for the is
land. Should either of these courses be
found impracticable, however, it is said
at the department that international
law in its operation would confer Amer
lean citizenship upon these Porto
Ricans, the general principle being that
where a treaty of cession is silent upon
the subject, citizenship changes with
the soil In the case of the acquisition
Of New Mexico, the residents of the ter
ritory were given American citizenship
by specific provision of the treaty.