Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-05-16
Governing Guam.

| of being fully Americanized, there is
| one possession gained by the war with
Spain which is giving Uncle Sam no
uneasiness and no trouble. This is the
peaceful island Of Guam, the largest of
the Ladrone group in the southern
Pacific. There is no instruction to
subdue on that island, and there are no
problems of government to be settled.
| Since its Spanish garrison capitulated
so gracefully, without resistance. to the
cruiser Charlestown, which stopped
| there on it's way to Manila, during the
war, the island has been laughed about
and joked about in this country. At
the same time Guam is by no means an
unimportant spot in the world, and
promises to play no small part among
| Uncle Sans new possessions. 1t is the
| largest of the Ladrone group. contains
the capital. and has a population of
about 10000 souls, most of whom are
sadly in need Of good government ana
a most valuable naval and coaling
station.
The auxiliary cruiser Yosemite left
| New York, for her long voyage to
Guam last week. The vessel conveys Cap
tain Richard p. Leary, of the navy. who
has been appointed Governor of Guam.
| 4, -tn "a
made a fine record in his % years of
| service in the navy. His brilliant work
| at Samoa. 10 years ago, is still fresh in
the minds of many. He is q native Of
| Maryland. 1t will be his privilege to
begin the interesting experiment Of
ruling a number Of islanders, whose
only experience 50 far has been the
msrule of Spanish agents or gov
| errors Captain Leary will doubtless
have an interesting report to submit to
| the state department before many
| months roll by after his work COM
! mences in the LadrOnes. He has made
| exhaustive preparations for a thor
| ough reorganization of prevailing
and obsolete methods Of domestic
economy at Guam. and the result of his
experiments for inducing the islanders
into the use of scientific appliances for
bringing up to the highest point of ex-
cellence the natural products of the
island will be awaited with interest.
The Yosemite carries as a portion of
her cargo a collection of seeds, en-
bracing most Of the valuable vege-
tables and fruits which are of general
use in warm sections of the United
States, and which will be experimental
with by Captain Leary, with a view of
their permanent use in our new posses
sions. Some of the modern implements
used in husbandry were taken also, to
replace the crude appliances used for
centuries by the natives. A few BIZ
cycles for use by the captain and his
aids in their future life in Guam We're
also among the miscellaneous cargo of
the Yosemite.
While the life may be a somewhat
dreary one, Governor Leary and his
marines will have an opportunity such
as few civil missionaries in the far
Pacific have been afforded to SOW the
seed of advanced civilization where it
is probably most urgently needed. His |
force will be we'll armed, but no trouble |
is expected. 1t has been the policy Of
Spain in regard to the rule of her
colonies to simply adopt and put into
execution only such measures as would
supply the home government with a
certain amount of revenue annually |
She cared nothing as to the means by |
which such revenue was raised Her |
interest in her island subjects Went no |
further than its yearly collection |
Their want of knowledge of the adj |
vanced civilization of the world |
troubled their late ruler not one par |
ticle. AS she left the natives of the |
Ladrones, when, by conquest, they |
came under our rule, so they have been |
deavor to change all this, and the re-
suit Of his labors in the islands in edu- |
eating the natives up to a high stand |
ard of life will be watched with in |
terest.