The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-05-02
Effort by Julio Henna to Induce the
People to Stay Indoors Was
Not Successful.
ADDRESS BY GENERAL DAVIS
AND A BRIEF INAUGURAL BY THE
NEW CIVIL GOVERNOR.
The People Asked to Assist I'm Estab-
fishing and Maintaining
Good Government.

SAN JUAN, Porto Rico, May 1.-The in
auguration of Charles Herbert Alen FORM
erly assistant secretary of the United
States navy, as first American civil Gov
ernor of the Island of Porto Rico took
place to-day. The ceremony was most i'm
pressive. A more beautiful day could not
have dawned in which to usher in the new
Governor. Before the penetrating warmth
of the suns ray could be felt the streets
of the city were thronged with people. The
sky was cloudless, and the populace took
this as happy augury of the occasion.
The troops began assembling at s o'clock.
Later Governor Allen and General Davis
reviewed On the plaza the cavalry, artillery.
| infantry. the Porto Rico regiment. the
sailors and marines from the fleet and the
police and civic societies. Each company in
passing the Governor presented arms or
otherwise saluted. The plaza and adjoin-
ing housetops were packed with people, of
whom about 5000 were present. The native
troops received the most applause from
| the natives, the regulars and sailors being
| accorded only nominal applause. The peo-
pie were exceedingly quiet, orderly and un-
demonstrative. They expressed their feel
| ing of applause by handclaps. There were
no loud shouts, cat calls or whistling, etc.,
| such as characterize American crowds on
| such occasions.
The days exercises opened at sunrise
with serenades by the bands of the
| Eleventh Infantry, the Fifth Cavalry and
| the Porto Rican Regiment. The city bands
| also played the island and United States
national airs before the executive mansion
and on the principal plazas, as well as
| while marching through the streets. The
| enthusiasm of the people was greater than
| expected in spite of the publication in the
| Diario of a letter from Julio Henna, of
| New York, suggesting that the people re-
| main indoors and refrain from taking part
| in the Inauguration, thereby silently pro-
testing and showing the American govern
ment that Porto Rico is dissatisfied" The
| Diario is the organ of the Federal party,
and has quite large circulation. The let
| ter created a sensation. After dwelling on
| the subject of the free treatment of
| Hawaii, Henna points out that the Porto
Ricans have not been treated on the same
basis as Hawaii, and brings up the So
called unfulfilled promises of General
Miles. etc. He says: 1.-The island does not
| get what she deserves
| GENERAL DAvIS'S SPEECH.
| The speech Of General Davis, the retiring
| governor general, was substantially as fol-
| lows:
1.-THE duty has been devolved upon me,
| by order of the President, to this day trans
fer to the governor of Porto Rico the
| charge assigned to me by orders of the
| President This charge involved the grave
| responsibility of advising the government
OF million beings. which have been in my
| Keeping for nearly year. Without the
cordial support of the inhabitants 1t would
have been impossible for me or others to
| perform this task without constituting and
maintaining the rule of a despot, the very
| thought of which is abhorrent to every
| American. Military control of civil affairs
| was begun with the landing of the army in
July, 1888, and which included the whole
| island in October, is to-day brought to
| conclusion. The Porto Ricans have
/ eagerly longed for this day, the dawn of a
new political and Industrial life, while the
| military governor has anxiously awaited
| the moment when he could place in the
hands of the duly constituted civil author
tiles these duties and responsibilities which
| have been devolved upon him.
| 1.-THE transfer of the sovereignty of Porto
| Rico was ratified I'm April, 1S99 and it is
4 proper to note as coincidence that a year
| later exactly the final step was taken in
principal executive and legislative officers
| will be the forty-seven provided by Con-
gress. AT least forty of these will be citi-
zens of Porto Rico. The appointment of
| the other seven rests with the President.
| The whole of the judiciary may also. in the
discretion of the President and governor,
| be Porto Ricans.
THE laws familiar to you will continue
In force. except as they may be modified
by military orders. Such notifications
| from my orders will never be promulgated
| until they have received careful considera-
| ton and have been indorsed by distin-
| guished natives learned in the laws and
| institutions of the country and familiar
with its social and industrial conditions.
| The laws provide a basis for industry
| trade and commerce which warrants the
| want which have shadowed the mast and
| present will soon roll away. BY these laws
| every pound of sugar will find a purchas ser
at 90 per cent greater price, trade will be
| doubled in value and coffee will be pro-
| tected. You are offered absolute free trade
| the moment your ability is shown TO sup
| port the government. Your laws, religion
| and private rights are all preserved, and
| the laws can only change by the will of the
| local Legislature. No island in any sea has
fairer future OF peace. happiness and
| prosperity. The privations and misery of
the past and present will soon be replaced
| by happiness and plenty.
| Military rule over a civilized people ac-
| tuated by democratic conviction is always
| Objectionable, and the opposition of the
people TO such government was intensi-
| fed by knowing that in the United States
| the military is subordinate to the civil
| power. My constant effort has been to
| govern through civil instrumentality when
| ever possible, without manifesting I'm the
| slightest degree the presence and influence
| OF the troops. They have never been used
! TO maintain the law and preserve peace An
| occasion has not existed for their forcible
| intervention. showing that the people have
| borne themselves as loyal citizens, accept
| ing their lot and looking forward with
| hope and confidence to the time when they
| would enjoy the proud privilege OF saying
| i am an American citizen.
ION this memorable occasion make ac-
| acknowledgement OF feelings of the deepest
| gratitude to the people for the hospitable
reception and innumerable manifestations