The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1900-05-02
GOV. ALLEN INAUGURATED.
DELIVERED AN ADDRESS TO PORTO
RICANS AT SAN JUAN.


Gov. Gen. Davis-Pardons Granted
to All Those Concerned in Guaya-
ma Election Frauds.
San Juan, May 1.-The inauguration of
Charles Herbert Allen, former assistant
secretary of the United States navy, as
first American civil Governor of the island
of Porto Rico, took place to-day. The
ceremony was most impressive.
A more beautiful day could not have
dawned in which to usher In Porto Rico's
new government. The streets were
thronged with people.
The days exercises opened at sunrise
with serenades by the bands of the Elev-
enth Infantry, the Fifth Cavalry and the
Porto Rican Regiment. The city bands
also played the island and United States
ma attonal airs before the executive man
sion, and on the principal plazas as well,
as while marching through the streets.
The enthusiasm of the people was greater
than expected, dn spite of the publication
in the Diario, the organ of the federal
party, 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 gov
ernment that Porto Rico is dissatisfied" "
Speech of Gen. Davis.
The speech of Gen. Davis, the retiring
governor general in part is as follows;
THE duty has devolved upon me, by or
der of the President to this day transfer
to the Governor of Porto Rico the charge
assigned TO me by orders of the Presi-
dent. This charge involved the grave re-
sponslbility of administering the govern
ment of a million beings, which has been
in my keeping for nearly a year With
out the cordial support of the inhabitants
it would have been impossible for me or
others 10 perform this task without con-
stituting and maintaining the rule of a des-
pot. the very thought of which is abhorent
to every American. Military control of
the civil affairs was begun with the land
ing of the army in July, 1898, and which
included the whole island in October. is
to-day brought to a conclusion. The Por-
to Ricans have eagerly longed for this
day. the dawn of new political and
industrial life. while the military gov
ernor has anxiously awaited the moment
when he could place in the hands of the
duly constituted civil authorities these du-
ties and responsibilities which have been
devolved upon him.
"The transfer of the sovereignty of Por-
to Rico was ratified in April, 1s99 and it
is proper to note coincidence that
a year later exactly the final step was
taken in the organization Of a civil gov
ernment The principal executive and
Legislative officers will be the forty-seven
provided by Congress. AT least forty of
these will be citizens of Porto Rico. The
appointment of the other seven rests with
the President. The whole of the tu-
dietary may also, in the discretion of the
President and Governor, be Porto Rican.
Laws to Remain i'm Force.
''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 consd-
Grafton, and have been indorsed by distin-
guished natives learned In the laws and
institutions of the country, and familiar
with It's social and industrial conditions.
"rhe laws provide basis for industry.
trade and commerce which warranks the
belief that the dark clouds of misery and
want, which have shadowed the past and
present, will soon roll away. BY these
laws every pound of sugar VIII find
purchaser al 50 per cent. greater price,
tobacco will be doubled in value and cof-
fee will be protected. You are offered ab-
solutely free trade the moment your abi-
ity Is shown to support the government.
Your laws, religious and private rights are
all preserved and the laws can only
ture. No island in any sea has fairer
future OF peace, happiness and prosper
ity. The privattons and misery of the
past will soon be replaced by happiness
and plenty"
Was Solemn Occasion.
Then followed an invocation by Bishop
Blenk, dwelling upon the solemn and mem
orable occasion In the history of the ISL
and and the United States. invoking the
funt
ton, praying that the event would usher
in the dawn of a brighter future
The troops began assembling at o'clock,
and, later, Gov. Allen and Gen. Davis re-
viewed on the plaza the cavalry, artillery,
infantry, the Porto Rican regiment, the
sailors and marines from the fleet and the
police and civil societies The people
were undemOnstrative.
Gov Allen took the oath of Office at
80 a. m. under a flag canopy at the
Executive Mansion. Among those present
were Rear Admiral Farquhar, commander
in-chief of the North Atlantic station;
Chaplain Brown, Bishop Blenk, Judge
Ouinones of the Supreme Court and the
members of that court Gov. Gen. Davis,
the appointees OF yesterday, all the for
eign consuls, the families of Cows. Da-
Wis and Allen, the army and navy officers
and thirty prominent citizens. No soldiers
were in sight. The chief Justice admin
istered the oath pledging the new Cover
or ito support and defend the constitution
of the United States"
Gov. Aliens Speech.
Gov. Allen made the following inaugural
address
At this impressive ceremony bring 10
you--the inhabitants Of the ever faith
fup' Island OF Porto Rico-the congratu-
latIons and good wishes of the people OF
the United States.
Imposing as the occasion rs in Itself,
and far-reaching as It's effect may be
upon the future of your beautiful island,
1t Is especially significant because It
marks the irst step IN the establishment
here OF civil government under the flag
of the United States of America, and with
the blessings and opportunities that so
with It.
A new page. has been turned In the vol
ime Of your history. and new era in
augurated In the development OF your Is
land. Whether II shall turn out well or
II, now depends largely upon yourselves.
The greatest constitution makers can
only lay the foundation. The building Of
the rstructure-whether or not q
ahalI ha stately hfantfful and o4durfnV--