The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-05-05
CHARLES II. LIE

Al this impressive ceremony j bring o.
yoI-the inhabitants of the lever faith
ful' island of oPrtO RicO-the conSratu-
lat'ons and good wishes of the people o.
the United States.
Imposing as the occasion is i'm itself.
AMI far-reaching as its effect may be
upon the future of your beautiful island.
Isl: especially significant marks
the first step in the establishment here Of
civil government under the tiaS of he
Tilted States of America. and with the
blessings and opportunities that go with
il.
a new page has been turned in the vol
UNI" of your history, and L new era in
auSurated in the development of your is
lana. Whether IL shall turn out well or
i'll now depends largely upon yourselves.
Tie greatest constitution makers can
only lay the foundation. The building o.
the superstructure-whether or not IL
shall! be stately. beautiful and enduring
must rest upon the industry and wisdom
OF the people themselves.
The government plan presented in act
o: congress Is only the foundation. To
youi care it is committed. and you to day
assume a great trust. No greater WORK
ever confronted a people than that of
building their own fortunes. II will slim
ulSte you also to bear in mind that a
great nation of seventy millions of peo-
pie across the water, yet close at hand
in community of thought and interest. is
watching your every effort, ready to help
YOU and to assist you to help yourselves.
Fcllow-cItizens of Porto Rico-for, as l
haze taken the oath of office here to-day,
SD from this time l become of of you
in my endeavor to work with you and for
yOl. in all that tends to the true interests
D. tn, island-I bring this message from
the president. and | place myself in full
accord with IL. that il is his intention to
give to you. 50 far as all officers are cor
cerned, whether selected from your own
numbers or from the United States. mea
q: character and standing. who are en-
thusiastic and diligent and Industrious
men of high sense of honor. who will not
seek to advance their own fortunes HI
your expense. and who will not allow 9TH
crs to do so: men who will see that jus
tic. and Straightforward honesty will to
neted out to all, and who will have a sole
regard for the welfare of Porto Rico and
the honor of the American government in
is relations to it.
Ii in working out the provisions of the
act of congress which enables you to par
~ticilate in the government and TO provide
Your own legislative assembly you are
actuated by the same purpose of elect
men who are devoted to the general in
terests Of the island and the people Of
Porto Rico. We may confidently expect
that. thus working all together. we shall
max this island. so richly blessed by Il
Div inc Providence in its wonderful nat
ulal resources. not only &C natural beauty.
but an example of what an Industrious
a'.G honest people may accomplish when
properly directed by d wise policy of civil
government.
! bring you also the assurance that
every man. be he high or low, rich or
poor. under the administrator of this
form of government and under the SOW
erIignty of the United States. shall be
justly treated. and that his rights shall be
respected.
Benceforth We are under ore flag. We
are under the same institutions of free
dom, equality and education. Together
W. move on In the great American cur
rent of advancing civilization. Loving our
country. animated by a high sense of hon
or. devoted to 30 common humanity, We
TAKE our place before the world. and in
vcke on our progress the blessings Of Al
mighty God.