Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1900-05-03
C. H. Allen Formally Inaugurated
Head of Porto Rico Gov
eminent.
RESTS WITH INHABITANTS
Whether the New System Shall Prove
a Success Pledges Officers OF the
Highest Character and Ability
Gen. Davis, Retiring Govern
or-General, Speaks

San Juan de Porto Rico, May 1.-The in
auguration of Charles II. Allen, formerly
assistant secretary Of the United States
navy as first American governor of the
Island of Porto Rico took place to-day.
THE ceremony was most impressive. Gov.
Allen made the following inaugural adj
dress:
] At this impressive ceremony | bring to
you-the inhabitants of the ever faithful
Island of Porto Rico-the concentrations
and good wishes of the people of the Uni
ted States.
and far-reaching as its effect may be up
on the future of your beautiful island it
! is especially significant because it marks
the first step In the establishment mere of
civil government under the nag of the
United states OF America, and with the
blessings and opportunities that go With
/ it,
\ new page has been turned in the vol
lume of your history ana new era inauC-
uratcd in the development of your island.
| Whether it shall turn out well or i'll now
depends largely upon yourselves. The
greatest constitution makers can only lay
/ the foundation. The building of the SUI
| pers tructurc-whether or not it shall be
! stately, beautiful and enduriDg-must rest
upon the industry and wisdom of the peo-
! pie themselves.
The governmental plan presented in act
/ Of Congress Is only the foundation. 10
your care IT is committed. and you to-day
assume a great trust No greater work
ever confronted people than that OF
building their own fortunes. 1t will stiin-
ulate 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 assist you to help yourselves
/ Fellow citizens of Porto Rico--tor, l
have taken the tn of office here TODAY
so from this time / become one of you in
my cndeavor to work with you and for
you in all that tends to the true interests
of the island-I bring this message from
the President, and | place myself in full
accord with it. that II is his intention to
give TO you, SO far all officers are con-
ceined, whether selected from your own
numbers or from the United states, men
Of 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 at
your expense, and who will not allow
others to do so; men who will that
justice and straightforward honesty will
be meted out to all, and who will have
sole regard for the welfare of Porto Rico
ana the honor of the American govern
mcnt in its relations to it.
If in working the provisions of the act
OF Congress which enable you to particle
pate in the government and to provide
your own Legislative assembly you are
tuated by the same purpose to elect men
who are devoted TO the general interests
of the island and the people of Porto Rico,
We may confidently expect that thus
working all together shall make this
island, so richly blessed by Divine Prov
idence in its wonderful natural resources,
not only another gem of the Antilles in
respect to natural beauty, but an example
of what an industrious and honest people
may accomplish when properly directed by
u wise policy of civil government.
. | bring you also the assurance that
every man, be he high or low rich or poor,
under the administration of. this form of
government and under the sovereignty of
the United States shall be justly treated,
and that his rights shall be respected.
Henceforth we are under one flag. We
are under the same institutions of free
dom, equality and education. Together we
move on in the great American current of
advancing civilization Loving our coun-
try, animated by high sense of honor,
devoted to a common humanity we take
our place before the world and invoke on
our progress the blessing of Almighty
God.
The days exercises orened at sunrise
with serenades by the bands of the 18th
infantry, the 5th cavalry and the Porto
RCan regiment. Tho troops began assem-
bling at O'Clock and later Gov. Allen and
Gen. Davis reviewed on the plaza the cav
airy. artillery, infantry, the Porto Rico
regiment the sailors and marines from
the fleet and the police and civic societies.
Each company on passing the governor
presented arms or otherwise saluted. TIE
plaza and adjoining house tops were
packed with people of whom about 500
were present. The native troops received
the most applause from the natives the
regulars and sailors being accorded only
nominal applause. The people were eX-
cccdingly quiet orderly and undemonstra-
tive They expressed their feeling of APP
pl8use by hand claps.
Gen. DAVIS, the retiring governor gem
eral made a speech welcoming his success
sOr and expressing his pleasure in plac-
ing in the hands Of civil authorities the
duties and responsibilities which had de
veloped upon him. Concluding he said;
Now, Mr. Allen, to you, the first gov
! ernor for the post by the President in
pursuance to the act of Congress, | have
the high honor and proud satisfaction to
deliver 10 your keeping the government of
Porto Rico"
Then followed an invocation by Bishop
Rlenk, dwelling upon the solemn and
memorable occasion in the history of the
island and the United States invoking the
Almightys guidance and constant protoc-
ton praying that the event would usher
in the dawn of a brighter future and the
beginning of the fruition Of cherished
hopes and aspirations and imploring man
fold gifts and blessings upon Gov. Allen.
Gov. Allen then tok the oath of office
under flag canopy at the executive man
sion.
Among those present were Rear Admiral
Farquhar, COMMUNICATIVE chief of the
North Atlantic station; Chaplain Brown
Bishop Blenk Judge Quinones of the SUI
preme court and the members of that
court: Governor General Davis, the APP
pointees of yesterday; all the foreign con-
suls, the families of Governors Davis and
off a
thirty prominent citizens. No soldiers
were in sight
: STRIKE IN BARRE,