The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-05-02
PUERTO RICANs RECEIVE THEIR
NEW GOVERNOR WITH SLIGHT
DEMONSTRATION
GLOOM PERvADED THE CITY
inauguration of Gov. Allen Wit
messed by Great Crowds of Dis
contented People-The
Speeches.

was most impressive. Gov. Allen made
the following inaugural address:
'At this impressive ceremony 1 bring TO
you-the inhabitants OF the ever ta1th-
fur island of Puerto Rico--the congratu..
lations and good wishes of the people OF
Imposing as the occasion is IN itself,
and far-reaching as its effect may be
upon the future of your beautiful island,
1t is especially significant because II
marks the first step in the establishment
here of civil government under the flag
of the United States of America, ana with
the blessings and opportunities that go
"A new page has been turned in the
volume of your history, and new era
inaugurated 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
Observation-Disclosures or not it shall pc
stately. beautiful and enduring-must
rest upon the Industry and wisdom OF the
people themselves.
THE governmental plan presented III d ~
Of congress is only the foundation 10
your care it is committed, ana you 10
day assume a great trust. NO greater
work ever confronted a people than tha3
of building their own fortunes. II WIZ
stimulate you also to bear in mind that
a great union of 10000, 600 Of people across
the water yet close at hand In COM
munity of thought and interest, Is watch
and to assist you to help yourselves.
''Fellow-citizens Of Puerto Rico-for, as
] have taken the oath of office here 10.
day, SO from this time become one OF
YOU In my endeaVor to work with you
and for you in all that tends to the true
interests Of the island-l bring this mes
sage from the president, and place my
self in full accord with 1t, that 1t is his
intention to give to you, so far as all
officers are concerned, whether selected
from your own numbers or from the
United States. men of character and
standing, who are enthusiastic and dill
gent and industrious-men OF high sense
of honor, who will not seek to advance
their own fortunes at your expense, ana
who will not allow others to 90 SO; men me
who will see that justice and straight
forward honesty will be meted out TO all,
and who will have a sole regard for the
welfare Of Puerto Rico and the honor OF
the American government In It's reIauonS
'rHenceforth 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 cur
rent of advancing civilization. Loving our
country, animated by a high sense Of
honor, devoted to common humanity,
we take our place before the world, and
invoke on our progress the blessing OF
Almighty God.
A more beautiful day could not have
dawDed in which to usher In Puerto
Rico's new governor. Before the pene-
trating warmth of the suns rays could
be felt the streets of the city were
thronged with people. The sky was
cloudless, and the population took this
as q happy augury of the occasion. The
days exercises opened at sunrise with
serenades by the bands Of the Eleventh
infantry, the Fifth cavalry and the Puerto
Rican regiment. The city band also
played the island and United States ma
tional airs, before the executive mansion
49, ~, ,,1o
while marching through the streets. The
enthusiasm of the people was greater
than expected. In spite of the publication
in the DiariO of letter from Julio Hen
ma, Of New York, suggesting that the
people remain indoors and refrain from
taking part in the inauguration, thereby
silently protesting and showing the
American government that Puerto Rico IS
dissatisfied"
The Diario is the organ of the Federal
party and has quite large circulation.
The letter created a sensation. After
dwelling on the subject Of the free treat
ment of Hawaii, Henna points out that
the Puerto R!cans have not been treated
on the same basis ss Hawaii and brings
up the so-called untitled promises of Gen.
Miles, etc. He says:
The island does not get what she de,
serves"
The speech of Gen. Davis, the retiring
governor general, was substantially as
follows:
1.-THE duty has been devolved upon me
by order of the president to this day
transfer 10 the governor of Puerto Rico
the charge assigned to me by orders of
the president. This charge involved the
grave responsibility of advising the gov
eminent Of a million beings, which has
been in my keeping for nearly a year.
Without the cordial support of the in
4 WOn11 n "a
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 be-
gun with the landing of the army in
July, 1893, and which included the whole
island in October IS today brought to a
conclusion. The Puerto Ricans have long
looked forward to this day as the dawn
of new political and public life. and
the president has long awaited the mo-
ment when he could put IN the hands Of
the duly constituted authorities these
trusts and responsibilities which have
been deVolved upon HIM
THE transfer of the sovereignty IF
Puerto Rico was ratified in April 1899
and it is proper to note as coincidence
that a Year later exactly, the final step
was taken in the organization of a civil
tive officers will be the forty-seven pro
vided by congress. At least forty of
these will be citizens of Puerto Rico. The
appointment OF the Otner seven rests with
the president. The whole of the judiciary
may, also, in the discretion of the presi-
dent and governor. be Puerto Ricans The
laws familiar to you will continue in
force, except as they may be modified
by military orders. Such notifications
from my orders viii never be promulgat-
ed until they have received careful con
sideration and have been Endorsed by dis
tinguished natives. learned in the avs
and institutions of the country and ia
miiar with its social and industrial con
ditions.
The laws provide a basis for industry
trade and commerce. which enable the
belief that the dark clouds of misery and
want which have Swallowed the past and
present Will soon roll away By present
laws every pound Of sugar will find a
purchase at 80 per. cent greater in nrice.
trade will be doubled in value and cot,
fee will be protected You are ofrerad
absolutely free trade the moment your
ability is shown to support the eovern.
ment Your laws, religion and nriya re-
rights are all preserved. and the la VS. can
only change by the will of the local Loo
islature No island in any seas has a
fairer future of peace. happiness and
prosperity. The privations and miseriee
of the past and present will soon be ra
placed by happiness and plenty
military rule over a civilized peonIe
actuated by democratic conviction, Is al