The Van Buren press., 1900-05-05
CHARLES II. ALLEN

At this impressive ceremony bring 70
you-the inhabitants of the ever faith-
ful" island of oPrto Rico-the congratu'
i8t'ons ana good wishes OF the people oi
the United States.
Imposing as the occasion Is In itself.
and far-reaching as It's effect may be
upon the future Of your beautiful island,
ISL, especially significant becauseit marks
the first step In the establishment here OF
evil government under the tag OF the
United States Of America, and with the
blessings and opportunities that go with
II,
A new page has been turned In the vol
ume of your history and new era IN
augurated in the development of your Is
LAND. Whether 1t shall turn out well or
III now depends largely upon yourselves
TIE greatest constitution makers can
only lay the foundation The building OF
the superstructure-whet or not II
shall be stately, beautiful and enduring
must rest upon the industry and wisdom
Of the people themselves,
The government plan presented In act
OF congress is only the foundation. To
ycui care 1t Is committed, and you to day
assume a great trust. No greater work
ever confronted a people than that or
building their own fortunes. II VIII slim
ulate you also to bear In mind that
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
Fellow citizens Of Porto Rico-for as
have taken the oath OF office here to-day,
so from this time | become OF OF you
IN my endcavor 10 work with you and for
yoL in all that tends to the true interests
OF the island-l bring this message from
the president, and place myself In full
accord with II, that It Is his Intention TO
give to you, so far as all officers are con-
cerned, whether selected from your own
numbers or from the United states, men
ot charcter and standing, VINO are en-
thusiastlo and diligent and INDUSTRIOUS
men of high sense OF honor who Will not
seek to advance their own fortunes AZ
your expense, and who Will not allow oth'
ers to do so; men who VIII see that JUS
tlco and Straightforward honesty VIII 10
neted out to all, and who Will have sole
regard for the welfare of Porto Rico and
the honor OF the American government In
i.s relations to II,
II In working out the provisions Of tho
ac, of congress which enables you to par
ticipate IN the government and TO provide
Your own legislative assembly you ara
actuated by the same purpose Of elect
men who are devoted to the general In
| tcrests OF the island and the people Of
| Porto Rico, we may confidently expect
that, thus working all together, we shall
make this island, so richly blessed by a
| Divine Providence In Its wonderful nat
ural resources, not only to natural beauty,
but an example of what an industrious
/ HNG nOncSl peOplc may ucNoWplhH WHEN
properly directed by 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 SOY.
oreignty 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.
! 40, a1n Ian hos
we move on In the great American cur.
rent OF advancing civilization, Loving our
country, animated by a high sense Of hon,
or devoted to 40 common humanity, we
take our place before The, world, and In
woke on our progress the blessings OF Al.
| mlghtY Ood.