Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-12-28
A CRY FROM THE ISLE OF PINES.

A petition OF tho "outlanders' of the
South African republic. who besought the
British government to aid them in Sc
curing their rights at the hands of Presi-
dent Kruger. is recalled by the appeal
which has been sent out by American resi-
dents Of the Isle of Pines, calling for
aid in the maintenance Of their rights in
their newly established home. The appeal
is entitled Reasons why the lawmakers
of the United States should refuse to rati-
fy the pending treaty, a plea in defense
of the citizenship and property rights by
more than 1000 loyal Americans and by
resident property owners in the Isle of
Pines. West Indies, L. s. A.
The petition takes the position that it
is proposed ''for an imaginary considera-
ton" that the United States shall cede
the Isle of Pines to the republic of Cuba
grounds. 1t is asserted in the first place
that the Isle of Pines is and has been
officially acknowledged to be United
States territory. In support of this con-
tenton it is urged that the treaty OF Paris
carefully Disseminated between Cuba,
Porto Rico and other islands in the West
Indies" and that President McKin-
ley gave specific instructions that
the Isle of Pines should be
noted upon the large cesson map of
the United States as having been acquired
under the treaty of Paris. 1t is urged
on the other hand that if the island was
not ceded to the United States. then our
government has no right to cede it to
Cuba.
1t is asserted, moreover that the gov.
eminent of Cuba fully and freely recos-
nzed and officially acknowledged the Isle
of Pines to be American territory when
their pienipotentiarios drew up and signed
the Isle of Pines treaty, wherein the Uni
ted States proposes to cede the Isle of
Pines to the republic of Cuba.
Another point made in the appeal is
that the constitution does not permit the
United States to cede any of the territory
Of this nation by treaty to any other pow.
or, the only guide or precedent that il
obtainable requiring the joint action of
both houses OF Congress and vote of the
people residing in the territory in question
The third ground of objection Ia the
proposed cession raised in the appeal is
that the Americans in the Isle of Pines
were officially notified that the Isle of
Pines was United States territory. Under
this heading It is shown that the island
to-day is owned almost entirely by Amer
having paid thousands of dollars for their
homesteads, which they arc clearing and
making ready for planting. 1t is stated
that General Leonard Wood in his capac-
ty rs military encouragement of Cuba,
did on April II. 1902, personally assure q
committee of representative Americans
from this island that they need have no
fear regarding the future OF the Isle of
Pines" and advised them to 80 ahead az
they mad in the past. giving the to UNI
derstand that the island was and would
always remain American territory.
Another statement OF the situation is
summed up as follows:
We, the American people OF the Isle
of Pines. will not be protected in life and
property. If We are given away TO for.
egn people who have no sympathy with
our laws and customs; whose language IL