Show government OF SANTIAGO the proclamation of president me kinley regarding the temporary government of the province of santiago de cuba is a document of more than common historical interest being the first of its kind ever issued by a united states president it sets forth the policy agreed upon at Washl naton with regard to the conquered territory and to lit well calculated to give the cubans tp to anderst understand and the vast difference between t life under a free government and previous conditions according to the proclamation jhb th cubans are entitled to protection to the utmost extent possible in their private rights the laws statutory or customary remain in force substantially as before the occupation so far as this is ig compatible with the new order ot of thines th iners and they are to be administered by the ordinary tribunals under the supervision of the american comman der in chief only in case the native officials or the people refuse to acknowledge the supremacy of the united states the representative of our government will take other steps for the maintenance of law and order religious liberty is secured to the people taxes are to be paid to the military occupant who will use the money collected for the purpose of paying the expenses of the government by this policy an opportunity is given the cubans to demonstrate to some extent their capacity for governing themselves and our future cuban policy may depend on the result of this first expert t f will certainly be watched with much interest by the people of the united states there is no provision made for the relief of the people suffering from spanish oppression but undoubtedly some relief meOL measure sure is contemplated as the war was commenced in the interest of humanity the thousands that have been driven from the farms and other industrial pursuits by the operations of the insurgents no less than by the war measures of the spaniards must be encouraged to resume their labors new enterprises must be entered upon for the development of the resources of the country and then when the fields again are made to yield their harvests when the mines are opened up and the ports teeming with the craft of various nations and all both poor and rich are equally protected in the enjoyment of life and liberty the people will bless the day the americans entered their shores there will be no more rebellions in cuba the pearl of the antilles will rest gracefully among the brilliant gems that adorn the brow of fair columbia |