The transfer of the sovereignty of Porto Rico to the United States was ratified by the treaty of Paris, and this convention took effect on April 11, 1899. The coincidence may be noted that one year later, to a day, the final legislative step was taken for the organization of a civil government.

The principal executive and legislative officers of the government of Porto Rico are to be 47 in number. It is provided in the organic act that at least 40 of these men shall be citizens of Porto Rico, and the other 7, whose appointments rest with the President, also the whole judiciary of the island, may, in the discretion of the President or the governor, be native Porto Ricans.

The laws with which you are familiar continue in force, except in so far as they have been modified by military orders, and such modifications of those laws as have resulted from my orders were never promulgated until they had received most careful consideration, and in almost every instance had been indorsed by distinguished Porto Ricans, learned in the laws and institutions of their country, and familiar with the social and industrial conditions of the people.

The organic act under which this island will be governed provides a basis for industry, trade, and commerce which warrants the belief that the dark clouds of misery and want which have shadowed the past and the present will soon roll away. By those laws every pound of sugar produced here will find a purchaser at a price more than 50 per cent greater than was possible under former conditions, and tobacco is more than doubled in value, while coffee is protected against foreign competition.

You are offered absolutely free trade with the United States the moment ability is shown to support your government without the very moderate revenues which may still be collected on imports from the United States.

In every municipality officials are now in control of the local government and courts who are the choice of the people, and further extensions of home rule are soon to be made.

There is no island in any sea that now has a fairer future for peace, happiness. and prosperity. The privations and misery of the past and the present will soon be replaced by happiness and plenty, and very soon the poet's picture of another land that had suffered the horrors of war and devastation will also fittingly portray this gem of the Antilles:

There are domes of white flowers

Where spread the white tents,

There are plows in the tracks

Where the war wagons went,
There are songs where was heard
Only Rachel's lament.

While a military rule over civilized people, actuated by democratic convictions, is always objectionable, the opposition of the people to such government is intensified when they know, as all Porto Ricans do, that in the United States the military is subordinate to the civil power.

It has been the constant effort of the military commander to govern the country through civil instrumentalities wherever such existed or could be instituted, and to make manifestation in the slightest possible degree of the presence and influence of the troops. They have never been used save to maintain law and order and to preserve the peace. Not a human being in Porto Rico has suffered injury, either in person or property, in consequence of the orders of any military commander since the war with Spain was brought to a conclusion, nor has anyone been restrained of his liberty save in pursuance of law. This fact is not here referred to with any thought of claiming especial merit for the military, but it proves that the occasion did not exist for forcible intervention, and this shows that for nearly a year and a half the inhabitants of this island have borne themselves as loyal

citizens, accepting their lot-hard though it may sometimes have been—and always looking forward with hope and confidence to the time when they could enjoy the proud privilege of exclaiming, “I am an American citizen." The true and full account of what those privations were can never be written, for the grave has buried the hopes of many, the victims of the dreadful calamity which visited their homes last year.

I would fail in my conception of duty did I not, on this memorable occasion, make acknowledgment of my feelings of deepest gratitude to the people of Porto Rico for their hospitable reception and innumerable manifestations of cordial cooperation in executing the different trusts assigned to me and to my military assistants.

Associated with me in the military government are many able and enlightened citizens of the island. I thank them all for cordial cooperation, and I deem it fortunate that I can leave to the civil administration these efficient public servants. To the nonsalaried members of the various administrative and advisory boards I feel deeply grateful for their disinterested and loyal service rendered to me and to their countrymen.

And now, sir, to you, as the first governor of Porto Rico, named for this high post by the President of the United States in pursuance of the law of Congress, I have the high honor and proud satisfaction of delivering the government of Porto Rico.

Right Rev. James H. Blenk, bishop of Porto Rico, having been requested to deliver the invocation, offered the following prayer:

O, Lord God Almighty, most bountiful Father of the human race, we beseech Thee graciously to give heed to our supplications. From the heart of this Thy people they rise to Thee, who art the Light of the nations.

Profoundly grateful to Gen. George W. Davis and to his noble helpers, who, in most trying times, steadfastly, intelligently, and with genuine nobility of heart devoted themselves to the public good, we lift our voices to Thee, the living God, that from Thy hand they may receive richly all things to enjoy.

Solemn and memorable for all time in the island's history and in the history of the United States of America is the inauguration of the civil government in Porto Rico. O, God, in Thee we place our trust.

Through Thy guidance and constant protection may this event usher in the dawn of a brighter future, the beginning of the fruition of our cherished hopes and aspirations. Multiply, then, we most earnestly implore Thee, the manifold gifts of Thy blessings upon Charles H. Allen, the governor of Porto Rico and the servant of Thy people. Thou knowest the full weight and significance of the responsibilities which rest upon him; Thou knowest the difficulties which may beset him in the discharge of his duties. Be Thou, Great God, his support and light.

Set high above his fellow-men, and eminently intrusted with their sacred interests, the loyal, high-souled furtherance of all the activities of the dwellers in the land, the speedy advent of the larger, fuller life and rights of American citizenship, ceaseless work, and much anxiety will be his lot. O God, be unto him a tower of strength and the inspiration of unfailing purposes of ever widening and deepening beneficence. Grant him for Thy people's sake to be always just with Thy justice, wise with Thy wisdom, patient with Thy endurance, and in all measures which make for the well-being of Porto Rico an efficient instrument in the hands of Thy Divine Providence.

Upon Thy people, on all in high station and on those in lowly condition, we I beseech Thee to shower with divine abundance Thy grace and blessing. Unto all be Thou in Thy Fatherly love, the guiding light of the intellect, the resolute strength of the will, the set purpose of Christ-like striving and doing, that so,

our

through the sustained and harmonious endeavors of the whole body politic, island may soon be the happy home of a contented, prosperous people, the pride of America, and a cheering example for many lands.

At 11 o'clock the oath of office mentioned in section 1757, Revised Statutes, was administered to Governor Allen by Hon. José Severo Quiñones, chief justice of the supreme court, and immediately thereafter the forts and war vessels each fired a governor's salute.

Judge Quiñones then welcomed the first civil governor of Porto Rico in the following address:

HONORABLE SIR: Having been designated by the illustrious General Davis to greet you on behalf of the people of Porto Rico, I propose, in brief and simple words, to acquit myself of the honorable duty assigned me, my scanty oratorical powers precluding that display of eloquence and loftiness of thought which distinguish so many other orators, who are the pride and ornament of our Porto Rican bar.

And this duty, honorable sir, is the more agreeable and congenial to me because, being likewise a native of this country and one deeply interested in its welfare and progress, I can not view with indifference the triumph of modern ideas, but must, with heart and soul, join all my countrymen in the welcome tendered you on this memorable day, while greeting you as the envoy of the great American people, charged with the mission of establishing the new system which inaugurates in this country an era of prosperity and wealth and which, serving as a preparatory school for the future, shall, perhaps, in no distant day open for us the doors of the Capitol at Washington as full-fledged citizens of the great North American nation.

Welcome, then, to you, honorable sir, and may Heaven grant us all the good fortune of seeing our aspirations realized.

And since you have just been installed in your high office as governor of Porto Rico, let me improve the opportunity to tell you that your arrival in this country could never have been more timely than at the present moment.

You have doubtless been informed of the grave financial crisis prevailing throughout the island, due, among other things, to the terrible hurricane of August 8 of last year, which caused thousands of victims, devastated fields, destroyed plantations, and scattered death, desolation, and horror everywhere. With agriculture ruined in a great portion of the island through the dread phenomenon; with commerce, which had already been languishing from other causes, at a standstill, and the destitute threatened with misery and hunger, you arrive in this country in time to apply a remedy to so many evils.

Much has already been done in this direction by the home government and by the illustrious General Davis; and much, no doubt, will be accomplished through the concessions bestowed on agriculture and commerce in the new organic law for a civil government which is to-day inaugurated in this country.. But there still remains much to be done, honorable sir; and albeit the resources at your disposal may be limited, the people of Porto Rico trust that with them you will attend to the most pressing need of the moment, namely, the affording of relief to the destitute classes by prosecuting the construction of highways already begun by General Davis, and undertaking other public works, such as the building of schoolhouses, whereby, besides providing occupation for the laboring classes, thus enabling them honestly to support themselves and their families, the sources of public wealth are developed through the facilities afforded for the transportation of products of the soil, commerce is encouraged, and over hamlets and cities alike are diffused such enlightenment and culture as in due time will transform these "citizens of Porto Rico" into real "citizens of the United States," with their enviable liberties and privileges.

And with the advent of the new régime inaugurated this day comes to an end the military government which for a period of eighteen months has ruled over the destinies of the people of Porto Rico.

It is but natural, honorable sir, that a people who had attained such a degree of progress as Porto Rico, who had succeeded in securing from the old mother country an autonomic form of government with its legislative chambers and council of responsible secretaries, could never be satisfied under a military government, absolute and supreme a government which, after the first month of occupation, the treaty of peace with Spain being ratified, had no further reason to exist, especially when the greatest tranquillity prevailed throughout the country.

But if this is true and justifies the attitude of the country in persistently demanding from the home government the establishment of a civil régime, which should guarantee to the inhabitants of this island the enjoyment of those political rights that are the most precious conquest of modern civilization, it is also certain, and I take pleasure in recognizing and proclaiming the fact to the honor of the illustrious commanders who have held military sway in Porto Rico, that during the period of their incumbency not a single case is recorded of positive abuse of power exercised against any citizen; and that if some of their decisions have given rise to heated discussions, others, on the contrary, have been hailed with general satisfaction, such as, for example, the orders relating to the organization of the courts and the reform of judicial procedure, which are calculated to exert such a wholesome effect on the administration of justice and have won the approval of the American Congress, as shown by their inclusion in the act that is to govern us from this day, and after their being favorably described as "progressive and scientific" by the honorable president of the Republic, who, as is well known, besides being a profound economist, is an eminent jurist; reforms which, like many others realized during the period of his command, are due to the initiative of General Davis, seconded by the honorable members of the judicial board, who share the glory of having brought them about, as also the applause which, with no less justice than satisfaction, I tender them on this occasion.

But I should fail in the performance of a sacred duty, honorable sir, did I not offer you before closing the testimony of my gratefulness for the great honor of permitting me to administer to you, in my capacity as chief justice of the supreme court of Porto Rico, the oath of allegiance to the Constitution of the United States and other laws governing the exercise of the duties appertaining to your high office.

It is a custom of your country that the governors of the States of the Union upon being installed in their offices shall take the oath of allegiance to the Constitution before the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, a beautiful custom, consecrating the great respect in which justice is held there and testifying to the high importance attached in your country to that institution which is charged with the duty of watching over the purity of the immortal code that has made of the American people one of the happiest and most prosperous in the world.

In my name, then, and in the name of the supreme court, and of all the other Judges and tribunals of Porto Rico, accept, honorable sir, the homage of our respect and the assurance which we offer you of our cooperation whenever you may see fit to command it, as also the vote of thanks tendered, through me, for the honor conferred upon the Porto Rican judiciary in the person of the chief justice of Porto Rico.

And I close, honorable sir, wishing you, in the name of the people of Porto Rico, all manner of happiness during your stay in the island; and when, your mission over, you shall return to your country, may you carry with you the satisfaction of having done your duty in devoting all your activity and directing the best efforts of your perspicuous talent to improving the moral and material conditions of this country, so that our island, which is a veritable Eden, may become a free and contented State within the great federation of North America.

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General Davis introduced Governor Allen, who spoke as follows:

At this impressive ceremony I bring to you-the inhabitants of the ever-faithful island of Porto Rico-the congratulations and good wishes of the people of the United States.

Imposing as the occasion is in itself, and far-reaching as its effect may be upon the future of your beautiful island, it is especially significant, because it marks the first step in the establishment here of civil government under the flag of the United States of America, and with the blessings and opportunities that go with it. A new page has been turned in the volume of your history, and a new era inaugurated in the development of your island. Whether it shall turn out well or ill now depends largely upon yourselves. The greatest constitution makers can only lay the foundation. The building of the superstructure-whether or not it shall be stately, beautiful, and enduring-must rest upon the industry and wisdom of the people themselves.

The governmental plan presented in the act of Congress is only the foundation. To your care it is committed, and you to-day assume a great trust. No greater work ever confronted a people than that of building their own fortunes. It will stimulate you, also, to bear in mind that a great nation of 70,000,000 people, 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, as I have taken the oath of office here to-day, so from this time I become one of you in my endeavor to work with you and for you in all that tends to the true interest of the island. I bring this message from the President, and I place myself in full accord with it, that it is his intention to give to you, so far as all officials are concerned, whether selected from your own numbers or from the United States, men of character and standing, who are enthusiastic 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 see that justice and straightforward honesty will be meted out to all, and who will have a sole regard for the welfare of Porto Rico and the honor of the American Government in its relations to it.

If in working out the provisions of the act of Congress, which enables you to participate in the government and to provide your own legislative assembly, you are actuated by the same purpose to elect men who are devoted to the general interest 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 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 a wise policy of civil government.

I 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 freedom, equality, and education. Together we move on in the great American current of advancing civilization. Loving our country, animated by a 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.

At the conclusion of the address Chaplain H. A. Brown, U. S. A., pronounced the benediction, and the Star Spangled Banner was played by the Eleventh United States Infantry Band. This concluded the ceremonies.

An informal reception was then held in the executive mansion, and General Davis introduced to the governor those present.