Jasper County Democrat, Volume 1, Number 28, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 22 October 1898 — PORTO RICO IS ADOPTED. [ARTICLE]

PORTO RICO IS ADOPTED.

Formal Surrender Makes the Island Part of the United States. At noon Tuesday the United States flag was raised upon the captain general's IKilaee at El Morro, Sau Juan, Porto Rico, and the final ceremony of the delivery of the island-, to the United States Government was performed. National sahitea were fired by the American artillery, and there was a special musical cek-bration which was attended by all the insular officials and the foreign consuls. Gen. Brooke has plenary powers ami will remain in sole charge of the government of the island until such time as a military governor is designated by the President, It was originally intended to have the ceremonies in connection with the formal taking ixtseession of an elaborate nature, but this plan was abandoned. Considering the enfeebled condition of the troops and the intense heat, it was decided to have no military review. The formal surrender .therefore consisted simply of the lowering of,the Spanish flag over the governor general’s palace and the raising of the flag of the United States, while a salute of forty-four guns boomed in the harbor and martial music filled the city. In the evening there were various forms of •elebration both among the Americans and by the Porto Ricans, henceforth a freo people, recognizing as their flag the Stars and Stripes.