General Miles's Proclamation to the People of Puerto Rico (1898)

On July 25, 1898, upon landing at Guánica, Major General Nelson A. Miles issued a proclamation to the people of Puerto Rico:

"In the prosecution of the war against the Kingdom of Spain by the people of the United States in the cause of liberty, justice, and humanity, its military forces have come to occupy the Island of Porto Rico.

They come bearing the banner of freedom, inspired by a noble purpose to seek the enemies of our country and yours and to destroy or capture all who are in armed resistance.

They bring you the fostering arm of a nation of free people, whose greatest power is in its justice and humanity to all those living within its fold.

Hence the first effect of this occupation will be the immediate release from your former political relations, and it is hoped a cheerful acceptance of the government of the United States.

The chief object of the American military forces will be to overthrow the armed authority of Spain and to give to the people of your beautiful island the largest measure of liberties consistent with this military occupation.

We have not come to make war upon the people of a country that for centuries has been oppressed, but on the contrary, to bring you protection, not only to yourselves but to your property, to promote your prosperity, and to bestow upon you the immunities and blessings of the liberal institutions of our government.

It is not our purpose to interfere with any existing laws and customs that are wholesome and beneficial to your people so long as they conform to the rules of military administration, of order and justice."

This proclamation is significant because virtually every promise it contains was systematically broken: Puerto Ricans were not given "the largest measure of liberties," their prosperity was not promoted (it was extracted), and the "liberal institutions" of American government were never fully extended to the island. The proclamation serves as a foundational document of American colonial hypocrisy in Puerto Rico.