Political Quotes

“Today is June 19, 1997 here in the U.S. mainland, but on Guam it is June 20. June 20 is the 99th anniversary of the arrival of the first Americans on Guam in the capacity of bringing U.S. Government to the Island of Guam. On June 20, 1898, Captain Glass led three ships into Apra Harbor in Guam and he proceeded to fire some shots, as part of the Spanish-American War. He fired some shots at an abandoned fort. He did not know that the fort had long since been abandoned. The Spanish authorities, not really even knowing that there was a Spanish-American War, sent out a small delegation of boats to ironically apologize for not being able to return what they assumed was a naval salute, announcing the arrival of the American ships. Now, since the arrival of Captain Glass and subsequently, the next day on June 21, 1898, the party landed actually on Guam, raised the American standard and secured a surrender from Captain Marina and the Spanish troops and some Chamorros, native Chamorros who were also part of a Spanish militia, the militia was disbanded and Captain Glass sailed away with the understanding that Guam was now part of the emerging American empire. This became formally a part of the instrument of the Treaty of Paris, which ended the Spanish-American War. In the intervening 99 years, the political status of Guam remains a matter of some interest here in Washington DC, but of vital concern to the people I represent.”