William McKinley: “the commissioners are hereby authorized to confer authoritatively with any persons resident in the islands”

Hope maketh not ashamed.

It is the constitutional method of ascertaining the public will.

That the lands hereby restored to the public domain shall be open to settlement from date hereof, but shall not be subject to entry, filing or selection until after ninety days' notice by such publication as the Secretary of the Interior…

Now, therefore, I, William McKinley, President of the United States, by virtue of the power in me vested, do hereby declare and make known that the Executive Orders dated December 27, 1875, and December 29, 1891, are so far modified as to…