When the US flag was first flown over Guam in 1898, after the island was taken in the Spanish American War, it did not, in the minds of CHamorus at the time, symbolize the best principles of the United States. After taking Guam, the US government, rather than respecting the rights of the CHamoru people or providing for democratic protections and liberty for them according to the US model, established a military government. Until 1950, US Naval officers would act as governors of Guam, running the island like a Navy ship or Navy base.

After centuries of Spanish rule, the CHamoru people were eager for new political and economic opportunities. Some were familiar with stories of American democracy and the freedoms even the common person could enjoy there. Because of this, the establishment of a military regime over the island confused CHamoru leaders, who were hopeful for the changes being a territory of the US might bring.

On December 17, 1901, 120 years ago this month, they respectfully expressed their hopes and concerns in a petition sent to the US Congress, signed by 32 individuals. The text of this petition as found in the records of the US Congress is included with this post.

In this petition they highlight the potential hypocrisy in how the US was choosing to govern Guam. They wrote, “A military government at best is distasteful and highly repugnant to the fundamental principles of civilized government, and peculiarly so to those on which is based the American government.” They expressed dismay that they would not be able to elect any officials or participate in the passing of any laws on Guam, despite the change in sovereignty.

Here are the names of the individuals that signed the petition, many CHamorus today can trace their lineage to these men:

Juan de Torres

Atanasio T. Perez

P.M. Duarte

Jose Palomo

Chas. G. Stimpson

Manuel Sablan

Anto. Martinez

Vicente Herrera

Manuel Aflague

Venancio Roberto

Luis Torres

Aeanias Calvo

Gregorio Perez

Joaquin Diaz

Jose de Torres

Joaquin S. Guerrero

Victoriano Joauino

Vicente Cepeda

Felipe Cruz

Proeopio Hover

Leleai Camadro

Antonio Suarez

Nicolas Lazeiro

Vicente Camadro

Manuel Untalan

Demetrio Quitugua

Juan del Rosario

Antonio Perez

Jose Flores

Justo Dungca

Justo del Gros

Eulogio de la Cruz

This petition was the first of many that CHamorus sent to the US government prior to World War II, requesting that a civilian government be created for Guam and that CHamorus be granted political rights, as US citizens. This petition was ignored by the US Congress, as were the others, and the issue of Guam’s governance and the rights of CHamorus was not addressed until the passage of the Organic Act in 1950.

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