The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-01-02
SWEARING IN THE CABINET.
Ceremonies Connected With Launch
ing Cuba Into Home Rule.


Havana, Jan. MANY people assem-
bled at the palace today, to witness
the swearing in of Senior Rafael Mon
tero, Marquis of Montero, Senior Fran
! cisco ZayaS and Senior Laureano Rodrl-
guez as secretaries of the provisional
government.
Marshal Blanco, the captain general,
escorted by a number of his Spanish
officials, the consular corps, army and
navy officers, politicians, etc, reached
the throne room at o'clock a. m
new Bible was opened on a table, and
upon it the secretaries took the oath OF
fidelity to the queen, the monarchy and
the Spanish government, placing their
right hands on the Bible and kneellng
as they repeated the words required.
Senior GalveZ, president of the cabi-
net. was first sworn in, and then the
oath was administered to the others.
To Marshal Blanco's inquiry, do you
swear fidelity to Spain, the queen and
Spanish institutions" all replied, I'VE
Go''
Marshal B!anco then addressed the
officials, saying: "Consecrated by the
oath just taken, the autonomous gov
eminent of Cuba is now esta blished, in
accordance with the royal decree of
Nov %, 1897. Your names and the
places you occupy in the political par
ties to which you belong are ample
guarantees of the liberal policy which
the government expects the new re-
gime to adopt.
1.-The new government should be in
spired by high, conciliatOry, impartial
and just motives. 1t is your duty to
study the necessities of the island and
especially economic questions and the
means to restore the property Destroy
ed. Peace and the welfare of Cuba
form the best propaganda we can make
in behalf of autonomy and against the
revolution which, although it was never
justified, will hereafter have no preteXt
whatever to exist.
May God concede you the good luck
which 1 sincerely wish may accompany
you in fulfilling your noble and thorny
mission, so that we may together re-
store to this privileged island, for which
I have had great affection for years,
the peace and prosperity so much need
ed. To consecrate the carrying out Of
our good wishes, let us cry with hearts
full of loyalty to our institutions,
Long Live Spain,' Long Live Cuba
always Spanish"
After the conclusion of this ceremony
all present attended the celebration of
mass by the bishop in the chapel of
the palace. All present knelt down at
the elevation of the host excepting the
British and German consuls.
When bidding goodbye to the consul
lar corps, General Blanco shook Gen
eral Lees hands. He shook them
warmly, saying in broken English, II
thank you" a distinction which the
captain general did not bestow on any
of the other consuls
At the conclusion of the ceremonies,
the captain general RENTED the death
penalty imposed upon persons who he'd
been convicted of common crimes.
Gable messages of congratulations
were exchanged during the day be
tween Senior Sagasta, premier of Spain,
and Marshal Blanco. The new secre-
taries have expressed thanks to Dr.
Congosto, the secretary general of
Cuba, setting forth that it is due to his
constant activity that the provisional
government was established today. For
two months DR.. Congosto, who was
formerly Spanish consul at Philadel-
phia, has hardly slept two hours day,
which has greatly surprised everybody
here, as most of the officials work
scarcely three or four hours daily. For
this constant activity and the final sue
cess it has met with, Dr. Congosto has
been most cordially congratulated by
all concerned.
The first action by the new cabinet
was to send a cable message to the
queen regent of Spain, Offering their
respects and pledging their loyalty to
the crown.