The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-01-30
CUBANS HONOR JOSE MARTI.
SENTIMENT OF THE ISLANDERS
WARMLY EXPRESSED.

Ringing Speeches Made as a Tablet
Was Unveiled in Honor TO His
MemOrS-One Orator said the
Americans Were Unfamiliar with
the Cubans and Liable TO Make
Mistakcs-They All Wanted Inde-
pendence.
Havana, Jan. 29--Four thousand per-
sons, men in their best clothing, and
women gaily dressed stood amid pour
ing rain in Paula square to-day listening
to six intensely patriotic eulogies upon
Jose Marti, the Cuban patriot, and first
president of the Cuban revolutionary gov
ernment.
A tablet to Marti's memory was unveiled
at the house where he was born, in
street nearby and eighty-two societies
consisting of $500 persons. with banners,
flags and five bands, marched through the
principal thoroughfares to the square.
The procession, whose distinguishing
feature was 500 girls wearing white dresses
and red liberty caps, started at l O'Clock.
reaching the square two hours later. The
streets were gaily decorated with Cuban
and American flags, and though the in
terest ran high, there was no disorder OF
any kind.
Marhs widow. mother and son, led the
parade, with the first Cuban flag used by
the patriot, which was loudly cheered.
The eulogies contained few references TO
the United States or the military admins
tration. and the only two vtuperstive
references to the Spaniards Were quie,ly
received.
They Want Independence.
The tendency of all the speeches was to-
ward the ultimate independence of cuba,
which the orators recognized as a fact
not yet accomplished. They declared that
all Cubans should unite to reach that
great end to make their desires known
to the world. and to claim independence
as a right when the proper time arrived.
Senor Gonzales Lerente suggested that
the Cubans should take some steps to
preserve the house itself in Martrs mem
CRY, and should give financial assistance
to those he had left behind. He called
upon the Cubans to go to work.
Juan Gomez mu.ato, with consider
able reputation as an orator made the best
speech of the day He counseed firm
ness, concord and determination as means
to gain the coveted independence
'''The power which has intervened be-
tween the old regime and the one we are
striving for" he said, lis unfamiliar with
the ways and habits OF our race, ana
naturally IL viii sometimes bluhder in It's
efforts to fulfill It's obligations to Cuba.
The Cubans must realize this and keep it
in mind They must calmly indicate a
mistake when il is made and perhaps the
error win be corrected"
The Sentiment in the Island.
All the references to Cuba llbre were
applauded, and Marti was held up as an
example for all Cubans A telegram of
salutation was sent TO Gen. Gomez Only
two Spanish flags were in view through
out the day, one over a building used by
the Spanish Steamship Line, and the other
over the Banco Espanol.
The plan of Gen. Gomez to unite the
Spaniards in Cuba with the Cubans proper
in a party whose platform should he the
independence of the island does not alto
gether thrive in the Spanish mind.
Some Spaniards say: yes, give us the
Gomez programme of amity," Others are
silent. AS for the annexationists, they are
very outspoken in Havana but more re-
served in the interior of the island where
they are outnumbered and far from the
protection of the American troops.
The Marquis of Pinar del Rio has caus-
Su SOHle Apprehension among lne span
iards by the assertion that, during his
recent visit to the United States he be-
came convinced that the American gov
ernment did not intend to hold Cuba per-
manently. Spanish bankers and mer-
chants decline TO lend money or TO give
liberal credits because they fear that the
American occupation will be brief and
that the reconstruction of the insular sys-
tenn of government will be retarded Ia
consequence.
To Oppose Annexation.
This promises to be a lively week I'm Gu
ban politics. The special commission from
the Cuban military assembly will return
to Havana, after It's interviews with the
Washington government and popular in
tcrest is increasing In the preparations
for the mass meeting on Feb. at the
Tacon Theater. when Separatst party,
proolaiming the principles Of independence
will be founded under the direction of
such men as Senor Giberga, a noted au-
tonomist; Gen. Leyte Vidal. Gen, Lacret.
Senor Font Sterling and other opponents
of annexation.
TETANUs From VACCINATION.