The San Juan islander. [volume] (Friday Harbor, Wash.) 1898-1914, 1902-05-29
REPUBLICOFC
-opMAL CHANGE OF GOVERN
MENT IN THE ISLAND.
..;o, OF Great Rejoicing Over the Final
o,,Ization Of Every Cnban's Dfeam-Pow-
.,s Notified by United States Representatives
ot Transfer Of Authority-Gen. Wood and
President Palma Chief Actors.

washington, d. c., May 22.-Follow-
..n 10 the official notice sent out by the
..s,o department to the ambassadors
IA ministers of the United States all
oror the world regarding the independ
V co of Cuba 81 am directed by the
esrosident to inform you that all military
pponcnnation of the island of Cuba by the
Tu;ted States has ceased and that an
;ndanendent government, republican in
snrm has been inaugurated under the
nrosidencv of Tomas Estrada Palma.
Von are instructed to convey this
incarnation through appropriate chan
nols TO the government to which you
o nu accredited. JOHN HAY"
Havana. Cuba, May 2l.-The new
Cuban republic was ushered in with
Stting ceremonies May 20. 1t was fete
dav throughout the island-a day to
which every patriotic man, woman and
child has been looking forward since
earliest recollection-the day of Cuban
freedom. In he capital it was ushered
in with the booming of cannon, the
nlaving of bands, the discharge of fire.
works and other manifestations Of the
neopes delight. 1t was holiday every
where. Business was almost entirely
suspended, while the people gave them
selves I'D to the full enjoyment of the
occasion. The Cuban flag was every
where displayed, but scarcely less in
evidence was the stars and stripes.
At an early hour people began to as
semble about the palace, where the cere-
monies of the day-the transfer of the
insular government from the United
States to the newly elected officials of
the republic-were held. True republic
an simplicity marked the LAUGHING of The
latest-bo among the family OF nations,
but the ceremonies nevertheless were
extremely impressive. The hall in which
the ceremonies were held was crowded
with notables. The chief actors were
General Wood, the retiring governor OF
the island, and his staff. and Senior Tomas
Estrada Palma, president of the new re-
public, and other officials OF the new in
suar government.
General Wood made brief speech.
stating in substance that he had received
notification of the election of the presi-
dent and congress- that this newly
elected body had signified it's readiness
to undertake the grave responsibilities
VI RONcIuIllcuO, anu tudb JllC hOui III VIC
Inception of its duties had arrived. In
the name of the United States he charged
it with the significance of the terms OF
the Paris treaty and called upon it to
subscribe to faithful compliance to the
stipulations of the Plat amendment.
President Palma replied in the name
of himself and his companions. He
asked General Wood to inform President
Roosevelt and the people of the United
States of the Cubans gratitude for the
fulfllment of their desires and aspira-
tons to be an independent people.
These brief ceremonies concluded, the
Cuban government was declared to be
in force, it's flag raised over the palace
and the change of authority publicly
proclaimed. The church bells through
Havana were rung in joyous celebration
OF the event and solemn high mass OF
thanksgiving was celebrated in the cathe-
dral. In the afternoon General Wood,
with his staff, went aboard the cruiser
Brooklyn, which is to convey him to
Washington.