The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1902-04-22
CUBANS FROM ALL PARTS OF TIE
ISLAND GREET FIRST PRES.
lOENT AT GtBARA.
ENTHUSIASM RUNS HIGH
Streets and Residences Of the Town
Gaily Decorated for the Occasion.
While Women and Children Deluoe
the President-E With Flowers.
Flags Of Cuba Libre and the United
States Displayed in Great Profusion.

K
New York. April 22.-General Tomas
Estrada Palma, president-elect OF the
Cuban republic, who arrived on the
! steamer Admiral Farragut from Old
Point Comfort, Va. was greeted, says
Gibara tCuha) dispatch to The Trib-
nne. with great enthusiasm Gibaras
! population OF 5000 was augmented by
| as many more who came from all parts
of the island. from Havana to Santa
so, 10 pay homage TO man they love.
When the steamer anchored in Giba-
ra harhor a salute of - guns greeted
General Palma. His face frightened
AT the scene before him. How differ
ont was his return 10 Cuba. He left
| in chains and came back with his path
| literally strewn with roses. The har-
bor was Kaleidoscope OF color and
animation. From every craft flew the
nag Of Cuba l-brc and the Stars and
! Stripes. Old friends who had known
General Palma in the Ten Years war
and had shared with him the hard
| ships and surcrings of many cam
| paicns came on board and embraced
him. Many We're in tears. The vessel
was soon crowded with members OF
committees. representing different cit
les. After a quarter OF an hour of in
| formal talk General Palma and his
party We're taken ashore in launch.
II was when he put his foot on the pier
that the pent up enthusiasm OF his
compatriots broke forth III earnest.
| There Were rounds of cheers by the
natives as they crowded around their
president-elect. which could have been
| heard clear across the hay. Mayor
Ccspedes spoke q few words Of well
come aud then proposed three cheers
| for the first president Of the Cuban
republic" They were given with 4
will
With the village band playing the
Cuban hymn. n procession was iormea
10 the principal street. whence II
! prcsiient-elec, and members OF the
committee were drawn in carriage
| by score OF stalwart Cuhans 10 the
city hall Every place of vantage along
the route was filled. Men. women ana
| children crowded and pushed 10 en-
brace and shake the hands of the vet
eran.
Arches had heen built across every
, street which led TO the city hall. Not
| n house in all Gihara was without dee
| Grafton in some form. From every
one flew the flag of Cuea and from al
most as many were displayed the
Flag Of the United States,
L., -, -, ara ,-,1sn,, rDr,rc nj
Spain were conspicuous on the Span
ish houses. The Spanlards joined N
the welcome Garlands OF roses ana
palms figured prominently IN the dec
orations. \ procession headed ny
detachment of the Tenth United states
cavalry and made up OF local clvlc so
cietios. school children and women.
rroceeded with the Palma party 10 the
CITY hall and then lined up on each
side to allow his carriage TO pass BY
cry woman and girl was armed with
small hoQuctS which they threw INTO
the carriage.
General Palma sat. with barred head.
howinr in response TO the cheers. tie
was deeply affected by the demonstra,
tion. The ceremonies at the city hail
consisted of spcechmaking by the may
or. members Of the council. Genera
Palma and Gonzales Dc QueSada.
Mavor Cespedcs spoke cloquently OF
tho gratitude that the Cuban people
owed To General Palma and the honor
of being the first to receive the nrs'
chief executive Of Cuba Lihre. HIS
countrymcn. he said. trusted Geherai
Palma implicitly and would ald ann
in every way toward successiui au-
ministration Of his office.
General Palma in responding. spoke
with some difficulty. as he was almost
overcome by the reception given MIN.
He began by proposing cheers lor
Cnba J.ibrc and for the United states.
Hc said the Cuban people should. WIN
the inauguration of their indepenaeht
government. abandon politics ana give
thcir attention to the betterment anu
reconstruction of their country
was his ambition to bring the various
elements together. SO that they may
ali work to one end. the building up oi
Cuba. He promised to devote hehce
forth all his time. knowledge ana en-
orgy TO bringing about this result
General Palma then held puolic re-
ccption and was overwhelmed VIII"
CONGRATULATIONS and good wishes.
The exercises eliminated IN tne
evening with banquet and bail az tho
yyrion club