The Red Cloud chief., 1902-05-23

Cuba Iibre." the shibboleth of the
Cuban patriot for generations past,
became a reality Tuesday. May 90. says
a Havana dispatch. Four years ago
the United States government prom
Used the island freedom. Tuesday 1t
more than kept its promise. for not
only has the promised independence
been given, but the young nation has
been trained for two years in the in
tricacies of Self-government. The
celebration of the natal day of the
new republic was a strange admixture
OF smiles and tears. yet both were for
JOY and for the fact that a new ma
ton was born.
The city was crowded with visitors,
sunrise finding $1,000 present. while
every train and BOAT brought hundreds
more.
M decorations We're most beauti-
full. The entrance to every house was
draped with American and Cuban fags
intertwined. while the prominent
houses on the streets along which
PRESIDENT Palma passed from his hotel
to the palace to meet General Wood
were almost hidden by green palms
and bunting. Every twenty feet along
the route small arches. covered with
the colors of the new republic. were
erected, making the line almost an
unbroken triumphal canopy.
The ceremonies began at II O'Clock.
when President Palma was driven to
the palace.
Accompanying the president-elect
were General Gomez and the members
of the new cabinet. ~escorted by the
recently organized Cuban artillery.
war veterans and political and civic
organizations. The procession went to
Central park and dowl Obispo street
to the palace.
The crowds alo..g the route were so
dense that the procession frequently
stopped. while the enthusiasm was
unbounded. At every stoppage the
crowd surrounded the carriage and en-
deaVored to shake hands with the new
head of the government.
When the party arrived at Pla2O De
Armasat in front of Governor General
Woods palace, the people became
frantic. Hats and flags were tossed in
the air and the ground fairly shook
with the volume of cheers.
After considerable delay the presi-
dent-elect was escorted to the main
hall of the palace, where the ceremo-
MES of handing over the government
to the Cubans occurred.
In relinquishinE the reins of govern
ment General Wood stated that the
Cubans were assured of the sympathy
and support of the United States: that
the future of the new republic would
hn Npnt.ha1 L.. a..
Washington with loving interest. He
the declared the military occupation
of Cuba by the American forces at an
end. Palma replied, thanking the
Americans for the glorious work they
had done for Cuba and expressing the
everlasting gratitude of the Cuban
people.
Ii was now twelve. and as the
hands of the clock pointed the hour
practically every American flag in the
island was lowered and the Cuban flag
raised over the palace and Moro. As
the stars and stripes came down the
wal ships in the harbor fired a salute
OF forty-five guns, one for each state.
and as the Cuban banner rose to its
new place twenty-one guns belched
forth acknowledgements. Then the
tens of thousands of people packed in
the park fronting the palace eclipsed
all their previous signs Of joy, the
roar of the cheering being heard miles
away.
After an exchange of flags Wood and
the dignitaries left the palace for the
wharf, boarding the cruiser Brooklyn
which, later in the day, with the
steamer Moro Castle, having the bal
ance of the ocers and troops. sailed
for the United States.
In the house Tuesday afternoon Hit
(rep, I'D offered a resolution at the
i~nstigation of SulZer (dem.). he said.
expressing pleasure at the installation
of a free and Independent government
in Cuba. 1t was passed without de-
bate or dissent.