New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-04-13
DINNER FOR GEN. PALMA.
FAREWELL DEMONSTRATION TO CUBA's
PRESIDENT ELECT.
CHEERS FOR Observation-Disclosures
SAYS UNITED STATES DESERVES
GRATITUDE AND LOVE OF
EVERY CUBAN.


The Cuban colony of this city gave a dinner
last night for General T. Estrada Palma, Presl-
dent-elect Of Cuba, the Union Square Hotel
It farewell demonstration. as General
| Palma sails on Thursday for Cuba, where on
May 20 he is to assume control Of the affairs
of the new republic. One hundred and ten per
sons sat down to the dinner Of which perhaps.
twenty were Americans The reception given
General Palma was Of a character that could
! leave no doubt as TO the love of his compatriots
for the President-eIect. Every mention Of his
named called forth salvos of applause and cheers
that must have been heard a block away Every
| reference President Roosevelt called forth
the grea test enthusiasm
The banquet hall was profusely decorated with
American and Cuban flags. Senior Perez del
Castillo presided General Palma sat on his
right Others at the first table were Sehores
r. c Palontno. P. Z. Desvernine and GonZalo
de Quesada.
The POSTMASTER began the speechmakng by
| proposing a toast TO The United States, which
he said deserved the gratitude and love Of every
Cuban. Then came a toast TO President Roose-
Welt who has unffinChingly and niexibly
demanded justice to Cuba. and for the colonel
of the Rough Riders. whose valiant conduct at
San Juan contributed materially to the con-
summation of Cuba Libre." They were re-
ceived with loud cheers.
There was long list of speakers, of which
General Palma the last When he arose
10 address the assembage there was perfect
storm Of handclapping and cheering for Cuba
L.i1re" and Estrada Palma. His speech was
short. He said:
I have not had the time to prepare an Grafton,
hlIt permit me IL thank YOU for these warm
pressions Of friendship Your work and my
work shall from on he the reconstruction Of
Cuba. Let US in this task Of advancement and
I Ii / 7-Ts-r fl
standard set by the United States And we, too,
should demonstrate to this great nation that
we are grateful and worthy OF the generous as
sistance which it has advanced US. Let US work
together. and the result must be great and
prosperous nation.
Again permit 70 thank you for the honorS
Of which l have been the recipient.
Senior de Quesada spoke eIoquently of he
incidents leading UP TO the independence or
Cuba. and referred feelingly TO the patriots who
sacrificed their lives for their flag. He paid
high tribute to General Palma and the United
States Government
Of the speeches delivered in English the prin-
cipaI one was by James Martin, of The Trlo-
une" who said:
Mr.. Chairman and GentIeren-Cuba is about
TO take her place among the nations Of the
world The path TO the baptisnlal font mas
been long dark and bloody one. but, let US
hope the agony is over. wise man once said
that the happy country is one without MS
tory Cuba has had too much history, for on
her soil played Tor years a LlttlleeN d. tAeS
edy which the curtain went down OH! ds
the dying means Of the nineteenth century hAed
the ali.
Henceforth Cuba should have no history-her
records should tell solely OF the peace. pros
perty and intellectual development Of the peo-
ME A. This moment he outlook is not quite so
propitious as would have it. but the people
OF Cuba must have patience in the luiI conn,
dence that President and our people ana
our press are their earnest and sincere friends
We want no ireland our back door. We want
10 see in Cuba a self-pOised, Independent nelSh-
bora little brother. if you will, whom we have
hberate and whose esteem and aIecuoh we
desire retain 1t is not assuming TOO much
to say that neither the American president. the
American people nor the American press "IsIies
TO do anything that would justify Cuba TO point
and say:
He is fool who thinks by force or skill
To the current OF nations VIII.
No: whatever our dealings with Cuba, and
they should be many and intimate. they ought
to be conducted. on our part at least with an
extreme Of fairness. aye. even generosity, BENT
ting the attitude of a strong nation toward
weak Perhaps this mighty Ohlpfl OF oui =
could impose on Cuba whatsoever conditions IL
listed: but that is not the disposition OF the
American people. For instance, our experts
may tell Us that Havana is the only suitable
place for a United States naval station; but II
il canno+ he shown 10 the people of Cuba that
the advantages 10 them Of having such station
there far outweigh their natural sentimental
objections to the proposition. then we must look
elsewhere And so with every other question that
arises BY thus acting your people VIII surely
learn in time not 10 dssect the lining OF every
suggestion tor Interior motives or schemes OF
self a5gran Indictment. Under the wise guidance
of T Estrada Palma, the Grand Old Man or
Cuba-the pa triot whose whole life is guaran-
tee of self-effacing statesmanship-your country
VIII grow up alongside of ours, self-rellant in
achieving for yourselves and leaning with con-
IdenCe upon If danger should undeserVediy
threaten from without. The world is watching
YOU and there is a temptation to be spectacu-
lar to strike attitudes and TO dazzle the spec
tators But your President and your people
may l am sure De depended upon to check and
smother any such tendency. knowing as they do
that the highest duty Of the statesman and the
suprerlest test Of his genius is TO so direct af-
fairs as TO make his people happy And you
must never forget that
Freedom comes from Gods right hand,
And needs sOdly train,
And righteous men must make your land
a nation once again.
General y BoIet Peraza, H. w. Peabody and
V Maestro Ambile also spoke.
General Palma was visibly pleased with the
dernonstra ton in his honor He will have the
CITY this morning for his home at Central Val
ley to make ready for his departure on Thurs
day.