The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-04-22
CUBA BECOMES PALMA
ENrHusrAsM OVER ARRIVAL or
 THE PRESIDENT.
oibara's Population of 5000 Aug mented by Many Others to Fay Tribute to the Island's
 First Executive.

New York. April 2l.--GeneraI Thomas Estrada Palma, President-elect or the Cuban republic. who arrived on the steamer Admiral .Farragut, from Old Point Comfort. av., was greeted, says a Gfbara, Cuba, dispatch to The Tribune. with great enthusiasm Gibara's popu- lation of 5000 was augmented by as many more who came from all parts of the is- land. from Havana to Santiago to pay homage to a manly love. During the voy- age the weather was magnificent and General Palpa's foreboding of seasick- ness was not realized.
 When the steamer anchored in Gibara greeted General Palma. His face bright ened at the scene before him. How dif- ferent was his return to Cuba He left Tn chains and came back with his path literally strewn with roses. The harbo- was kaleidoscope of color and animal tion. From every craft flew the flag of Cuba fibre and the Stars and Stripes. Old friends who had known General Palma in the ten years war and had shared with him the hardships and suf- ferings of many campaigns, came on board and embraced him. Many were In tears. The vessel was soon crowded with members of committees. representing dir- ferent cities, who came out in steamers uAo iduAiCiicS WAACh WCTc ucCOTVlteu rom stem to stern from the mast to the water line.
 After a quarter of an hour of informal talk. General Palma and his party were taken ashore in launch. It was when he put his foot on the pier that the bent up enthusiasm of his compatriots broke forth in earnest.There were rounds of cheers by the natives, as they crowded around their President-elect, which could nave been heard clear across the bay.
 (NASrodAur fa~-, welcome and then proposed three cheers Tor the first President of the Cuban re- p4niic They were given with will.
 With the village band playing the Cu- the principal street. whence the Presi- dent-eiect and members of the committee were drawn in a carriage by a score of sialwart Cubans to the city hall. Every eiace e,a.S or vantage along the route was Hleo. Men, women and children crowded and pushed to embrace and shake the hands of the veteran.
 Arches had been built across every street which led to the city hall. Not a nouss .so m all Gibara was without decora- the nag Of Cuba. and from almost as many were displayed the flag Of the Init ca States. While the red and yellow Solors or spain were conspicuous on the the welcome. Garlands of roses and palms figured prominently in the deco rauons. A procession headed bv a Se- aa. sdcninent or the 10th United States Cav y' an2 commanded by Lieutenant Hart, school children and women proceeded with the Palma party to the city han and tnen lined up on each side to allow his was oarr'age & 10 pass. Every woman and girl they threw into the carriage. "Ae"
 1enera! Palma sat with bared h..s ooM"ns m response to the cheers I Mss sss oeepiy affected by the demonstra sisted % rse m ceremonies at the city hail e con n members of the Council Geners, paysor, pas,.., ano Gonzales de Quesada, Mayor rasrn aes spoke eloouently of the gratitude tbet snS tGoan people owed to General Palma oeive th. h3nor a or being the first to re. nnre. His countrymen, he said trnste1 hs heneiai Palma implicitly and would aid nm m every way toward a Successful administration of his office. with aon,s rdima; a,nasn in responding spoke overcome by the reception given him. He 'neEan Dy proposing cheexs for Cuha I;hre a,s ana Tor the United States. He said the tio,, Sooan people should with the inaugura- sion oi tneir Independent government anandon politics and give their attention 10 the betterment and reconstruction of tneir country It was his ambition to that pbsns ,h the various elements together so A""y aiI WOTk to one end fha building up of Cuba. He promised to devote henceforth all his time, knowledge and energy to bringing about this resuit
 He freduentlv was interrupted with cries of Viva Palmai Viva Cuba Iibret'
 The Mayor then granted him the free dom of the city.
 Senor de Quesada, in his speech. said me happy union that now exists between the two people was an omen of future peace and prosperity; that their interests were so closely allied that it was to their mutual interest to continue the good per- sonai relation so apparent in the demon-
 General Palma then held public re- ception. and was overwhelmed with con- and good wishes The pro cession reformed and the party was es- corted to private house, where the peo- pie insisted on again hearing from their President. who addressed them from the balcony. It was with reluctance that thevl dispersed when he withdrew for a few hours rest and conference with hjs | friends. There was little of the former however. for all day there was a con, stant flow of visitors to pay their re- l spects in person. The exercises culmi- | hated in the evening with a banouet and ball at the Union Club
 General Palma will resume his iournev Monday evening. Holguin will be the next stopping place.