Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1902-05-22

the coming of her lord. She seemed
reinvested for tho occasion with the
dignity of tho prosperous days of her
power and wealth. The decorations
were universal. In some cases men had
worked all night by the light of
torches, to complete elaborate designs.
There was not u residence, pretentious
or humble, that did not bear upon its
quaint facade some emblem in honor OF
the event. The many arches erected ut
tho entrance Of plazas by political
societies, fraternal clubs, residents Of
various civil divisions of the city and
business organizations had IN air of
real grandeur. Above every red tiled
roof rose Cuban flag The whole city
seemed suddenly buried beneath a frost
Of waving banners.
The decorations along the water front
were exceedingly lavish and all the
shipping in the harbor WINS dressed in
gala attire. 4 majority of the ships
flew the American ensign at the main
and the Cuban colors at the fore or
miz2en. The United States armored
cruiser Brooklyn, which was TO take
Gen. Wood away, and the steamer
| MORO Castle Of the Ward line, on
which the troops were to embark, as
well as the foreign warships which had
been sent by their governments to be
present at the birth of the new Repub-
| lie, were dressed with streams Of signal
! flags, fore and aft, man of-war fashion.
! The American colCrs which were to lie
hauled down in few hours, still
| lloated above tho grim walls Of the
fortresscs which guard the entrance Of
| tho harbor. Not another bit Of color
showed upon them.
The early morning was cool and de-
| lightful, and the entire population, re-
| inforced by thousands of visitors, was
| abroad soon after daylight
As the day advanced tho heat Of the
sun became intense and the weather
| grew hotter every minute.
The actual transfer of the control of
| tho island was scheduled to occur
exactly ut noon, Havana time, which
| is 123O p. M, Washington time.
| Those invited TO witness the ceremony
| included, besides the American officers
and the members of President elect
| Palma's cabinet, the members of Con
greSs, the Supreme Court judges tho
| governors of. the provinces, the officers
of the visiting warships, tho foreign
consuls, William Jennings Bryan, the
other visiting American statesmen,
several of Sencr Palma's Central
Valley, New York, neighbors; Horatio
| Rubens, counsel for the former Cuban
Junta: Col. William Aston Chandler
and a few other specially invited guests
The ceremonies included the reading
of the following communication from
Gen, Wood;
TO the President and Congress of
the Republic of Cuba Srs: Under the
direction of the President of the United
States ] now transfer to you, as the
duly elected representatives Of tho
people of Cuba tho government ana
control Of the islands; to be held and
exercised by you, under the provisions
of the Constitution Of the Republic OF
Cuba. heretofore adopted by tho Con
stitutional Convention and this day
promulgated and | hereby declare the
occupation of Cuba by the United
States and the military government OF
the island to be ended
IAN money obligations of the mill.
tary government down to this date have
been paid us far Us practicable. The
public civil funds derived from the
revenues OF Cuba transferred to you
this day, are transferred subject tc
such claims and obligations property
payable out Of the revenues Of the
island as may remain.
The plans already devised for thu
sanitation of the cities of tho island,
and to prevent a recurrence of epidemic
and infectious diseases, arc thpn SO
forth. The proclamat on concludes IL!
follows:
at is understood in the UnitoC
States that the present government o
the Isle of Pines will continue Us
de facto' government, pending thu
settlement of tho title to said islant
by treaty, pursuant to tho Cuban Con
stitution and the act Of Congress 0
the United States, approved Marcl
I'd, 1901.
, 81 am further charged by the Presi
dent of the United States to deliver d
you the matter which | hand you. "
r President Roosevelt's letter is a
l follows:
A white House, Washington, d. C..
May 20, 1902. TO the President an
. Congress of the Republic of Cuba
= Sirs: On the Goth of this month th
Y military governor Of Cuba will, by IN
) direction, transfer to you the contrc
and government of the island of Cuba
to be thenceforth exercised under tn
provisions of the Constitution adopte
i by your Constitutional Convention d
y on that day promulgated; and he wi
q thereupon declare the occupation {
a Cuba by the United States to be at a
n end.
AT the same time | desire to c,
press to you the sincere friendship an
good wishes of the United States, an
~ our most earnest hopes for the stabilit
d and success of your government; fl
o the blessings Of peace, justice, pro-
!. perty and ordered freedom among 70,
:. people, and for enduring friendshi
between the Republic of the Unite
States and the Republic of Cuba.
q Theodore Roosevelt. !"
u THE FLAGS CHANGE PLACES.
= Senior Palma attached his signatu
to document, as President of Il
Cuban Republic, after an exchange
i congratulations, and the veteran Gle
~ Gomez assembled to the roof of ii
" palace where he was accorded gre
IN reception.
- Gen. Wood personally lowered Il
ID American colors, which were salute
M and with his own hand hoisted Il
nj Cuban tiag as an act of tho Unit
a States, Gen. Gomez assisting.
,s Ger. Wood and his staff and Il
IN American troops embarked immediate
n. after the hosting of tho Cuban fla
ID and the American ships steamed out
l. the harbor.
Tho Kidneys and the skin.