The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-05-21
New Republic Born Into the
Galaxy Of Nations
HAVANA GAILY DECORATED
General Wood and His staff EN-
barked on Vessel and Sailed
Away as the Cuban Flag
Was Hoisted.

Was Hoisted.
Havana, May 20.-The United States
has redeemed her promise to the world.
Havana and Santiago de Cuba were to-
day evacuated by American troops, the
reins of power were handed over TO Pres
ident Palma and now the government Of
land is delirious with joy.
Dramatic as was the remarkable dem
onstration when the flag of the United
States was lowered and the flag Of the
new republic hoisted in its place at noon
today on the place from whence Spain
had ruled the island for centuries, 1t
was hardly more stirring than the mag
nifcent friendly DEMONSTRATION which
attended the departure of the cruiser
Brooklyn as she sailed out of Havana,
just a few minutes before o'clock this
afternoon. General Wood stood on the
bridge of the cruiser and acknowledged
the ovation he received by bowling and
touching mis- cap.
The enthusiasm in the city was bound
less. Many persons were mad with joy
over their newborn liberty. The streets
women.
Motley PROFESSIONS paraded the plazas.
Giant fire crackers were exploded on the
sidewalks and even in the cafes. 1t was
like a combination Of an old-fashioned
American Fourth of July and national
convention.
One hundred thousand visitors were
said to be in the city, and the police were
utterly unable to cope with the joy-in-
toxicated people.
But President Palma and his cabinet
did not give way to rejoicing. AS soon as
the new government was installed Con-
gress met and proclaimed the constitu-
ton and appendix. President Palma re-
viewed 14OOO school children before the
palace and at o'clock he went to the ca
thedral where a Te Deum was sung for
the new republic.
The Natal Day.
The natal day of the Republic Of Cuba
found Havana arrayed like queen to
await the coming of her lord. She seemed
reinvested for the occasion with the dig
nifty of the prosperous days of her power
and wealth.
The decorations were universal. There
was not a residence. pretentious or hum
bic, that did not bear upon Its quaint
facade some emblem in honor of the
event The many arches erected at the
entrances of the plazas by political socie-
ties, fraternal clubs, residents of various
civil divisions of the city and business
organizations had an air of real grandeur.
Bunting spread on Venetian marts can
opied the deep. narrow streets from the
rays of the sun.
Peneath these canopies the Cuban colors
and palms graced the open doorways.
Nature seemed in harmony with the spirit
of the festivities. The parks were literal
ly ahame with tropical flowers and the
vaulted sky above might have been CHS
cled out of turquoise. Above every red
tiled roof rose Cuban flag. The whole
city seemed literally buried beneath a
Forest of waving banners
Decorations Lavish.
The decorations along the water front
were exceedingly lavish and all the
shipping in the harbor were dressed in
gala attire. The majority of the ships
flew the American insignia at the main
and the Cuban colors at the fore or miz-
zen.
The United States armored cruiser
Brooklyn, which was to take General
Wood away, and the steamer Moro
Castle, of the Ward line, on which troops
were to embark, as well as the foreign
warships which had been So t by their
governments to be present at the birth
of the republic were dressed with streams
of signal flags, fore and aft, man Of war
fashion. The American colors which were
to be hauled down in few hours, still
foated above the grim walls of the
fortress which guards the entrance of
the harbor. Not another bit of color
showed upon them.
The early morning was cool and de-
lightful, and the entire populace rein
forced by thousands of visitors were
abroad soon after daylight. The streets
were swarming with people and were
filed with ceaseless din. There are
1000 public carriages in Havana, and this
morning, each one of them seemed to be
racing somewhere on life or death mis-
sion.
Statue Aroused Curiosity.
Much curiosity was aroused by
statue of freedom, which had been raised
during the night In Central Park. upon
the pedestal where. for centuries. a
statue of Queen Isabella had stood. Dur
ing the morning DOunt1rul breakfast
was given to several thousand poor child
rem by Mr. Paine of Boston. who has
passed the winters in Havana for many
years.
The actual transfer of the control of the
island was scheduled to occur exactly at
noon, Havana time, which is 12:30 p. m.
Washington time. but those invited to
witness the ceremony were requested to
be at the palace at 11:30 a. m. They in
cluded, besides the American officers and
the members of President-elect Palma's
cabinet, the members of Congress, the
Supreme Court judges, the Governors of
the provinces. the officers of the visiting
warships the foreign consuls. William
jennings Bryan, the other visiting Amer
lean statesmen, several Of Senior Palma's
Central Valley (New York; neighbors,
Horatio Rubens, counsel for the former
Cuban Junta, Col William Astor Chanler
and few other specially invited guests.
The palace is an imposing yellow stone
structure, the upper stories of it's front
being built over a stone colonade giving
it a fine architectural effect. For centur-
les 1t was the residence OF the captain
generals of Spain. Since the American
occupation 1t has been the official head
quarters of the military governor. 1t
fronts an exquisite park. the Place de
Armar, with Its stately royal palms and
species of banyan trees. called "Laurels