Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-05-20
| t CUBAN 5: DREAM
Ere. dom for a Cent
uarv at Last Is
REALIZED
~e,neNT PALMA TOOK TIE
n oath OF OFFICE
TODAY.
=. Island People Are Now Happy
That They Are Free from
Spanish Tyranny.
WHAT PRESIDENT PALMA SAYS

,1ouona Cuba. May 20.-The ne"
,enuhlic was ushered in vita
c..;,o ceremonies today. 1t was fete
-, +broughout the island, day to
u,h;ch every patriotic man, VIC
.on ond child has been looking for
rd since earliest rccollectlon-the
dow of Cuban freedom. In the capltd.
- was nshered in with the booming
of cannono. the playing OF bands. the
discharge of fireworks and othef
,oisy manifestations of the people 5
d6l;ohte It was a holiday everywhere
pnsiness was almost entirely suspend
OIL while the people gave themselves
I'D to the full enjoyment Of the ocea.
sion The Cuban flag Was everywhere
disnlayed. but scarcely less in eHi,
dence was the Stars and Stripes.
At an early hour the people began
to assemble about the palace where
the ceremonies OF tie day-tne trans
fer 0f the insuiar government from
the United States ia the newly elect
ed republic-Were held. The repnhl!-
can simplicity marks the launching Of
the latast-boln among the family OF
nations. p;lt tho ceremonies neVerthe.
less were extremely impressive. The
hall in which rhe ceremonies We're
crowded with notables. The chief
actors were General Wood. the Getir
ing governor OF the island, AMI his
staff, and Senor Thomas Estrada Pa!
ma. president Of the new republic
and other officials of the naW insuiar
government
General Wood made a brief speech.
stating, in substance. that he had re-
ceiyed notification of the election of
the president and congress: that this
newly elected body had signified its
readiness to undertake the grave re
sponsibilities of government. and that
the hour fur the inception of its du-
ties had arrived In the name Of the
United States he charged it with the
significance of the terms CT the Paris
treaty, and called upon it to subscribe
to faithful compliance to the stipu-
lations Of the Platt amendment.
President Palma replied in the
name of himself and his companions.
He asked General Wood to inform
President Roosevelt and the people of
the United States of the Cubans S
gratitute for the fulfllment Of their
desires and aspira tions to be an indie
pendent people.
These brief ceremonies concluded
'he Cuban government was declared
lo be in force. its flag raised over the
palace and the change of authority
publicly proclaimed. The church bells
through Havana were rung in JOY
oEs celebration of the event and a
solemn high mass y. thanksgiving
was celebrated in the cathedral In
the afternoon General Wood. with his
stan, went aboard the cruiser Brook
yn which is to convey him to WASH
Just before leaving the. United
States, which has so long been his
home. although his heart has been in
O"oH' 1CIl dluld was GSkou O1 HIS
plans and hopes for the islands.
nadvanceofmyplan vbgk bgkq qqf
IT would not be proper for me to
peak in advance of my plan" he said,
bat can say that Cuba needs pol
ey turning hey eyes to the future and
naking her forget the past. Let the
,iimes of other DAYS be buried-swal-
owed up in the darkness Which sur
'oNnds those years of onfict. Let us
oiiow the eXamole Of Lincoln and
irant
Let us have peace, and in the
brightness ot tomorrow forget the
1lght and errors OF the past; let feu1s
md controversy cease; let us think Of
'ur children. of the prosperity that is
o be theirs tomorrow. and all will be
we'll.
We want wise and honest govern
nent, and, above all, protection aud