The Yale expositor., 1906-10-05
THE PASSING OF
A REPUBLIC
THE UNITED STATES ASSUMES
CONTROL IN UNHAPPY
CUBA.
TAFT is NOW GOVERNOR
Palma Quits as President, Which
Forces Immediate Intervention
Hurryins Troops to the Island Now

The resignation of President Palma
which he refused to recall. the split in
the Cuban congress, which body was
left without a quorum to act, and the
condition of things generally were
such than on Saturday Secretary oil
War Taft issued proclamation to the
people establishing provisional gov
ernment, Of which he is the official
head. One paragraph OF the proclama-
tion shows the intent OF the United
States. Ii reads:
The provisional government hereby
established will be maintained only
long enough to restore order, peace
and public confidence by direction of
and in the name of the president of
the United States, and then to hold
such elections as may be necessary to
determine on those persons upon
whom the permanent government OF
the republic should be devolved."
Marines were landed from the war
vessels in the harbor and Governor
Taft Immediately asked for troops to
be sent to preserve order. The war de-
partment received wireless message
board the Maytiower, authorizing 1t to
send the first expedition from Newport
News as planned by the general staff
The first expedition is 10 sail from
Newport News in about 6 or 7 days,
and inclu les two 0attalions from each
of the following regiments: Fifth, at
FCrt d. A. Russell; Seventh, Fort Nc
Pberson; Twenty-seventh, Fort Sheri-
dan; Twenty-eighth, Fort Smelling;
Eleventh Cavalry. Fort Des Moines;
Fifteenth, Fort Ethan Allen; Seven.
teenth and Eighteenth mountain bat
teries, Vancouver; and two companies
of engineers from Washington bar
racks.
1t is now known that Brig. Gen.
Frederick Funston, who is already in
Cuba, is TO be in command of all the
troops sent to Cuba. Col. E. ID. Crow
der, of the judge-advocate generals Of
fee, is to be Secretary Taft's le-
gal adviser in the organization of the
lew government.
Mr. Taft stated that he expected to
remain in Cuba only a fortnight and
would then return TO Washington, as
affairs concerning the Philippine
islands and the Panama canal demand
ed his immediate attention. He has re-
quested Secretary Bacon to remain an
other week to further assist in perfect
ing an organization necessary to
thoroughly install a provisional gov
ernment. Gov. Taft has nominated
Beekman Winthrop, governor OF Por-
to Rico, for the provisional governor
ship here, recommending to the Gu
NNinthrpt,ig cnnnia1 EtnnCc
the position. Mr.. Tart says mat as
long as the provisional government
continues it will be under his super
vision as secretary of war.
Everybody is praising the tact of the
United States in avoiding the hauling
down of the Cuban flag. This is felt to
be a distinct act of courtesy and a
double assurance that the motives of
the United States are not sinister.
A dispatch from Havana says: Sec
retary of War Taft is in full charge of
the Cuban government and ex-Presi-
dent Palma, of Cuba, is a private citi-
zen and preparing to take his depart
ure from the island. never to return,
his friends say.
The closing scene in the death of the
first independent Cuban republic was
simple in the extreme. There was no
blare of bugles, no rufile of drums, no
marching troops or thronging specta-
tors when the United States secretary
of war took the reins of government
that had fallen from the hands of the
wavering Palma.
The Cuban flag still flies from gov
ernment buildings and the only sign
outwardly of the great change that has
come, is the little island squad of blue
coated marines who guard the treas
ury with its $25.000.000 in money.
There is no evidence of activity on
the white warships that ride at anchor
in the harbor Havana is quiet and
peaceful as any city in the world. OF
all the events that have occurred to-
day, the one that aroused the most in
terest was the announcement that
900 United States soldiers had been
ordered to the island
There came at once the wondering
query If they would ever depart There
is every faith in the good intentions
of President Roosevelt and Secretary
Taft, but there is always the haunting
belief with Cubans that they will not
be able TO maintain peace without the
strong hand of the United States TO
guide them.
When Havana awoke Saturday
morning it was to read in the Official
Gazette the proclamation of Secretary
Taft announcing himself as official die
tator OF the island republic. Ii had
been so thoroughly expected that there
was not even a ripple of surprise.