Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1906-10-04
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
Hurrying 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 quorum to act, and the
condition OF things generally were
such than on Saturday Secretary of
War Taft issued proclamation to the
people establishing a provisional gov
eminent, Of which he Is the official
head. One paragraph of the proclama-
ton 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 he war
vessels in the harbor and Governor
Taft Immediately asked for troops TO
be sent to preserve order. The war de-
from President Roosevelt. who is on
board the Mayhower. 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 or days,
and fnclu les two 0attalions from each
of the following regiments: Fifth. at
Fort ID. \. 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
tcries, Vancouver; and two companies
of engineers from Washington bar
racks.
1t Is 1oyy known that Brig. Gen
Frederick Funston, who is already in
Cuba is to be in command of all the
troops sent to Cuba. Col. T.. ID. Crow
der, OF the judge-advocate generals Of
flee, 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 Il 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 Il provisional gov
eminent Gov. Taft has nominated
Beekman Winthrop. governor OF Por-
TO Rico, for the provisional governor
ship here, recommending TO the Gu
bans Mr. Winthrop's special fitness for
the position. Mr.. TAFT says ;nat 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.
4 dispatch from Havana says Sec
rotary 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.
hull he. 10 ct on
outwardly of the great change that has
come. is tie little island squad of blue
coated marines who guard the treas.
my 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
telcst was the announcements that
600 United States soldiers had been
ordered To the island.
There came at once the wondering
ul cry 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 10 maintain peace without the
,trong nand OF the United States 10
guide them.
When Havana awoke Saturday
morning il was 10 read in the Official
Gazette the proclamation of Secretary
Taft announcing himself as official die
taiur o. the island republic. II had
6oen so thoroughly expected that there
was not even a ripple of surprise
Then. too, the cdict was reassuring in
bat ii declared that the regency woult
be merely temporary.
There arc many flowers yet 10
bloom, many sunsets vet to admire,
many red lips yet To kiss--but IL is
hard IN convince an man With a Ia