The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-02-02
CUBAN REPUBLIC
STARTED AGAIN
Major General Gomez Inaugu-
rated as the New President.
U. S. GOVERNOR MACON LEAVES
At Havana, Amid Great Enthusiasm
and With Simple Ceremony,
Cuban independence Was De-
cIared.

Havana, Cuba Major-General
Jose Miguel Gomez was inaugurated
President of the restored Cuban Re-
public, and within an hour after he
had taken the solemn oath of office,
administered by the Chief Justice Of
the Supreme Court, the American
officials who had been in control of
affairs since the autumn of 1906 had
departed from the island.
The American Provisional Gov
ernor, Charles E. Magoon, who escort
ed General Gomez to the palace and
there turned over to him the reins
of government, sailed on the battle
ship Maine. The Maine was followed
out of the harbor by the battleship
Mississippi and the army transport
Mcclellan An immense crowd gath
cred along the sea walls to witness
the spectacle, and swarm of yachts,
tugs and small boats accompanied the
ships to the open sea.
The departure of Governor Magoon
and the military officers, who served
DIS duVtSCIO 0ullAS JIG pei lOQ Va lAbCl
yention, leaves about 1000 American
troops still on the island, under com
mand of Major-General Thomas L..
Barry. These will be returned to the
United States
Cuba begins her new period of in
dependence under conditions which
seem propitious. 1t is believed that
the people will realize their oppor-
tunity and endeavor to make their
second attempt at self-government a
lasting success. The island is pros
porous and the revenues are increas-
ing steadily.
Inauguration day was brilliant
with sunshine and intensely warm.
Crowds began gathering in front of
the palace in the early forenoon. All
the ships in the harbor, including the
American battleships, put on gala at
tire of flags and pennants and bits of
signal bunting. The day marked the
anniversary of the birth of Jose
Marti, called "the apostle of Cuban
liberty" and the ceremonies began
at 8 o'clock in the morning with the
placing of a wreath on the memorial
tablet on the house where he was
born.
At II O'Clock Alfredo Zayas was in
Quoted into Office as Vice-President of
the Republic in the Senate chamber,
this ceremony being brief and simple.
1t was just after noon when Gen
eral Gomez stepped out on the palace
balcony on the second floor, accom-
panied by Governor Magoon and the
Supreme Court Justices. The crowd
cheered heartily, and then there was
silence as the Chief Justice read the
oath of Office, and General Gomez in
voice hardly audible to the throne
below pledged himself faithfully to
hold and defend the laws and the
constitution
The new President made a speech
of a few words from the balcony, anG
then, as the crowd cheered again, re
turned into the palace, where Gov
ernor Magoon read his final officia
address and the commission from
Washington, D. c., authorizing him tt
turn over the island affairs to Presi
dent Gomez and the new Congress
General Gomez read his reply il
Spanish.
Governor Magoon's speech was il
the form of a letter addressed to the
President and Congress of the Repub
lie of Cuba. After stating that by
direction of the President of the
United States he relinquished to Pres
ident Gomez the power and authority
which had been held and exercised
by him, Governor Magoon declared
the provisional administration at al
end
In closing Governor Magoon, on be
half of President Roosevelt, the Gov
eminent and the people of the United
States and himself, as retiring Pro
visional Governor, extended hearties
fluctuations and good wishes for the
success of the new administration
President Gomez, in accepting the
letter from Governor Magoon, said IL
part:
I'VE receive from you the govern
ment of Cuba which you turn over tt
us in compliance with the instructions
of the President of the United States
The constitution shall be upheld in al
it's integrity, because our chief con
Germ will be to preserve it inviolate
We shall faithfully adhere to tlt
treaty between the United States ant
Cuba"
kilograms of congratulation from
President Roosevelt, President-elec
Taft and Secretary Wright were reat
in Spanish to the throng, and while
congratulations were being exteD dec
to President Gomez, Governor Ma
COON hurried away.