Jasper County Democrat, Volume 11, Number 69, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 30 January 1909 — CUBA HAS ITS JULY FOURTH [ARTICLE]

CUBA HAS ITS JULY FOURTH

Magoon Loses No Time In Leaving the Island. DEPARTS ON BATTLESHIP Havana Is Illuminated and All the Cases Ring With Noise of Celebration—Fire Crackers Are Exploded In Imitation of the American Indene fence Day Custom—Boat Accom- ?.. l ies M.-ine Out to Sea Bearing a . id Which Plays Anthem of the ’ .J; Republic. i. 29.—Within an hour 1 e ti ;ie Major General Jose .. Gt z was inaugurated president of th ? restored Cuban republic, ihe American officials who had been in control of affairs since the autumn of 1906, had departed from the island on battleships. The battleship Maine, with Governor Magoon aboard, was followed out of the harbor by the battleship Mississippi and the army transport McClellan. A chorus of whistles "Screeched a farewell salute. A Cuban gunboat accompanied the ships some little distance to sea with a band on board playing the Cuban national anthem. At night the city was brilliantly illuminated. The palace and other public buildings were aflame with electric bulbs. Fireworks were exploded with the same profusion that characterizes the Fourth of July in the United States and the cases were gay with music and singing. American control of affairs had been sharply criticised from time to time and Governor Magoon widely cartooned, but the authorities sent by Washington have endeavored to build up the Island and have spent money freely on good roads and public improvements of various sorts. As a result of this they have left a comparatively empty treasury. The island is prosperous and the revenues are increasing steadily, which In a great measure is compensatory. Telegrams of congratulation from President Roosevelt, President Elect Taft and Secretary of War Wright were read In Spanish to the throng.