Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 34, Number 77, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 27 May 1902 — CUBA AT LAST FREE [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CUBA AT LAST FREE

United States Bids Godspeed to Liberated Patriots. ' ' - - ' - I A REPUBLIC IS BORN. Transfer of Government Is Made and Palma Inaugurated President. Realization of Hopes of Many Years 'Came When the American Colors Were Displaced by the Dine and White Loqe-Star Flag of Cuba—New Republic Makes Its Initial Bow to the Nations of the Earth. •r ■

CUBA LIBRE is now an established fact. The United States has handed over Cuba to the 3W Cubans and has jf withdrawn from ' /H Ike * s ' an( l with all the paraphernalia wSW of g o v e r b men t 3™ which has obtained W/ there since the Bl war. May 20, 1902, fl will long remain memorable in his-

tory. On that date President Palma was installed, andthelonghopedfor, eagerly awaited republic of Cuba made its initial bow to the nations. The giving over of Cuba to the Cubans in th.e inauguration of Palma as president of the republic marks the closing of an epoch in American history and the history of the world which has few-paral-lels and records the attainment of the

end for which for centuries Cubans have fought. The spirit of the Teller resolution, which was adopted by Congress just previous to the declaration of war with Spain, has dominated all the acts of the United States toward Cuba since the first fleet of United States warships was sent from Key West to Havana to maintain a blockade of the port. Those resolutions pledging the United States to es-

tablish a Cuban republic dominated W a I Cuban government ami disclaiming any purpose to seize the island for the purpose of annexing it to the United States have been fulfilled to the letter. Upon the transfer of government and control to the President and Congress of Cuba Brig. Gen. Wood, the retiring governor general, advised them that such transfer was upon the express understanding ami condition that the new government does thereupon and by the acceptance thereof, pursuant to the provisions of the appendix to the constitution of Cuba adapted by the constitutional convention \>n the 12th of June. 1901. assume ami undertake all the obligations assumed by the United States with respect to Cuba by the treaty between the United States of America and her majesty the Queen Regent of Spain, signed at Paris on the 10th day of December. 1898. Gen. Wood's order further read: It is the understanding of the government of the United States’ that the government of the island will pas’s to the new President and Congress of Cuba as a going concent, all rho laws promulgated by the government of occupation Continuing in force and effect aud all the judicial and subordinate executive and administrative Offices continuing in the lawful discharge •f their present functions until changed by the constitutional officers of the new government. At the same moment the responsibility of the Udi ted States for the collection and expenditure of retenues and for the proper perfonqynce of duty by the officers and employes of the insular garemineut trill end, and thu responsibility of the new government of Cuba therefor will cvmmance. Constitution's Provisions. The Cuban constitution makes it impossible for the island government to enter Into any treaty with foreign powers which will tend to impair -its independence, to go in debt beyond its ordinary revenue receipts and to invalidate nny acta of the United States during its military occupancy. Cuba has given her pledge to keep up the sanitary condition of the island. The Cuban government has also a freed that the United States may exercise the right to intervene for

the preservation of Cuban independence for the maintenance of a government adequate for the protection of life, property and individual liberty and for discharging the obligations with respect to Cuba imposed by the treaty of Paris upon’ the United States, now to be assumed and undertaken by Cuba. The Cubans have further agreed to sell or lease certain lands for coaling stations and to omit boundaries of Cuba the Isle of Pines, the title of which is to be left to future adjustment by treaty. With the exception of these few provisionfe the republic of Cuba enters upon its career of independent government absolutely free and untrammeled. During his occupancy Uncle Sam has spent millions of dollars on the island that he will never get back and has done a wonderful amount of work in bettering its condition. New roads have been constructed and old ones repaired, streets have been cleaned and improved, sewers have been built and parks laid out, the governmental machinery has been organ, ized, the yellow fever has been stamped out all over the island, and its sanitary conditions have been so thoroughly improved that if the work is continued there will be no menace in the future from Yellow Jack for either Cuba or the United States.

A RETROSPECT. . T.'... Brief Review of Events Coining Out of the War. The occupation of Cuba by the United States practically began with the landing of Shafter’s army at Siboney on June 22, 1898. The previous events in the drama for the liberation of Cuba from the tyranny of Spain began with the destruction of the Maine on the 15th

of the previous February. This was followed after a period of great national excitement by the declaration of war against Spain by Congress on April 21. A powerful fleet had previously been assembled at Key West, and this was at once sent to Havana to blockade that port. Next to the destruction of Montejo's fleet at Manila by Dewey on May 1. the discovery df Cervera's fleet in Santiago on May 29 was the most impor-

taut of the preliminary events of the war. That discovery, followed as it was by a successful blockade of Santiago harbor, enabled the assembled troops at Tampa to take transports for the south-

ern coast of Cuba to begin operations against the city and harbor of Santiago. The destruction of Cervera’s fleet on July 3 by Schley was the next event of importance. It hastened the surrender of Santiago, which occurred on July 27.

From that time Cuba was in our possession. The military control was con tinned without cessation in all of the provinces. Gen. Wood became governor general in the early part of 1900, and under his direction a constitutional convention was assembled in 1901. It adopted the organic law upon which the new goyern--ffiSHfTSTounded. After the constitution had beeif ratified by the people elections were held and Tomas Estrada Palma was elected President of the new republic. A Senate and House of Representatives were also elected, and now by the official order all these are centered in a free Cuba, free now to become a national power.

FIRST MINISTER TO CUBA. Herbert G. Squiers. Selected for This Important Place. The first minister from this country to Cuba will be Herbert Goldsmith Squints. He is at present first secretary of legation

at Pekin and has been*, there four years. During the siege of 1900 he was chief of staff to Sir Claude MacDonald. He distinguished himself for his bravery and it WWlargely througti his military knowledge that the legation was saved. His courage is. no greater than his ability

ns ir diplomat, and both qualities are necessary in the man who goes to deal with the peculiar situation in the island republic. Prior to his service at I’ekin Mr. Squiers was located for four years in Berlin, as second secretary of the American embassy. Gen. Edward. S, Bragg of Wisconsin has been named as consul general at Havana. Gen, Bragg is a Cleveland Demo-

crat aud was commander of the “Iron Brigade’’ in the Civil War. Gen. Bragg after serving a term 4n Congress was made minister to Mexico. He is 75 years old, having been . born in Unadilla, N. Y„ on Feb. 20, 1827. Gen. Bragg entered the Union army as a captain in 1861,

and was promoted through successive grades until he became a brigadier general. The salary of consul general at Havana is $5,000.

RAILROADING IN CUBA.

Wretched Lines Which Charge Passengers 12 Cents a Mile. Cuba has 124 railways, with more than 2.000 miles of track for the lot, yet traveling ’in Cuba is not cheap. There are

lines which charge passengers 12 cents a mile. The average rate is about 7 cents for first-class passengers and 5 qetits for second class, and travel on some of the lines means many hours of miserable jolting over a wretched roadbed. Freight rates are as exorbitant as passenger rates. So detrimental is the railroad extortion to the welfare of the country, in fact, that a modification of rates by military order was talked of, but the legality of the step was doubtful. The entire railroad system of the island is valued at $70,000,000. But of the 124 lines only seventeen are public lines in the generally accepted sense. The rest are private roads, built for the transportation of sugar caue to the grinding mills. What to Avoid in Cuba. Many things should be avoided by the newcomer in Cuba. The hot midday sttn; the heavy tropical dews; sitting tn clothing damp with inspiration*.. liouors and tropical fruits; they must be left aloue. Rush methods in the tropics mean Joss and not profit.

PRESIDENT PALMA.

STREET SCENE IN HAVANA.

PLOWING IN CUBA.

H. G. SQUIERS.

GEN. E. S. BRAGG.

TYPICAL SCENE IN CUBA’S INTERIOR.