I beg in the name of my colleagues of the consular corps of Havana to express to you our high appreciation of the uniform courtesy and attention we have received at your hands during your tenure of office, which have not only tended very materially to facilitate the transaction of business, but have also made our relations with you very pleasant.

"In this manifestation of our appreciation we wish to associate with yours the name of your distinguished predecessor, Major-General Brooke, and those of the heads of departments of your government and of their subordinates.

"The President of the United States and the Secretary of War, no less than the nation itself, may well feel proud of the high character which their representatives in Cuba of all ranks have won for themselves, and of the esteem in which they are held. In bidding you farewell we beg to offer you Our heartiest good wishes for your future welfare."

The Stars and Stripes, which had floated so long over the palace, was now hauled down and the flag of the Cuban Republic was raised by General Wood and General Maximo Gomez.

FAREWELL OF AMERICA'S MILITARY TO THE CUBAN REPUBLIC-DEPARTURE OF THE "BROOKLYN" FROM HAVANA HARBOR, MAY 20TH, WITH GENERAL WOOD AND STAFF ON BOARD.

As the American flag descended a salute of forty-five guns, one for every State in the Union, was fired from the Cabanas fortress. Then, as the Cuban flag climbed briskly toward the sky, a salute of twenty-one guns was thundered by five American revenue cutters in the harbor and the flagship Brooklyn. The American and Cuban forces in front of the palace presented arms at the lowering of our flag. A commission of Cuban veterans raised the Cuban flag over Morro Castle, and the American flag was lowered by United States troops. Thousands of spectators cheered themselves hoarse during these ceremonies.

The Cuban Republic having been ushered into existence, General Wood and President Palma, followed by the staff, next walked to the wharf, where General Wood and his staff boarded a launch for the steamer Brooklyn, which left a few minutes before four in the afternoon. Some fifteen tugs accompanied her out of the harbor with whistles screeching and bands playing. A half hour previous the Morro Castle had steamed away with the troops. Every boat flew Cuban flags and the city was gayly decorated. Masses were said in all the churches, and there was a Te Deum service in the cathedral in the afternoon. Bells were rung in the churches and the rejoicing was universal.

President Roosevelt received the following cable message from President Palma in the afternoon :

"The government of the island having just been transferred, I, as chief magistrate of the republic, faithfully interpreting the sentiments of the whole people of Cuba, have the honor to send you and the American people the testimony of our profound gratitude and the assurance of an enduring friendship with wishes and prayers to the Almighty for the welfare and prosperity of the United States."

On the same afternoon Secretary Root telegraphed President Palma:

“Believe in my heartfelt congratulation upon the inauguration of the republic which the people of Cuba and the people of the United States have fought and labored together to establish. With confidence in your unselfish patriotism and courage and in the substantial civic virtues of your people, I bid you Godspeed, and on this happy day wish for Cuba for all time liberty and order, peace and prosperity."

In the House of Representatives the resolution of Mr. Hitt was adopted with applause:

"Resolved, That the House views with satisfaction and expresses its congratulations at the appearance this day of the Cuban Republic among the nations of the earth." Secretary Hay sent out instructions to all ambassadors and other diplomatic officers of the United States abroad to inform the governments to which they were accredited that the authority of the United States over Cuba had ceased and an independent government had been inaugurated. This constituted the formal notice of the United States government to foreign nations.

President Loubet of France expressed his good wishes for the new republic in the following dispatch:

"TO THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES:

"CRONSTADT, MAY 20.

"At the time when the Cuban Republic is proclaimed under the mighty aegis of the

United States of America, I make it my duty to offer your Excellency my very sincere felicitations and to send you the wishes that I form for the prosperity of the young republic."

The following telegram from General Wood was received at the White House on the night of May 20:

"PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, WASHINGTON, D. C.:

"I have the honor to report to you that in compliance with instructions received, I have this day, at 12 o'clock sharp, transferred to the President and Congress of Cuba the Government and control of the island, to be held and exercised by them under the provision of the Constitution of the republic of Cuba. The documents sent to me were read, and Mr. Palma, in accepting the responsibility on behalf of the island, expressed himself in kind and endearing words and thanked the republic of the United States and its officials for all that had been done for Cuba and for the fulfillment of promises made. The ceremony was very impressive. I embark on the Brooklyn with my staff for the United States."

Where shall we look in history for such an example of magnanimity as that of the United States toward Cuba? If we quote the action of the Roman Senate and people when, after the overthrow of Macedonian power, they declared the Greek cities free, the latter found they had simply made an exchange of masters. If Spain and Portugal were liberated after the Peninsular War, which cost England so much treasure and blood, the real motive was to deal a death-blow to Napoleon. We have expressed the gratitude which we shall always feel toward France, for her indispensable aid in securing our independence, and yet it is idle to maintain that one of the chief factors in such intervention was not the desire of the French statesmen to revenge themselves for the fall of Quebec and the loss of their American empire. It was a spasm of conscience and the prompting to right a shameful wrong that led Gladstone in 1885 to grant a qualified independence to the South African Republic.

The nearest parallel perhaps was England's renunciation of the Ionian Isles, given to her by the Congress of Vienna, and which she held for more than forty years. But the islands cost her little or nothing and had an insignificant value to her. On the other hand we paid a large price in money and lives for the liberation of Cuba, whose past history proves how tempting as a prize she has always been to us. In the days of slavery, the friends of the South were ready to go to unconstitutional lengths to obtain possession of the Pearl of the Antilles, and we know how often our citizens took part in the efforts to liberate her from Spanish rule. The assertion was often made after the peace of 1898, that Cuba rightly belonged to the American Republic and was certain to gravitate to her side. It is safe to say that a majority of our people believed that such would be the ultimate outcome, despite the pledge of our government to the contrary, but never was a more impressive illustration given, in ancient or modern times, of a great nation keeping its plighted faith, an illustration that is destined to shine like a beacon light among all peoples throughout the ages to come.

CHAPTER XVIII.

ROOSEVELT'S FIRST ADMINISTRATION, 1901-1904-CONTINUED THE PHILIPPINES.

WOULD

WOULD that we could tell the same pleasing story of the Philippines that has just been related of Cuba; but, at this writing, the trouble in that far-off archipelago continues, and though peace has come to the greater portion, there is a vicious guerrilla warfare in other parts, attended by atrocities that it is to be feared are not always confined to the side of the treacherous natives, for official investigations have brought to light more than one act on the part of our soldiers that cannot be justified by the laws of civilized peoples.

The last important incident which we recorded concerning the war in the Philippines was the death of General Lawton, December 19, 1899. Throughout the following year the Filipinos kept up a desultory guerrilla warfare outside of Manila, while that port and other places along the coast settled down to the ordinary pursuits of peace. A visitor to the metropolis of the Philippines at any time during the past two years would not suspect that there was the slightest enmity or ill will between the natives and the Americans.

In March, 1900, President McKinley appointed a Civil Commission composed of William H. Taft, of Ohio, President; Professor Dean C. Worcester, of Michigan; Luke E. Wright, of Tennessee; Henry C. Ide, of Vermont, and Professor Bernard Moses, of California, to "continue and perfect the work of organizing and establishing civil government already commenced by the military authorities, subject in all respects to any laws which Congress may hereafter enact." In his letter of instructions to the Secretary of War, the President dwelt fully upon the purposes of this commission, whose members reached Manila in the month of April. In his message to Congress, December 3, 1900, the President thus spoke of their labors and results:

"This commission, composed of eminent citizens representing the diverse geographical and political interests of the country, and bringing to their task the ripe fruits of long and intelligent service in educational, administrative, and judicial careers, made great progress from the outset. As early as August 21, 1900, it submitted a preliminary report, which will be laid before Congress, and from which it appears that already the good effects of returning order are felt; that business interrupted by hostilities is improving as peace extends; that a larger area is under sugar cultivation than ever before; that the customs revenues are greater than at any time during the Spanish rule; that economy and efficiency in the military administration have created a surplus fund of $6,000,000 available for needed public improvements; that a stringent civil service law is in preparation; that railroad communications are expanding, opening up rich districts, and that a comprehensive scheme of education is being organized."

April 7, 1900, Major-General Otis, military governor of the Philippines, was relieved

at his own request, and returned to this country. Major-General MacArthur became his successor and remained in command for the rest of the year. On June 21, he issued the following proclamation of amnesty to the Filipinos:

"By direction of the President of the United States, the undersigned announces amnesty, with complete immunity for the past and absolute liberty of action for the future, to all persons who are now or at any time since February 4, 1899, have been in

insurrection against the United States in either a military or a civil capacity, and who shall within a period of ninety days from the date hereof formally renounce all connection with such insurrection and subscribe to a declaration acknowledging and accepting the sovereignty and authority of the United States in and over the Philippine Islands. The privilege herewith published is extended to all concerned without any reservation whatever, excepting that persons who have violated the laws of war during the period of active hostilities are not embraced within the scope of this amnesty.