The Cuban Republic
On May 20th, Governor-General Wood, according to his instructions from the President of the United States, turned over to President Palma and his Congress the government and control of the island of Cuba.
During the impressive ceremony President Palma, amid the cheers of the spectators, expressed his thanks to the Government of the United States for the fulfillment of its pledges and its kindly services to the new republic.
According to the Boston Herald, “the American flag was never more highly honored than when it was hauled down by Governor-General Leonard Wood from the Government building at Havana.”
There is probably no parallel in history of this act of the United States in which a nation, after having won so rich a territorial prize in war, eventually turned it over to its people for free government.