Lecture by FIU Prof. Ricardo Castells regarding the third centenary of the publication of Miguel de Cervantes' Don Quixote celebration throughout the Spanish speaking world, but the Cuban commemoration was particularly problematic because of the social divisions that remained on the Island following the recent War of Independece of 1895-1898.  On the one hand, the conservative Diario de la Marina newpaper used the centenary to celebrate the cultural relations between Spain and cuba in an elaborate program held in what is now the Gran Teatro de la Habana Alicia Alonso. On the other, the University of Havana held its own commemoration one week later to honor Cervantes while simultaneouly proclaiming the Island's cultural and literary independece from Spain.  This talk analyzes how the speeches of four of the University's professors reflected an early optimism about the young Republic's boundless opportunities, even as they deal with the Island's recent colonial history.