The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-08-30
Now President for tho Cuban
Republic.

It In not often that an army in the field
votes in an election for civil officers of the
Government under which 1t wages war.
While the soldiers of the Cuban revolution
arc actively engaged in military operations,
they are also interested In a political situa-
tfon which Is Of Importance to their coun-
try, about which we have printed a number
OF informing dispatches. Last week the
election Of Deputies to the Assembly was
held in the province of Havana, the revo-
lutionists casting their ballots for candi-
dates of their choice, under the guarantees
contained In the Constitution of the repub.
lie. In Havana province there were b,O43
voters, all we'll armed, and all entitled
to express freely their political opinions.
There had been a good deal of %sanguinary
lighting In the days Immediately preceding
the election, but the men marched from the
battlefield to the ballot box, carrying their
rifles and machetes, fully prepared to meet
Spain at any moment. 1t was a serious
and significant incident; it honored the
revolution and the republic.
In other provinces of Cuba elections of
Deputies had previously been held, and
their features doubtless resembled those
of the election in the province of Havana.
The Spaniards had entertained the opln.
ion that the elections would be the cause of
dissensions In the Cuban camps; but they
have ascertained by this time that their
opinion was incorrect. There are political
divisions In revolutionary Cuba but they
do not Interfere with that unity of spirit
and purpose which has always existed in
the ranks of the arm of liberation.
The recent election of Deputies IL moro
especially important because of its relation
to the choice Of a new President of the
republic. The term of President CIsNERos
expires this week, or on Thursday next.
when the ballots for his successor will be
east by . body of delegates, sitting as a
constituent convention. Among the men
who have been spoken of as candidates for
the Presidency are the present incumbent
Of the office, and Gen. CALIxro GARCIA.
and DIR. EUsEBIo HERNANDEZ, and Sehor
TOMAS EsTRADA PALMA, and Gen. BAR.
ToLoME MAso. now the Vice. President. AS
for President C1sNERos, he told a CORE.
'0pondent Of THE SUN that he did not care
to be elected for another term "the
'Spaniards." he said gaily, paint me
as an aged invalid, but 1 feel strong
enough for service In the field" Gen.
GARCIA is a man of marked ability, we'll
fitted for the Office of President; but
he cannot be spared from the army, in
which he ranks next to the Commander-in-
Chief. DIR. HERNANDEZ Is a ~clear-headed
and energetic patriot. but he entertains
ideas regarding the civil government of
Cuba which are not In accord with those of
most OF his compatriots. Senior PALMA.
who has long acted as Cuban. envoy to this
country, is a man of many accomplish
ments, but he desires that another Cuban
shall fill the office of President.
There is very little doubt that Gen. MAso.
who has gained distinction as Presi.
dent, will be the successful candidate for
the first place in the Cuban Government.
tn case is almost determined In his favor
by the circumstance that he il the choice Of
the foremost leader of the Cuban revolution
In the letter of Gen. GOMEZ which we
printed last Saturday he gave utterance To
his hope that MAso would be the next
President OF the Cuban republic, and prom.
ised that he would advise the delegates IN
vote for him. "MAso was the soul of thc
revolution in its first days" said GOMEZ.
GOMEZ affirmed that he knew that three of
the provinces favored MAso, who, in his
opinion, would receive the votes of a ma.
Jority of the delegates. This letter of the
20 nmander-in'Chief Of the Cuban Army
1