The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-09-03
LETTERS FROM A CUBAN
GENERAL COLLAZO WROTE IN
JUNE TO RELATIVES.
Advised of His Election as One of
the Official Board, and His Ideas
Of the New Government.

Tampa, Fla, September 2.-Brigadier
General Enrico Collazo OF the Cuban
srmy has written several letters to his
family in this city on the situation of af-
fairs in Cuba The letters, though greatly
delayed. contain some interesting facts.
Under date of La Parras, Holguin, June
&C. 1897, General Collazo writes:
1--WE have just passed the electoral pc
riod with tranquility and the exercise OF
our rights OF liberty. There were $4,000
votes cast in the Oricnta the eastern d.
vision, which is composed OF the prov
inces OF Camaguay, Puerto Principe and
Santiago. The official board met at Mala-
noch June "a and declared the results.
The following are the names of those
elected by the first division; Enrique
Collazo, Aurelio Hevia, Tomas Pardo,
Manuel d'Espargie; while from the second
corps Boyama, Manuel Rodriguez, Jose
Fernandez Random, Jose Fernandez de
Castro and Carlos NJ. de Cespedes were
elected.
I'VE have not learned the result OF the
election in Camaguay, but expect to march
in that direction in about fifteeI or twenty
days. 1t is after this march that we viii
elected to the assembly. The final meet
ing to select the new government will he
held some time in September. | think we
will make the change of government with
out any difficulty and in conformity with
the law, so that the outside world can see
that in the midst of this terrible struggle
we can live together as a free people In
the exercise Of our just rights.
There has been but little doing in the
way OF operations recently. The excess
sive rains, the debility of the Spanish SOL
diers and their sickness has really para
lyzed all operations on their part, and we
can do but little"
In the next letter General Collazo, under
date of Potosi, Tunas, July IA, 1897, says:
I'VE have just passed n terrible crisis.
After nine months of drouth we were
without vegetables in the Orienta and
there were no cattle. There was no water.
We have an excessive population IN Hol-
guin--56, 000-end we were afraid that this
crisis would have Frustrated us. We are
able to bring from Camaguaya and Tunas
great herds OF cattle, which carried Us
over to the rainy season. Now we have
great abundance of vegetables ana all the
necessaries of life. We are assured OF the
final triumph. which will soon occur II
we are helped from the outside, but later
If we are left to ourselves. Success VIII
be ours ultimately"
By the same courier that brought over
these letters came the address of General
Colazo to be delivered 10 his constituents
upon his election as delegate. The ad-
dress shows that at a meeting OF the as
sembly, which elects the new president and
cabinet some time this month. radical
change will be made in the policy of the
government In his address General Col
lazo said regarding the change OF govern
ment:
I'VE have had until now government OF
war We need for the future govern
msnt of peace. respectful OF the law and
theoretically indorsing II, We must then
create a government In which the three
powers can act in perfect independence, but
at the same time helping each other as
guarantee of liberty.
I'VE will define by means OF more ex-
tended constitution the form OF republican
government we need, securing to each state
its individual government. The executive
power should be vested in the president.
who should be elected by the people, he
having the full power TO appoint his cab
inst or ministry being vested with power
over the army also.
1.-THE legislative powers should rest in
the house of representatives the members
OF which should be elected by popular vote.
the body performing its functions In
certain time. take a recess and be subject
| to q call. 1t viii call on the outgoing gov
ernmsnt or administration to give an ac-
| count OF It's actions, or this should be de-
manded at any time the good Of the coun-
| try demands II.
| "The judicial power should be independ-
| emit with tribunals in each State. which will
| intervene in all cases, military as well as
civil"