The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-05-06
CONGRESS N CUBA
Autonomy Begins to Play at
Autonomizing.
BLANC0 STATES HIS CASE
Complaining That SPANS
Reforms" Had no Show.
BLANCO STATES HIS CASE

gres of Cuba elected under the autono-
mist form Of government, was formally
opened today by Captain General Blanoo.
| Every effort was made by the Spanish
officials to give briniancy TO the occasion
| There was a procession, an imposing mill
ttary display, the streets were decorated
with flags and banners and the captain
| general made what was intended TO be
an impressive speech, in the course Of
which he said that if the declarations
OF the United States had been sincere
its guns ought today be saluting the first
/ Cuban parliament, instead of threaten
| ing the lives Of it's members.
! The volunteers at 1870 p. m. were drawn
| up ON both sides of the streets leading
/ from the palace to the hall of congress.
located in the building formerly known as
the Casino EspanoL From the time the
Autono mist government was established,
| the Casino was devoted to its purposes.
THE PUBLIC PROCESSION.
| At 2 p. m. the salute of 10 guns from
the Cabanas battery announced the de-
psarture of the captain general from the
! airy, and then, IN a landau, were General
Parade, the military commander of Ha-
vana; General Solano, chief of staff land
two adjutants, after which was a carriages
in which were seated Captain General
Blanco, General Pando, the commander
of the Spanish forces in the field; DR.. Con-
gosto, secretary general Of the govern
ment and General Blanco's adjutant
Following the captain generals carriage
were many officers on horseback and
after them came a detachment of tine
civil guards. A force of cavalry wound
| up the procession, which passed through
Obispo street, to the ParQue Isabella Ca
tolL to the Dragones thoroughfare and to
the hall of congress.
At the hall the members of the auton-
omous government were awaiting the cap
tain general and on his arrival there at
2:15 another salute of Is guns was fired
upon the fortress.
ASSEMBLY IN THE HALL.
Assembled in the hail. in addition to
the members of congress, the colonial
secretaries, ETC.. were Admiral Manterola,
General Losado. the civil and military
sus and the commanders and officers Of
the British cruiser Talbot and the French
cruiser Fulton. both OF which are In port
Besides the officers and officials there
wers present many representatives of the
Spanish nobility, the leading politicians
of Havana and representatives of the local
and some foreign newspapers. There
were also many ladies present. The cap
tain general was received with the great
est respect when he entered the hall,
which was finly decorated In the center
Of the hall, on the platform, was a big
center table, under a canopy and right
and left of tt were portraits of the little
king of Spain and his mother, the queen
regent.
General Blanoo took up a position be-
hind this table. At his right were The
members of the colonial government and
the secretary general Of Cuba On mis-
left stood General Parade, Pando and
Solano.
When aid the participants in the cere-
mony were in their places. the captain
general saluted, military fashion. and
read his message TO congress.
He said in substance:
BLANCO'S ADDRESS.
1T take great pleasure in seeing the
representatives OF this island united here
for the first time. In spite of the fact
that the United States has tried to i'm
pede the establishment of peace, Spain
has fulfilled her promises of introducing
reforms in Cuba and was approaching a
reconciliation and the ending of the war.
But the United States, though speaking
of peace and autonomy has tried 10 pre-
vent us from bringing them about.
"K the declaration OF the United States
had been sincere, Its guns ought to be
sa1uting today the first Cuban pa rliament.
instead OF threatening the lives of It's
members, and proving herself false to
their policy. ambitions and plans. Spain
has given the island all she is authorized
10 do for the purpose OF restoring peace,
and without any conditions. The autono-
mist form OF government established is as
ample as that OF the British colonies, and
/ Spain has declared that It will be made
more ample still, II such course is judged
| TO be necessary by che members Of this
congress.
Rigid customs and other rules were
I abolished in order TO help the reconcentra-
+ dos, the victims of the fight sustained by
/ the United States. We admitted free OF
/ duties the help sent from America, sent
/ for the purpose of increasing the resist
ance. In short. nothing has been left IN
/ done which might satisfy the aspirations
: OF the people. il compatible with the
! national honor.
/ "On the petition OF His Holiness the
/ pope. and the European powers. hostiiities
ware suspended in order 10 treat for peace.
: when. ignoring an this. the president OF
the United States declared thai the autoT-
omist form of government had turned OUT
n be failure. when parliament had not
even assembled, and the patriots Of the
United states were excited by the decla-
ration that Spaniards caused the Maine
I catastrophe. forgetting the generous hos
piialIty Ger sailors received here, And
now the United States is taking UP arms
10 impose IT'S domination. Before such an
outrage, spantards and CuoAns must unite
/ % defend the tatherland and ne recon-
/ cillaaon MI be al the more sacred N
view % the actual circumstances n the
+ case. The defenders Of SPAN and OF rae
autonomy o. Cuba al have Spanish blood
IN their veins, Or were bora on th5s soil. =
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