The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-05-06
BLANCO OPENS CONGRESS-
AUTONOMY LAUDED BY THE
CUBAN CAPTAIN GENERAL

Grave Attempt at Show Made by
the Spanierds in Inaugurating
the First Parliament Elected I'm
der the Scheme of Government
for the IsIand-Bftter Sentiment
Against United States Expressed,
HAVANA, May 4 delayed in trans
m1Sston).-The first congress of Cuba
elected under the autonomous form Of
government, was formally opened to-
day by Capt. Gen. Blanco. Every eff
fort was made by the Spanish officials
to give brilliancy to the occasion There
was a procession, an imposing military
display; the streets were decorated with
flags and banners, and the captain gen.
eral made what was intended to be
an impressive speech, in the course of
which he said that if the declarations
or the United States had been sincere,
It's guns today ought to be sa1uting the
nrst Cuban parliament, instead Of
threatening the lives of it's members.
The volunteers at 1890 p. m. were
drawn up on both sides of the streets
leading from the palace to the hall Of
congress, located in the building for
merly known as the Casino Espanol.
From the time the autonomist govern
ment was established, the Casino was
devoted to it's purposes.
At 2 p. m. salute OF fifteen guns
from the Cabanas battery announced
the departure Of the captain general
from the palace. First came a de-
tachment of cavalry and then, in
landau, We're Gen. Parade. the mill
taly commander of Havana; Gen. Soda
no, Chief Of staff, and two adjutants,
after which was a carriage in which
were seated Capt. Gen. Blanco, Gen.
Pando, the commander of the Spanish
forces in the field DR.. Congosto, sec
rotary general of the government, and
Gen. Blanco's adjutant.
officials in Line.
Following the captain generals car
riage were many officers on horse
back, and after them came a detach-
ment of the civil guard. A force of
cavalry wound up the procession which
passed through Obispo street, to the
Parque Isabella Catolica, to the ORA
cones thoroughfare, and to the hall of
congress.
At the hall the members Of the
autonomous government were awaiting
the captain general, and on his arrival
there another salute Of fifteen guns
was fired upon the fortress.
Assembled in the hall, in addition to
the members Of congress and the col
onia1 secretaries, were Admiral Man.
terola, Gen. Losado, the civil and mill
tary authorities, the bishop, the foreign
cOnsulS and the commanders and Off
GERS of the British cruiser Talbot and
the French cruiser Fulton, both of
whom are in port.
Besides the officers and officials there
were present many representatives Of
the Spanish nobility, the leading politi-
Clans of Havana, and local representa-
tives Of Havana and some foreign
newspapers. There were many ladies
present.
The captain general was received
with the greatest respect when he en-
tered the hall, which was finely decor
ated. In the center Of tine hall ON
platform was a table under a canopy,
and right and left Of it were portraits
Of the king of Spain and his mother,
the queen regent.
Gen. Blanco 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
his left stood the secretary general Of
Cuba and Gems. Parade, Pando and
Solano.
When all. the participants in the cere-
mony were in their places, the captain
general saluted, military fashion, and
read his message to congress. He said:
I take pleasure in seeing the representa-
tine. In spite of the fact that the United
States has tried to impede the re-establfsh-
ment 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 au-
tonomy, has tried to prevent US from
bringing them about.
If the declaration of the United States
had been sincere. Its guns ought to be
salut.ng today the first Cuban parliament
bers and proving so false to their ambi-
lions and plans. Spain has given the
island all she is authorized to do for the
purpose of restoring peace. and without
any conditions. The form of government
established is ample as that of the
British colonies. and Spain has declared
such a course is judged to be necessary by
the members Of this congress.
Rigid customs and other rules were abol-
ished in order to help the reconeentrados.
United States. We admitted free of duties
the "he.p' sent from America, sent for
the purpose of increasing the existing dis
cords. In short nothing has been left un-
done which might satisfy the aspirations Of
the people, If compatible with the national
honor.
On the petition of his holiness, the pope,
and the European powers, hostilities were
suspended in order to treat for peace.
Ignoring all this. the president of the
United States declared that the autonomous
form Of government had turned out to be
a failure, when parliament had not even
assembled, and the patriots Of the United
spaniards caused the Maine catastrophe,
forgetting the generous hospitality her sail
ors received here.
And now the United States is taking I'D
arms to impose its domination. Before
such an outrage, Span1ards and Cubans
must unite to defend the fatherland and
the reconciliation will be all the more
sacred in view Of the actual circumstances
in the case The defenders of Spain and
Of the autonomy of Cuba all have Spain's
blood in their veins, or were born ON this
SOL.
All the laws must be put in force on July
l. Preference should be given to the
measures providing for public security and
the maintenance Of the national honor of
Spain, the only country which can protect
the development Of this colony and bring
about the formation of a great country
united to the old Castilian nation, and at
the same time be the mediator in the new
world, between both continents.
Oath Administered.
When he had finished reading his
message, Capt. Gen. Blanco shouted
viva Espana." which cheer was re-
sponded to with considerable enthusi-
asm. The captain general then declar-
ed the Cuban congress open and adj
ministered the oath to the deputies. He
asked all of them if they swore to al
ways defend Spain, and was answered
with spontaneous Eyes"
At about 2:30 p. m. third salute of
fifteen guns from the fortress an
nounced the departure of the captain
general from the hall, while fourth