The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-09-23
CUBANS AT SANTA CRUZ
SEAT OF GOVERNMENT CHANGED TO
A DESOLATE VILLAGE.
Affairs of the "Republic" Discussed
by Vice President Capote-His
Visit TO Washington.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA Sept 22-Two
hundred miles west of Santiago is the desc
late fishing village of Santa Cruz consisting
of single struggling street along the
shore surrounded by vast swamps. Here
the Cuban government has established
headquarters and during the past month
has held sessions for the conduct of affairs
of the several towns in complete charge
of the CubanS. The administration building
an old store fronting on the sea- is poorly
furnished with chairs and tables only When
the Associated Press correspondent arrived
at Santa Cruz, two nights ago, he was con-
Quoted into the Office of Vice President
Capote where, around a table lighted only
by a candle in a bottle, the officials of the
embryo government were engaged in writ
ing orders and other legislative documents.
The reason for the change of the seat of
government from Camaguey is the facilita-
ton of travel of the delegates and officials
by boats
With reference to Cuban affairs, Vice
President Capote said to the correspondent:
When war between the United States and
Spain was declared the government decided
unanimously to assist and cooperate with
the Americans to secure the independence
of Cuba, designating me to act as special
envoy to see President Mckinley with re-
gard to the best methods to make the CO.
operation most effective. Though | was not
received officially, with the Presidents con-
sent saw several members of his Cabinet,
and my efforts for the establishment of
friendly relations and regular communion
ton with the United States resulted favor
ably. / had no difficulty in arranging the
necessary particulars of this relation AL
though formal recognition of the Cuban
government was not given me- nevertheless
the President and other officials in Wash
ington realized that the body of men which
/ represented constituted the government in
the minds of thousands of Cubans, and was
the real official voice of thousands OF men
then under arms and of practically all those
who were in sympathy with the revolution.
The result of this conference was that was
assured that the United States would CO.
operate directly with those at the head of
affairs in Cuba for the attainment of the
objects of the war. This contented me, as
felt that the Cubans would receive all the
necessary assistance from the Americans to
establish a permanent and stable govern
nent, whether the Cuban government was
recognized or not.
when | returned to Cuba / found that
my compatr1ots were perfectly willing to
help in any way to carry out the policy
which the United States set forth in the
act Of Congress relative to the war. The
Cubans under arms have been obedent to
the Cuban government as constituted, and
the government has felt that 1T not only
owes duty to the army, but to the Cuban
people VINO nave upneIQ It's supremacy, anu
that it should not dissolve now that the
American government has achieved noble
victory, without leaving to the army that
for three years has been obsdient to 1t the
property instructed to it. The purpose of
the government since peace has been prac-
tcally declared has been to settle the ques-
tions to the maintenance of the army, to
give opportunity for all who desire to lay
down their arms and seek work, end to re-
solve into proper form the laws existing
among the Crbans. In relation to the ne
cessites, arising under the some what Pc
culiar circumstances as far as possible the
Cuban people through this government are
endeavoring to settle justly all the ques-
tions pertaining to the relations between
them and the Americans.
THE United States government has taken
con rlete control of affairs in this province,
and is ! believe, conducting them in the
right spirit. My own fear is that if the Gu
ban government. as it is now constituted,
is left out of all consideration, and if au-
thority is taken away from it, the Ameri-
can government. by ignoring its authority
before its own people; may. perhaps, find
it more difficult to settle the problem of es-
tablishing a permanent government among
the people. who, for three years, have
looked to the Cuban government as the con-
trolling power