The evening times., 1898-11-09

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wooden pier, running out for over quar-
ter of a mile into the curling surf OF the
Caribbean; in the background a collec-
tion of more than usually miserable Gu
ban hovels with notified walls and
thatch-covered roofs; sunshine, vultures,
and filth. Such is the impression from
the sea of Santa Cruz del Sur, the ship
ping port of the southwestern portion OF
the province of Puerto Principe, and at
present Of Importance, from the gather
ing there of the first Cuban convention.
The garish tropical sunshine is mer-
ciless in its exposure of the enervating
aspects of the place. We lose the pic
| turesqueness of more subdued light.
| The irreclaimable habits of their occu-
| pants offend both the senses of sight and
smell The buzzRrds lighting with each
other in the narrow street seem more
unciean than ordinarily even in Cuba.
| The heavy coating OF dirt on the skins
of the unwashed legionarIes of Gomez
and Garcia look Inappropriate with the
! clear, cool waves washing the beach. The
rable, attenuated forms of the pacif
| icos, starvation and anaemia printed on
every face. tell their tale with more en-
| phatic force surrounded by the unfed.
short-limbed takers Of the Cuban party.
Maso's OfficiaI Residence.
In front, larger and more prominent
! than the other buildings. is a iat-roofed
! house, constructed Of wood. painted blue,
with two large windows looking seaward.
! over it flies the flag of Cuba Libre. AT
the door are two ragged guards, rifles in
! hand and machetes by side. a stream Of
/ officials flows in and out, some bearing
documents. all with an air of supreme i'm
portance. Mounted orderlies dashing up
and down. find d central spot here. a few
! horses are cOrralled in a small barbed
wire enclosure in front. Ii is the capitol
/ OF the town, the official residence of Ma
50. president of the Cuban Republic.
The convention has been in process of
| formation FOR many days Delegates are
arriving slowly, but with them come many
/ adherents. a large number of prominent
military leaders and huge crowds of Gu
! ban officers attracted by curiosity and
personal interest.
! The convention has been called in terms
OF the Cuban constitution, which provides
/ that before terms Of peace can be ar
| ranged or the liberating army disbanded
| convention of eight delegates from each
/ division Of the army shall be called 10
! arrange for the carrying out of these i'm
4 portant matters. In the present instance
4 the full number Of members elected is
! thirty-fiye. The quorum fixed by the con-
stitution is ten less. Until today this quo
rum has not been obtained consequently
no business has yet been done But the
1 coasting steamer JOsefita. stopping at
| Manzanillo. has brought the delegates
from Gen. Rabi's division. and these. with
1 those who have already arrived will make
the necessary number for the transaction
OF business at Santa Cruz. The only con-
! tingent now TO arrive is the delegation
from Villas.
In few days time the first meeting will
be held, but the proceedings will be of a
formal character Then the congress will
adjourn 10 Baradero. in the vicinity of
Havana, where the subsequet business
will be transacted. The small food sup
ply of the town is the cause of this change
OF location. 1t has been found absolutely
impossible 10 obtain sufficient food in
Santa Cruz to feed the huge crowd which
has invaded the sleepy little place. Prob
ably the selection OF a spot near Havana
is caused by the fact that the Cuban in
herents in the capital city have been ex-
ceedingly liberal recently in their con-
| tributions TO the Cuban cause.
Animosity of Cubans
l have talked with many of the Cuban
leaders with the view of obtaining an ex-
preston of their opinion IN regar.i To
the present situation. Through the con-
versation OF all there runs a vein of ami
I! mostly L. the United States and a scarce
/ ly veiled sentiment of antagOnism TO
| further intervention by America in the
4 affairs of Cuba. They do not understand
| they say. why the United States con-
templates q large scheme or garrisoning
the island with American troops. or why
| projects for improvement are discussed
and adopted without reference to them.
They will demand from the United
States clear expression Of its policy
toward Cuba, whether annexation is con-
! tempiated now or in the near future and
| whether, when the Spaniards have COM
pleted the evacuation. the islands will be
Cuban or American territory.
In a conversati ton held on board the
Josefita by Major Cardenas, of the Gu
| ban army, with a Spanish officer the for
mer stated that the assembly was Sc
| cretly making preparations for proba-
| BILE conflict with the American Govern
| ment in the event of the demand for the
| immediate turning over of the island II
the revolutionary party not being acced-
| ed TO. The feeling against America he
| stated. was very strong.
| l called on President Maso at the otfi-
| cial headquarters. but he declined to be
| interviewed or to discuss the political
! situation. The only remark he would
make was that he fully believed in Inc
| honest intentions of the american Gov
| ernment 10 deal honestly and Justly with
the Cuban people
| The aged Cuban political leader has
suffered severely by his recent illness and
| looks frail and worn. AS a figure in local
| politics his career is ended Capote's has
been the guiding hand in the provisional
/ government for a considerable time ard
there is little doubt that he will succeed
| as President. His strong personality has
| forced him to the front, while his man.
ners have gained him many friends
| Talking today on-board the steamer Jo-
| sefita he said:
| THE first question to which the assem-
| bly, will direct its attention will be of
| course the payment of the army and the
measures necessary for its final disband-
ment. The only solution which l see in
regard 10 payment of the insurgent
| troops will be to endeavor to raise
! small loan, guaranteed from Cuban reve-
| nues, for the payment of a sum on ac-
| count, and then issue certificates for pay
/ ment of the balance at some future
| time.
eff the Assembly. which represents the
| Cuban people, and is the legally consti-
tuted mouthpiece for the expression of