The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1898-05-06
FIRST CUBAN s.
PARLIAMENT
Continued from First Page.)

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tried to prevent us from bringing them
about.
"If the declaration of the United States
had been sincere, its guns would be salut-
ing today the first Cuban parliament, in
stead of threatening the lives of its men,
bers and proving herself so false to their
policy, ambitions and plans. Spain has
given the island she is authorized to, for
the purpose for the restoi alton of peace
and without any conditions. The autono-
mist form of government established Is a
sample.
Rigid Customs Abolished
sRigd customs and other rules were
abolished in order to help the reconcentra-
dos, the victims of the fight sustained by
the United States. We admitted free of
duties the 'hep" sent from America-sent
for the purpose of increasing the existing
discords. In short, nothing has been left
undone which might satisfy the aspirations
of the people If compatible with the nation
al honor
ION the petition of his holiness the pope
and the European powers, hostilites were
suspended in order to treat for peace,
when. ignoring all this, the president of the
United States declared that the autonomous
form of government had turned out to be
failure when parliament had not even as
sembled and the patriots of the United
States were excited by the declaration that
Spaniards caused the Maine catastrophe,
forgetting the generous hospitality her sail
ors received here. And now the United
States is taking up arms to impose Its DOM
nation, Before such an outrage Spaniards
and Cubans must unite to defend the
fatherland, and the reconciliation will be all
the more sacred in view of the actual cir
cumstances in the case This defenders OF
Spain and of the autonomy of Cuba all
have Spanish blood in their veins or were
born on this SOIL"
Spain's Honor
Continuing, the captain-general said: "All
the new laws must be put in force July
l. Preference should be sivens to the meas
ures providing for public security and the
maintenance of the national honor of Spain,
the only country which can protect the de-
velopment 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 be-
tween both continents"
When he had finished reading his mes
sage, Captain General Blanco shouted:
viva Espana," which cheer was responded
to with considerable enthusiasm The cap
tain general then declared the Cuban con-
gress open and administered the oath to
the deputies. He was answered with a
spontaneous "yes."
About 2:3O D. M third salute of fifteen
guns from the fortress announced the de-
parture of the captain general from the
hall while a fourth salute of fifteen guns
announced his return to the palace.
At the palace the captain general, from
a balcony witnessed march past of the
troops.
Blanco Was Cheercd
The captain general was cheered all the
way to and from the hall of congress and
from the balconies ladies threw flowers
upon the procession and liberated doves as
sign of rejoicing.
I. The members of the Cuban congress,
previous to the formal opening of that body
held a meeting for the purpose of organiza-
ton. .f...a
DIR. Jose del Cueto presided. Thirty
seven deputies, of whom ten are conserv-
atives, presented to the-secretary of JUS
tice Senior Gown, their certificates of cleo
ton.