The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-06-18
WHEN g||BADS MEET
y
In Convention to Form a Gov
eminent of Their Own
CUBAN LEADER SUGGESTS
They Had Better Get Togeth-
er in the United States.

Washington, June 1.-THE mission Of
DR.. Fidel G. Pierra and his associates Of
tbs Cuban commission. now IN this city.
has not yet been accomplished. but the
reception accorded them by the presi-
dent and the assistant secretary OF war
has been so cordial as to inspire them
with strong hopes Of success. Their
main purpose in coming to washington
Is, as b known, to secure the repeal or
marked modification of the decree OF Gov
ernor General Brooke extending the period
within which debts contracted In Cuba
before the beginning Of the present year
may be paid.
To the question, ''Have you considered
the question how the Cubans are to de-
eide, when the proper time comes. what
form OF government they wish?" MI.
P.erra replied today as follows:
THAT is something which the United
States government will do well to con-
slider with great care. 1 have my own
notions, Of course. I would have the
question decided, not by plebisc!te, but
by a convention held not in Cuba, but in
the United States. 1 would get It Is far
away as possible from local influences,
not only so that its action as body
should be free from the impulse of petty
motives, but so that the members per
sonally would be under no temptation to
cut capers for the admiration OF the
crowd. They would feel that they were
under the eye not of their sympathizing
b,Yk 0R Ia nalF M r.
ested people of the United States. This
would put them on their good behavior,
for they would wish to prove the Cuban
capacity for self-government.
elm electing delegates to this convention
I should be very Hath to have universal
suffrage. Let US begin right. Universal
suffrage is an easy thing to adopt, but
very hard thing to get rid of. I should
rather set the date Of the vote some dis
lance off, and announce that an educa-
tional test, or a combined educational and
property test, would be required. This
would give the people Of Cuba an incen-
tive to industry, so as to fit themselves
to take part in the election. 1t Is most
interesting to see the way the poor people
are already grasping at the opportunities
offered them for the rudiments Of en- edu-
cation. Schools which have been set up
since the end Of the revolution by pri-
vate enterprise are well filled, and with
an earnest get Of pupils comprising all
ages and both sexes. Even old men and
women have no false pride about coming
to the night schools. This Is a most en-
couraging sign
Are the people of Cuba firmly grounded
in their desire for peace from this time
forth?"
Beyond question. From the highest to
the lowest they are sick and tired Of war
You read sensational stories Of intrigues
and plots, but they do not represent a
condition-simply a few sporadic in
stances. Here and there you will undoubt-
edly meet with a violent reactionary, who
wants to turn things over or at least to
hear his own voice in defamation; but
he has no following. You have the same
kind OF men in this country. Here and
there you will find one man, or two o.
three, engaged in brigandage. You have
brigands in this country, but they do not
represent a serious flaw IN your republic
The average Cuban Is pb~ceable and law
abiding, with the making Of a good citi-
zen In him. Moreover, few preventive
measures are vastly better reliance for
freeing Cuba from crime than almost any
number of puntice measures. Establish
your civil guard in the provinces and you
will get rid OF brigandage-the little that
does exist-because its woud-be perpetra-
tors will be afraid to attempt It In Ha-
but you can leave your house door open
without fearing robbery. That is because
the police are known to be always on the
watch. and because they have behind
them the American soldiers in case of an
emergency. 1 could walk through the
streets OF Havana tomorrow with a hand
ful OF gold spread on my palm, and l
should not be afraid Of footpads
But what is, after all, the best Sc
curity for peace is a contented people
The people will be contented IL they are
fed. They cannot get food unless you
can give them work. You cannot give
them work unless there IS capital blvested
In Cuban industries; and you cannot get
capitalists TO make such Investments IN
less you can offer them a reasonable Sc
curity against loss. There Is the sum-
mary Of the errsnd OF this commission
to the United States. I feel confidennt
that we shall be successful, for I/have
yet 20 sea the time when your great ma
ton is not ready to do the right thing,
IL Il Is convinced what the right thing
49,
STRIKERS STILL Rl0TING