The leader., 1899-01-04
|7H[ CUBANS ACQU|ES1E.
The Patriotic Committee Decided to
Yield, Without Reservation, to
Gen. Brooke's Wishes.
CELEBRATION WILL COME LATER ON.
Gen. Ludlow Explained thc Situation to
Them and showed How Inopportune,
In View OF Unsettled Condition of AZ
fairs, ~ General Celebration ut This
Time Wouid BE.

Havana, Dec. 31.-The Cuban Pa
triotic committee, consisting OF $50
leading Cubans, lawyers, doctors and
business men, at meeting which last
cd until 4 a. M, decided to yield with
out reservation TO the wishes OF Gen.
Brooke and Gen. Ludlow in the matter
of postponing the six days celebra-
tions, and has approved manifesto
TO the Cuban population of Havana. ON
the lines of Gen. Ludlow's reply on the
subject of the proposed celebrations,
quoting some portions of it and para
phrasing others.
The Cuban citizens in Havana and
the Cuban soldiers outside the city are
intensely excited. but the patriotic
committee and the military chiefs OF
the Cubans think they can quiet this
feeling and prevent violent incidents.
GEN. LUDLOW'S LETTER.
The following is the text of Gen.
Ludlow's reply to the Cuban deputa-
ton which visited him Wednesday and
presented him with written pro-
oramme of the six days festivities:
| M.ssrs. Mora, Nunez and others repre-
senting the Patriotic committee OF Ha-
Vana:
Gentlemen--I have given careful con,
sideratiOn to the matter of the proposed
| celebration of Cuban citizens OF Havana
during next week, on the exchange OF ma
| tlonal flags that will take place on jan
uary l. as | promised YOU. ! have taken
| occasion also to ascertain the views of
Mai Gen. Brooke. commanding the d.
vision of Cuba, upon the subject. / re-
grent to inform you that a celebration of
| al
deemed incXpedient and can not Tor the
present be authorized for the following
| reasons:
First. Havana has for long time suf-
| Tered from strife and contention. and 1t
| is the supreme duty of all at this critical
period to suppress disorder and preserve
public peace. All other considerations,
| for the moment should give way to this.
| Second. At the present time the only
effective means of maintaining order Is
| the presence Of United States troops In
the city. since the local police in several
districts have disappeared with the de-
parture of the Spanish soldiers
| Third 1t is in the interests of both
citizens generally. and particularly of the
more distinctively Cuban citizens them
| selves, that the occasion be one of peace
and order and Of quiet rejoicing only, and
| that everyone should be controlled by a
patriotic desire to do what is best for the
| community.
Fourth. The American authorities SYM
pathize fully with the Cuban feeling OF
| rejoicing, and at 4 proper time hereaf-
| ter when affairs are in more settled con-
| dition. they will be glad to further and
participate in the plans Of the celebra-
| ton: but they are convinced that this is
| not n suitable or expedient time for II.
| ABSOLUTE QUIET RE1GNS.
The city and suburbs of Havana are
absolutely quiet and Thursday night
| there was not one instance of disorder.
| The United States patrols and officers
| were keenly on the alert, penetrating
| into every corner of the town.
Senior FREDERICK Mora said to press
correspondent: We are sorry we can
not execute our programme, but we
| agree with Gen. Ludlow's desire. He
will have difficulty in keeping the low
people down and restraining the
young people in the army; but we are
sure no acts OF disturbance will oc-
cur. Nothing will be done in combina-
| ton against the American wishes. Now
is Cuba's opportunity. If we go wrong
| now we shall never attain indepen-
| dence. never reach national life, and
| The Americans would never leave
Cuba"