The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1899-03-07

,he army, Rolon. Now he Il the repre-
sentative Of his province Of Santiago.
having the honor OF having bern elected
By the highest number % v0tes sea. IN
the present state Of rupture and recon-
s,ruetIon the f0rty-eIght assemblymen
are the powers and central figures OF the
Island. and Senior Cespedes' position as a
leader gives him additional distinction
and prominence.
These positions. however. have been
held In the midst OF the turmoil q var.
Especially a. eLitf Of the inspection stan
was Col. Cespedes in places OF danger.
on ais way 10 join Gen. Gomez he was
compelled TO break through the trocna.
What a feat this was can be understood
only BY one who has seen the obstruc-
tiCn Itself, OF else beard il described Oy
those no attempted 10 sUrmount the CD
stacie.
Weylet's TFeeha.
One having teen employed in the last
war with success, this was CONSTRUCTED
BY Weyler. IL extended across the island
from JucarO 20 Moron, and was consider
ed impregnable. At the spot where Ces-
pedes. with $50 horse. broke through there
are deep woods OF each side Of the broad
space wherein ihe tr0eha offered its OPP
position.
Next TO the woods on each side cams
an eXpanse Of field. with the railroJd in
the center. On one side this was fanked
D the highway and deep and wide
ditch. on the other side b. the barbed-
wire fence. Between the barbed wire
and the railroad were the guard houses.
Nearest the fence were the escuchas, gar
risoned by eight men; behind and between
them. - meters from each, were alter
naiely blOckAouses ana forts, one contain
ing twenty five. the other forty men
As this plan vas carried out in the en-
tire stretch across the island, II can read
ily BE- understood with what confidence
the Span.aTds viewed their ability TO de-
feat an intrusion of their premises. Yet
knowing the daring % the Cubans, a
strict watch was kept and until these
successful attempts were made, il had
seemed impossible to pass this barrier.
Then he was ,ent back on "A war mis-
sion TO the government department in
Cubitas, this lscessitatiEg the crossing OF
tho trocha again, this time with but
twelve men, officers ana oTderies. Here
he reasoned, as in New York. that The
more openly he acted the less would lie
excite suspicion. SO he chose a night
when the towers of the forts were marked
IN shadow On the mUon-Iit ground; lis
tened TIL he heard from one. escEcha to
another the cal that was 10 pass en-
tEeiy across the island, then mace MS
brave dash across the Jrocha 10 the far
away woods.
II is interesting 10 hear his ideas on
the capacity Of the Cubans for self-gov-
ernment.
Can Govern Themselves.
Are you prepared. Col Cespedes. If the
United States did turn over the govern
ment entirely into your hands, TO take all
things into charge, 10 bring order out of
the chaos?"
Indeed We are fully prepared" stanch-
~ replied the young assemblyman. Three
months after the island belongs to rs in
coed. as well as word. We viii begin to
prosper. The plantations VIII be recover
81, replanted, the poor will not suffer,
there will he plenty for ali. Why. Cuba IS
the richest the most fruitful country in
the world. Who ever heard of poverty
here before the war? There was no pow
erty And there will not he when Cuba
we feel all this, We have the deepest feel
ing of gratitude and affection for your
grand country"
Were the proceedings at the funeral
of Gen. Garcia reelection upon his honor
among you, OF had il some political bear
ing as between ore country and another?
THE question is one that is very painful
to US at present, and yet there IS perfect
smicability between your representatives,
ana ours. 1t had nothing to DO with per-
s0nal feeling for Gen. Garcia His son is
now undergoing Z court-martidl for his
reflections upon the assembly. We We're
not hOnoring Gen. Garcia as a man, but
as Cuban, a patriot, General.
We had been invited to attend his fun
eral in our official capacity. We were in
full 'regalia,' honoring j Cuban General.
We do not understand an etiquette that
places cavalrymen before an official body
on foot They were not officers. but pri-
vate soldiers; We Were representatives OF
our national government. In self respect
and honor we could do nothing but leave
the ranks that did not honor our posi-
ITEMS, especially on such an occas on.
As 10 the other fabrications concerning
the affair it is unnecessary to speak.
1T cannot be expected that men who
know nothing of US will be able to appTe-
ciate our feelings. The national rule ap-
plies TO the individual In your own couu-
try you ind fault with men called to ad-
ministratiVe positions without education
for them. What do these military men
know of governing u nation OF cur
growth?"
ALICE WELDON WASSERBACH.