The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1899-03-26
10 Right to Rule
Historical Crutb Hbcat Gnba'S
UcaId=be Legislature.

of the ten years war, government, re
publican in form, was organized IN th'
island of Cuba Carlos Manuel Cespede;
was elected as the first president, IN 1868
A constitution was drafted and accepted
and officials were duly elected and ap'
pointed 10 the various positions provided
nv the bylaws. This organization was
dissolved by the terms of peace arranged
between Martinez Campos and Maxine
Gomez in 1875
At the beginning of the last war, IN
1897. a new government was organized,
Cisneros as president and Maaso as vice
president In 1891 Masso became presi-
dent, with Mandez Capote as vice presi-
dent The seat of government was of a
somewhat movable nature though nouli-
nalIy located at Santa Cruz del Sur, on the
southern coast of the island in the prov
ince Of Puerto Principe and almost due
south Of the central city of Puerto Prin-
cipe The time for such a course appear
ing to be at hand this organization was
dissolved by President Masso, who. like a
sensible man, did the CincinnatUs act, and
returned to his plantation. Both this and
the one which preceded it were govern
ments which, nominally at least, pos
eessed and exercised both civil and mil
itary powers.
Upon the dissolution Of this organization,
IN December, 1895 a new body was estab-
lishhed under the imposing title of La
Asamblea de Representates del Eiercto
Cubano. or The Assembly Of Representa-
lives of the Cuban Army This is the
body which has been causing all Of the
posed TO be elected by the soldiers of the
Cuban army. a representative being chosen
by each of the thirty-one army corps. A
United States army corps consists Of
nearly 10000 men. \ Cuban army corps
appears to have consisted of any number
Of commissioned officers from major
generals downward, provided they find
two or three privates to compose their
army. This assembly had no civil power
or functions. Its business. was aes its name
Indicates. TO represent and to provide for
the army. Presuma bly,, it was chosen by
vote Of the troops, each corps electing its
own representative. Actually, it is stated
by good authority. that, in the majority Of
cases. the, choice and the election were
made by the corps commander. The late
Calixto Garcia was the first president of
this assembly. Upon his death, the place
was filed by the election. by his associates
In the body, Of Mendez Capote. Capote
resigning. the present incumbent Freyre
Andrade, was elected president.
For a local opinion of the personnel of
this assembly. quote from La Lucia, the
leading Havana paper, under date of
March 13:
General Gomez represents the hope for
peace and order inqhe country (pias, prac-
tically the nationD The assembly only
represents for the majority of the coun-
try mayoria del pias). a group Of nervous
men. prisoners Of their nervousness and
their vanity (prisioneros de sus neUrosLs-
mos de sus vanidades). and incapable.
by these circumstances. of either cOnstitut-
lng or guaranteeing anything stable or
positive" =
This is, Of course. the opinion of an
enemy. But it is the tone Of large ma
jority of the press Of the island, and is but
a very weak expression of the opinion of a
large majority Of the people. Here and
there a little group shouts "Viva Ia As
Rmblea"' The crowd shoutes itself hoarse
with cries of ''Viva Gomez" "Abajo Ia
Asamblea" Down with the assembly,.
Now and then some extreme enthusiast
let's out a vociferous Death to the as
sembly and ,raitors"' And the crowd
cheers him.
Yet this assembly IS made up Of men
whose names are well known. It includes
generals. such as Lacret. SanguiUy. Du-
rasse, CSneros and Portuondo. Aristides
Aguero is a doctor and Andrade is a law
yer. 1t includes also a little man with
shiny black hair, eyeglasses and an en-
phatically negro nose. This IS Juan Cual-
berto Gomez. otherwise know as "tba
black agitator.' Some of the assembly ar,
white, some are mujatto, and some are
quite distinctly negro. Their number in !
rludes not a few of those whom. in earlier |
letters. I have distinguished as trouble |
makers" Their patriotism is often loud !
and vigorous in expression. hut it IS of |
doubtful quality. Il lacks the rfng of the !
genuine article.
Feeling disposed to take lesson IN the !
art of self-government a Ia Cubano. T at /
tended the meeting of the assembly which |
followed the one deposing Gomez That /
meeting can only he characterized by pro- /
nouncinE it an exhibition of base and con- /
5emptible ingrautude animated ny person I
al spite jealousy and wounded vanity. |
The one which 7 attended was most re-
markable for the dsgracefui tendency
which was manifested to heap unmerited /
"pproh~ium upon the man Who had served |
his country for thirty years with courage
and fidelity. They rallied upon him with |
scurrlous tongue, denounced him. as
traitor. accused him or~-4lsehoad. snsersd
at him, revilod him. and aralaude5 tn
reviI-nE. on The whole. 1t was rather
disgraceful spectacle. Gomez % hardly 70
be called "A great man, bu. no stands above
fhe assembly as giants ov.rton pt-mfss
Technically Gomez may be in error
though even that is doubtful This vv,,,5
be the c.I-e If The assembly he raca-,.za.7
as the supreme military authority Of tn.
island and Gomez he held as subject ~ 10
authority. This ha appears ~ admit. f.,-
the acceptance of his deposition on -s,
"'ner nand. Gomez was commando
cne- OF the Cuban forces long before -rfs
assembly came into existence. Nam, ~
IL members are his military suh,~7.,,s-.-
and II IS quite question whether -rs as
serno'E is IN any way g.tinate and am
'---s'' successor ~ the body which made
Iomez oommaulcr-in-ca5es The s-ss-.,.,
-'.'.7'S NANNY ap'a the official status Of n
''.S "@oSe functions are chiefly advisory
ana clerical Ba- ,oe act Of the a.s.~,1r,.
III 81 posing tle commarde~-fn--r.- %.
'Faoea7.e almost directly 10 person. All
an" jealousy K Is known ,-.-