Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-20
are to be adjusted to the changes suggest

are to be adjusted to the changes suggest
ed.
Sovereignty Over Island.
The decree published In the Gaceta On
c.al. July 20. including the clause I'm like
manner. to proceed to the establishment CT
a general government which shall assume
and exercise sovereignty. Jurisdiction and
control over the island" IL acceptable to
the Cuban people and in conformity with
the 'toint resolution" Of Congress. The de-
cree should, however. end here. as 1t Is
evident that upon the converting OF the
convention which will represent the people
of Cuba there would then subsist two gov
ernments In the Island Of Cuba. which Is
not logical. It Is suggested that the time
elapsing between the date Of election for
delegates and that for the converting of
the convention be shortened and instead
OF this period being fifty days. 1t be re-
duced to but thirty days. It is thought
sufficient time to permit the delegates to
reunite In convention, and can, thereby, the
sooner organize the government.
An important point in this decree is the
number of delegates or representatives who
are elected to frame the constitution. 1t
was proposed by Alfredo de Zayas. member
of the national party. which represents
majority of the electors of the Island OF
Cuba, that the number Of delegates assign
ed to each province, irrespective of its pop
uation. be twenty. This plan is in con-
stituent assembly to organize the provi-
sional government during the ten years
war and that Of 80. The constituent as
sembiy of 90 was composed Of the same
number of delegates from each of the va
rious army corps, and not based upon the
population OF the provinces In which these
operated. The number Of the army corps
was six, and each corps was represented by
eight delegates-in all, forty-eight repre-
sentatives.
That the Senate Of the United States Is
composed of an equal number of senat tors
from each Of the several states of the
Union would serve as a good precedent to
make the provinces Of Cuba the basis of
representation in the constitutional conven-
ton. and the execution of which plan
would remove any cause for jealousy and
discomfort among the several provinces Of
the island by reason Of the increased repre-
sentation Of one over the other.
Number of Delegates Desirable.
While think that twenty delegates from
each province would be excessive, think
that by separating Matanzas from Havana,
making thereby seven provinces, and allot-
ting to each eight delegates, making total
of S. would safeguard the interests Of the
Cuban people, as whole, and would more
over, please the people, who consider that
the number of delegates decred by procla-
nation, 81, Is altogether too small Should
1t. however. be decided that the representa-
ton to the convention be allotted to the
provinces in proportion to their population,
then said representation should be adjusted
of one delegate to each 10000 Inhabitants.
which would provide for double the num-
Der of delegates fixed by the same decree.
say, 60 to IS representatives, which would
not be an excessive number and would
bring together the representatives OF all
the different classes of the people of Cuba,
social. financial and political. 1t has been
demonstrated that a convention made up of
but few members cannot give voice to the
views of the different classes composing
the people whom they represent.
And inasmuch the intervening govern
ment can have no interest in the number of
delegates elected to the convention, the
legitimate aspirations of the Cuban people
to increase the number Of these representa-
tives should be satisfied.
The present law allows a majority rep
resentation in the delegates elected in the
city of Havana, which cannot fail to act
as an injustice to the other communities,
inasmuch as all election laws should be gen
eral and not promulgated in the interests
of a given community, but should apply to
the whole island, from the Cape of Maisi
to the Cape San Antonio.
Most Important of All.
Considering it the most important as well
as the most delicate, I have left for the
last the discussion of that part of the
decree, which says: ITO frame and adopt
a constitution for the people of Cuba and
par. thereof. to provide for and agree
upon the relations to exist between that
government and the government of Cuba
etc.
L consider this unnecessary and in con-
tradiction to the idea of sovereignty and
independence. and incioses a proposition
that is distasteful to a people who love
honor and dignity to discuss and enter
tain.
We fail to see the right of the Intervening
government taking part in the constitution
al convention of the people of Cuba. With
whom is the government to treat when
the people OF Cuba will not as yet have
accepted the constitution framed by the
representatives, and consequently there will
have been no representative Of the people
with whom to agree on the relation to
exist between the people of Cuba and the
intervening government? The power to
make treaties can lie only with the exeeu-
tive and congress of a duly constituted
government.
Cubans to Frame Constitution.
Personal interests should not be allowed
to influence the framing of the constitution
of people in which general laws for their
guidance alone are included.
1t is to be hoped that the Intervening gov
eminent will have faith in the Cubans to
constitute constitution for themselves and
by themselves, assured that the Cubans
will be grateful and show due apprecia-
ton for all that has been done for them by
the government of the United States and
that the Cuban people will extend to the
American nation even greater ADVANTAGES
than those that might be expected not only
from gratitude, but also because of the fact
that the United States have been the only
market heretofore for the products of Cuba.
and In which the Cuban people have pur-
which they have imported from abroad.
And they will look up to the Waited States