The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-11-07


Presidential candidates ana ex-presi-
dents seem to have taken some interest
in the election yesterday. and all of them
exercised the rights Of citizenship.
Cuban Constitutional Convention.
On Monday, November S, there assem-
bled in Havana a constitutional conven-
ton of Cubans. elected by the Cuban peo-
pie. for the purpose Of framing q system
Of government to be put In force In that
island. When the labors Of that constl-
the constitution which It has framed Is
finally adopted. and when officers are
elected by the Cubans. under the terms
Of that constitution. the full work Of the
United States in that island viii be ac-
complished; the United States troops will
be withdrawn. and the people of the island
ton. One OF the most remarkable chap
tiers Of history which the world has ever
seen will be closed.
History can furnish no parallel for the
manner in which the United States has
treated the Cuban people. Not satisfied
with simply freeing them from the domi-
out reward or the hope Of reward has
gone deliberately to work to rehabilitate
the country and to train the people in the
ways OF honest self-government. Agri-
culture and commerce. which had COM
pleteiy disappeared during the long war.
have been restored. and the finances OF
the island placed on an admirable footing.
so that today there Is surplus OF reve-
nue. OF 81, 500 900 with which to set the new
government in business. A complete CON-
mon school system has been established
ana the children OF the island have now
such educational advantages as they
never dreamed OF. far better than those
| to be found in any other part OF Spanish
| America.
| Sanitary reforms have kept pace with
others. The health of Havana has i'm
! proved until II has ceased TO be a menace
to all of the cities OF the southern sea-
board Of the United States. which It al
| ways was under Spanish domination.
| With the choosing of delegates to the
constitutional convention. the United
States has not interfered in the slightest
degree save to insure perfect fairness and
| honesty in the election. with the framing
| Of the constitution the United States will
have nothing TO do. directly or Indirectly;
that matter has been left to be dealt with
| by the Cubans themselves.
The exisencies of political campaign
and the fancied necessity OF doing or say
ing something to discredt the present
Republican administration have tempted
the Democratic party into discrcdlting the
| great work which has been done for cuba
work In which every patriotic Ameri.
can has right to feel an honest pride.
| 1t has also been considered legitimate
campaign material 10 impusn the good
faith Of the American government and
| people In their dealings with Cuba, and 10
make II appear that the Cuhans are dis.
satisfied and disconnected with the long
continuance Of American occupancy OF the
island.
II IS safe TO say that no such sentiment
really exists In Cuba. save Of course
among that element which Ia always dis
satisfied and disconnected. the Cuban
equivalent Of the American Popullsts. To
hoIa otherwise Is TO convict the Cuban
people Of the srossest lngrautade: for no
people Of any race were ever iAseasea 10
another people as the Cubaus are 70 the
citizens % the United states. We prefer
to believe, az Gen. Wood. governor gen
ersl Of Cuba, asserts. that the majority
Of the Cuban people are friendly In the
highest degree TO the United States ana TO
the present administration. and that thsy
have perfec, confidence that this country
wIli redeem every promise that II has
made
Before the present year Is out the re-
| puddle Of Cuba will take it's place among
the countries OF the world, under cireum.
stances more favorable than any which
ever attended the creation OF q new gov