Arizona republican., 1900-09-09
FORUM AND PRESS
Much Discussion Over Continued Length of American Occupation. Opinions of Leaders and Outline of Party Ideals-Factional Ele- ments of the Conservatives or Pro-Americans.

Havana, Sept. S.-Since General Woods departure on his journey around the island several events have
 happened in Havana which have ere ated great interest. The first was the long announced meeting of the union | democratic, or conservative party. At this meeting some interesting speeches were made. the most commented upon being that of pr. Eusebio Hernandez This speech consisted mainly of fault finding with the Americans for calling the constitutional convention now. and
 for mistakes made by the administra- tion in dealing with Cuba. Dr. Hern-
 andez said some bitter things about the Americans. many of which. it is un- derstood, the party intends to take back. To those who had not watched
 carefully the progress of this party this storm of criticism was a surprise. The party was always known as conseryd- tive, which term had come more or less
 to mean pro-American. It is true that
 the party is pro-American, but by that
 must be understood not any love for ! America and Americans but appreci- atiOn of the advantages to be obtained | for Cuba by close relations with the ! United States.
 A large element of this conservative party is prO-Spanish in ideas and sym pathies, but the party being a minority. | without the presence of Americans it would be impossible for it's members to l make themselves felt by mere argu- mentS. The nOisier element would cer- | tainly rob them of all influence. Hence | one of the reasons of their desire for the stay for some time in Cuba of the | Americans until passions be calmed down and the right of the quieter ele- i ment to have some say in public mat l ters is more recognized.
 Another speech of interest was that If | SenOr GOvin, who argued against the ! tendency shown through the provinces l for a federal form of government for i Cuba. The speaker argued that when a ! federal form of government existed. 1t l existed on account of the previous eX-
 istence of several independent units ! close together. which had combined for
 their mutual benefit. Instances of this ; Icing the United States, Germany and Australia, Senor Govin inferred from
 the South American republics no good lessons could be learned.
 | To establish a federal form of gov ernment in Cuba would mean that the l island, hitherto a complete govern
 mental unity. would have to be first | split up into six different governments
 and these united to form one whole i This would be unnecessary and unprOf- ! itable. Cuba. he said, was not rich ! enough to bear the expenses of six gov 1 ernments besides a central one. Again.
 could Santiago be delivered to the black ! I z
 were to be a federation of states? And
 what guarantee would Cuba have
 against the strong local sentiment
 known as "regionalismo" becoming un-
 der federal form of government so ex-
 treme as to prompt mere districts 10
 demand their recognition as states2 This regionalismo is strong local riv- ! airy between towns and districts and I is very marked in Cuba. It exists be- 1 tween towns in the same province and
 is largely independent of the provinces ! themselves
 1 Senor Montoro received a most over
 wheming reception. For ten minutes | the people stood and cheered before all | lowing him to speak. SenOr Giberga l spoke in favor of preserving the unity
 of Cuba for the Latin race. adding that | it would satisfy the Cubans in nothing
 to see Cuba rich and prosperous, but 1 the wealth in the hands of the foreign
 CTS and the language not that of Ger | Vantes. This speaker also attacked the | election law.
 The comments of the local press in
 the main were more favorable than was | expected. Perhaps the Diario de Mar | ina made the most apt remark. After pointing out that the general tone of | the speeches was one against the stay | of intervention the paper said that | those who admitted that intervention
 was their mainstay and that far more l good than evil was the result of it | should not lay stress on the mistakes
 made by that intervention but make the i best of it.
 The national party paper. Fl Cubano. | is making capital out of SenOr Govin's ] sighting reference to the negroes. and ! Juan Gualberto Gomez, the leading , colored politician of Cuba. was a long | way from being pleased.
 VESSELS CCLLHiE.