The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-07
ANOTHER STEP
TOW ARD FREEDOM.
Convention to Form Cuba's
Constitution.

Habaoa, Nov 6.-Tbe Cuban copsti.
tutional convention met 10 the Marti
Theatre this afternoon at 2 O'Clock
Long before that hour the theatre was
crowded. Many thousands we're
uuable to gain sdmittauce, and the
streets 10 the nelghborhood were block
ed with people.
Geo Wood and bis staff. sccompa.
MED by Gen Fhsbugh' Lee and bis
staff, received 90 ovation on entering.
the band playing America"
Seuor Cisneros aud Geo Rivera es.
corted Gen Wood to the platform and be
almost imu ediasely opened the couveu.
tioo
"As military governor Of the island
OF Cuba sod representing the president
OF the United States" be said, II call
this convention to order. It will be
your duty 6rst of ali to frame and
adopt q constitution for Cuba. and
when this has been doae, to formulate
what 10 yeur opinion ought TO be the
relations between Cubs aod the United
States.
"The constitution must be adequate
to secure stable, orderly and free gov
eroment Wbep you have formulated
the relations which. 10 your opinion,
ought TO exist between Cuba and the
Uoited States. the government Of The
United States will doubtless take suoh
action % its part as shall lead to q
final and authoritative agreement be.
tween the people of the two countries
to the promution Of their common 10.
terests
"All friends Of Cuba will follow
your deliberations with the deepest
interest, earnestly desiring that you
shall reach just conclusions that by the
dignity. individual self-restraiot and
wise conservatism which sball character.
ize your proceedings the capscity Of the
Cuban people for representative gov
ernmeut may be sigually illustrated.
"The fundamental distinction be.
tween true representative government
suo dictatorship is that 10 the former
every representative Of the people. 10
whatever Office. confines himself strict.
ly within the limits Of bis defined
powers Without such restraint there
cannot be free constitutional govern.
meot. Uoder the order pursuant to
which you have been elected and coo.
vsoed you have 90 duty and 90
authority to take part 10 the present
government of the island. Your
powera ere strictly limited by the terms
OF that order"
The convention organised With Senor
Lorsrts. justice Of the Supreme court.
as president. and Seoor Willueudo as
secretary. The following oath was then
administered
eve. delegates elected by the people
OF Cuba to the ua.fonsl constitutional
convention, swear faithfully to fulfill
the duties Of our office We publicly
and solemuly renouoce allegiance to. or
compact made with any State or nation,
whether made directly or indirectly,
swearing to the sovereignty of the free
and Independent people of Cuba and
swearing to respect the solution this
convention may adopt as we'll as the
govern ment established by the coustitu.
tior."
All of :he 81 delegates we're present.
Seoor Aleman. who said that the
convention was "ouly continuation Of
the fight for Independence" moved that
the regulations governing the old
Cuban assembly at Yaya 10 1896 be
adopted. As nobody seemed fsmil-
lar with them. the convention adjourn.
ed uotil tomorrow at z p. a., when
copies will be furnished 10 the dele.
gates.
The following resolutions we're
presented to the president OF the ooo-
veotiou just before tho sdjour meut and
will probably be adopted:
"Tbs undersigned deIee stes propose
that the constitutional assembly adopt
the following resolutions:
'First That oom mittee OF the
assembly proceed Immediately to call 90
Geo Wood aud to manifest the satisfao
ton with which the delegates have
ssen him Garry out the difficult
mission eotrusted to him
'Seooud. That the committee
request Gen Wood to cable to the presi
dent OF the United States as follows:
Tho delegates elected to .be con-
shtutioual convention asse On bled at their
inaugural meeting greet with profound
gratitude sud sffeotioo the president of
the United States Of Americs, and they
are satisfied with tho honesty demon.
ssrsted 10 the ful6llmeut of sbe deolars.
tioos made 10 favor Of the liberty aud
the independence of the Cuban poo.
pie ,"