The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-09-07
GIVES HOPE 70 GUBANS.
Gen. Wood Speaks to Islanders at
an Official Banquet rendered
Him in Santiago de Cuba.
HIS ADDRESS INDICATES INDEPENDENCE.
Tells Them the United States Is PrOud
of Their Advancement-Says Their
Future and Early Liberty Is a Mat
ter That Is Entirely in Their
Own Hands.

Santiago de Cuba, Aug. 27.-Gov.
Gen. Wood was officially banqueted
Saturday night by the republican and
democratic parties. The civil gov
ernor, the archbishop of Suba, the
principal judicial and civil dignitaries
and hundred representative mer-
chants were present.
The archbishop, in the course of his
remarks, said the time had arrived
for peace and that he believed con-
solidation of political parties would
be of greater benefit to Cuba in the
future than house divided against
itself. He said he was happy to greet
the people of the United States in the
person of Gen. Wood.
Gov. Woods Speech.
! The governor generals banquet
speech was the feature of the evening.
He spoke in part as follows:
81 am here as your friend and in no other
capacity. Only those who remember the
ten years war can have as full knowledge
Of the conditions of this province as have
myself. When I first saw Ell Caney mat
tiers were in most deplorable condition.
The road to Santiago was marked with dead
and dying. In the improvement one sees
every where we have proof of the friend
ly interests shown by the American peo-
pie.
Effect of Recent Elections.
Everybody in the United States was
astonished at the satisfactory way in which
the municipal elections passed off. Presi-
dent Mckinley personally asserted that he
thought the time for the next step has come.
Whatever the ultimate destiny of Cuba may
be, it's immediate future is independence.
This is no political move on the part of the
United States, but sincere desire to do
what is right. Therefore 1 beg you, as a.
personal favor to me and to the United
States government. to sink your political
differences and passions and to send men
to the convention who are renowned for
honor and capacity. SO that the convention
may mean more than the sCubans even now
Good Men Needed.
again I say, send the best men, The
work before your representatives is large
ly legal work. l care not what your party
politics is; but whatever it is, for the pres
ent party considerations must be suspended
for the sake of the great end in view, the
end that will make history and affect the
welfare of all the Cuban people.
Your delegates must be competent to
draft constitution, and it is duty You
owe yourselves and your fellow-patriots to
see that your representation is without par
ty prejudice Bear in mind that no consti-
tuition which does not provide for stable
government will be accepted by the United
States. wish to avoid making Cuba into
second Hayti although do not think that
possible"
Keeping Faith with Cuba.
These were the generals concluding
words:
"You want liberty for ali and for no
particular party. The United States in
sists that you shall have it. This is pos
sible and easily possible. We have said it
to the world. 1t lies with you to help as
make our word good. Your enemies pre-
dict failure. The people of the United
States and their representatives hope to
see you defeat these predictions. If we
were not your friends we would not seek
the best men you have. but would seek the
disturbed and the malcontents to represent
you in the convention. We seek and de-
mand the best you have. Again say, SEND
people to the convention who will here
after make your political system workable
and permanent"
Gen. Woods speech is considered by
Cubans here to be the most impor-
tant declaration made since the Amer
lean occupation began.