The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-08-27
AbIest and Purest Men in the Island
Needed i'm the SoOn-tO-Be Consti-
1utionaI Convention.
BANQUET TO THE GOVERNOR
REPRESENTATIVE Of THE LEAD
ING PARTIES AT THE BOARD.
Noteworthy Address by Prominent
Cubans-Faith I'm and Admiration
for the United states.

SANTIAGO, Cuba, Aug. Ex-Governor
General Wood was officially banqueted last
night by the Republican and Democratic
parties. The civil governor. the archbishop
OF Cuba, the principal judicial ami civil
dignitaries and "a hundred representative
merchants were present. The archbishop
said the time had arrived Tor peace and
that he believed a consolidation 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
cf General Wood.
Senior Tamayo, secretary of state, said:
This is one of the most important cpochs
In the political history of Cuba A con-
stitutional convention where the funda-
mental law of the land is to be framed is
about 10 be held. In that convention the
people Of Cuba are to prove themselves
capable of constructing government of
guaranteeing life and property and of pre-
serving order They are also to prove that
Cuba is a land open to all men, not only
10 those who are Cubans by the accident of
birth or who participated in the revolution,
but also those who can claim the privilege
under the treaty of Paris.
This is a moment when political con-
tentions should be set aside. The issue is
national. Cuba is about to obtain what
three generations bled for, and if the con-
stitutional convention is not what it should
be the noble dead will rise to demand that
blood snail not have been shed in vain.
Tbe course of the mothers, wives and
daughters of those VINO fell would be upon
US. We should bear in mind that the sea
of the tears of Cuban women is far deeper
than the sea which pathes our island
shores.
'If we fail in this convention, we shall
be unworthy of the blood that was shed
at Caney and on San Juan hill. General
Wood is the true friend of Cuba and L
can certify TO it. The United States gov
ernment is sincere in the promises it has
made / appeal TO you all to send to the
convention the best and most capable men
among us, and thus TO show to the world
that Cubans are worthy of the confidence
placed in their capacity for self-govern-
ment."
Governor General Wood, on rising. was
greeted with shouts of appreciation and
'vivas," which were taken up by some
three thousand people assembled outside
the clubhouse on the Parque de Cespedes
He spoke in part as follows: II 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 L have my
self When 1 first saw Caney, matters
were in a most deporable condition. The
road to Santiago was marked with dead
and dying In the improvement one sees
everywhere we have proof of the friendly
interest shown by the American people.
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 had
come Whatever the ultimate destiny may
be. its immediate future is independence.
This is no political move on the part of
the United States, but a sincere desire to
do what is right. Therefore, | beg YOU.
as a personal favor 10 me, and TO the
United States government, to sink your DO
litical differences and passions and to send
men 10 the convention who are renowned
for honor and capacity. so that the conven-
ton may mean more than the Cubans even
now anticipate.
Again 1 say. send the best men. The
work before your representatives is largely
legal work. | care not what your party
policies are; but whatever they are, for
the present party consideration must be
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