The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1900-09-03

Hayana, August 2.-(Special Correspon-
dence.)-The Cuban Is a strange nature.
In my opinion they don't know them
selves what they want. The Cuban ma
uonal party seem to have things their
own way, and their opponents have them
selves to thank for II. This Is not mean
Ing that / understand the exact party
lines. but 1t seems strange that the union
democratic party and others should not
put up a better fight. The constitution
of Cuba to all appearance is dead before
II Is born. The people have not respond
ed to the opportunity to register. the re-
suit being about the same as the munic-
ipal elections. These latter were a farce
in toto. and the forthcoming constitution
al convention bids fair to be as great
failure I'm the way of Cuban national
representation as the elections held IN
June. 1t Is difficult to understand this
Indifference. Is II possible that after
all their excited harangues. all their
crowded meetings. all their tones OF ex-
travagant utterances in the press. after
all her struggles for freedom. and with
freedom now at her very doors. that Gu
ba does not want It? To judge by the
apathy In connection with the approach
ing constitutional convention. the ny
pothesis Is not without foundation that
Cuba IS satisfied with her preset condi-
Spain. and has been given step by step
about all that her various committees
and associations have been asking for
ever since the government of interven
ton came into the island. The neople
seem satisfied. They are not Wild for
more changes. They. to all intents and
purposes. believe that they have a good
government, infinitely better than tho old
one. and they do not seem to care wheth-
er they go further or not
Politicians and the press have made
use of every conceivable effort to get the
people to register. and to take an interest
I'm the approach ching elections. but their ef-
forts have been fruitless. No better evil
dence can be given. in spite of hysterical
invectives uttered by the masses when
assembled I'm conclave. that the Cubans
know that the American military govern
ment OF intervention is honest, capable
and just. They realize that they are IN
safe hands. and practically prefer to trust
the United states to their woud-be lead
ers
All the same tho professional politician
and the office-seeker must get In their
work. and these have a good deal 10 say
A great outcry is raised by reason OF the
self-evident fact that the United states
will supervise the constitution when form
ed. and not give 1t sanction to bring about
best results. 1nlS Is 10 ne ueploASu' -
the Cuban politician seems to be of the
opinion that whatever the United States
has n word or hand in is to be rejected
by the true patriot. Take the course OF
the ayunamiento OF Havana in It's con-
duct toward the new charter. spoken or
In my last letter. This document is a
part OF the effort of the United states
to give Cuba q new and progressive gov
ernment of her own. Havana has SUI
fered severely In the past from local mis-
government, as well as other parts of Gu
ba. vet when tfe United States has pre-
pared a modern charter for the city. an
instrument which would at least afford
the ayuntamiento n working basis Tor
the making of a charter TO suit Itself, II
is incontinently rejected. The ayunta-
miento IL out In a proclamation in botn
languages. explaining its reasons. none
of which bear the test of good Judgment.
Cisneros and His Protest.
Recent information IL to the effect that
the ex-presldent OF the Cuban revolution
airy government. Cisncros, Is In the Unit
ed States with a lengthy protest against
the call for the constitutional convention,
or at least. the manner In which the eau
was made. It is authoritatively stated.
that tho ex-presldent does not represent
any great number Of people of Cuba. 1t is
In reality the protest OF the three Or four
Cubans who called upon President NC
Kinley a short time since. The protest
begins az follows:
I'VE fail TO see the right of the inter-
vening government to take part In the
constitutional convention of the people of
Cuba. With whom Is the government
to treat when the people of Cuba VIII not
a. vet have accepted the constitution as
framed by the representatives, and In
consequence, there will have been no rep
resentative of the people with whom TO
agree on the relations to exist between
the people of Cuba and the intervening
government. Tho power to make treaties
can lie only with the executive congress
of n duly constituted government.
Ii is TO bt. hoped that the intervening
government will have faith in the Cubans
TO constitute a constitution for themselves
and by themselves, assured that the Gu
hans viii be grateful and show due ao-
probation for all that has been done FOR
them by the government or the United
states, and that the Cuban people VIII
extend to the American nation even great
er advantages than those which might
be expected. not only from gratitude. but
also because OF The fact that the United
States has been the only market hereto
fore for the products Of Cuba
Senior Cisneros is now in New York.
and has stated that the petition In reality
emanated from the organization known
as the Veteranos de Ia Independencia.
With the above named gentleman are
General Jose Lacret, Rev. Luis Mestelier.
both of these from Santiago de Cuba,
and the Rev. Charles Currier. OF Balu-
more. The petition calls to mind the joint
resolution of congress, recognizing the
right of the people of Cuba TO sovereign
and absolute Independence. 1t further
states that the Cubans have demonstrate
ed TO the world that they are a law
abiding people. amply able to sustain the
part of self-government. THE time has
come" IL says, for the Intervention of
the United States to cease and the joint
resolution to be fulfilled" The protest