El Paso daily herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1881-1901, 1900-08-29
THE FUTURE OF CUBA
A Re markabIe Demonstration al
Santiago

Santiago
A dispatch from Santiago de Cuba
says: Governor General Wood wss
officially banquetted last night by the
repu blican and democratic parties,
The civil governor, the arch bishops
OF Cuba, principal judicial and civil
dignitsries and q hundre represen-
tative merchants we're present.
The archbishop said the time had
arrived for peace and that he believed
. consolidation Of political parties
would be of greater benefit 10 Cuba In
the future than Q house divided against
itself.
Senior Tsmays said: "a constitution
convention, where the fundamental
law of the land is TO be framed. is
about to be held. In that convention
the people OF Cuba ar g to prove them
selves capable of constructing a gov
ernment, Of g -aranteeing life and pro-
perty and Of preserving order.
| "If We fail In this convention we
shall be unworthy OF the blood that
was shed at Ell Cauey and on San Juan
Hill. Gen. Wood 10 the true friend Of
Cuba and 1 can certify to 1t. The
United States government 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 en- rising,
was greeted with shouts Of appreciation
and "vivss," which we're taken up by
come 5000 people Assem- bled outside the
club house on tho Parque de Cespedes.
He spoke in part as follows;
~ am here as your friend and In NO
other capacity. Only those who re-
member the ten years war can have a.
full knowledge of the conditions of
this province ss 1 have myself. When
first saw Ell Csney, matters were In
most deplorable condition. The road
to Santiago was marked with dead and
dying. In the Improvement one sees
everywhere VIC have n proof OF the
friendly inserest shown By the Ameri-
can people.
Every body In the United States was
astonished at the satisfactory way IN
which the municipal elections passed
of. President Mckinley personally
asserted that he thought the time for
the next step had come. Whatever the
ultimate destiny of Cuba mey be its
Immediate future is independence.
This Is no political move on
the part of the, United States
bnt sincere desire to do what
IL right. Therefore, L beg you ss q
personal favor to me, and to the Unit
ed States government, TO sink your
political differences and passions and
TO send men TO the convention who are
renowned for honor and capacity, CO.
that the convention may mean more
than the Cubans even now anticipate.
"Agaip, 1 say send the beat men.
The work before your representatives
10 largely legal work. care not what
your party politics are; but whatever
they are, for the present party consid O.
rations must be suspended for the cake
Of the great end in view; the end that
will make history and effect the welfare
Of she Cuban people.
"Your delegates must be competsnt
to draft constitution: and tits q daty
you owe yourselves and your fellow
patriots, to see that your representa-
sion is without prejudice. Bear In
mind tbss no constitution which does
NOT provide for . stable government
will be accepted by the United States.
1 wish TO avoid making Cuba into
econd Hsyti, although do not think
that possible.
"You wan. liberty for all and for NO
particular party. The United States
Insists that you shall have il. This is
possible and easily possible. We have
said IL 20 the world. 1t lies with you
TO help us make our own word good.
Your enemies predict failure. The
people and representatives ofthe Unit
cd States hope to see you defeat these
predictions. II We we're not your friends
We would not seek the beet men Won
have, but would seek the maloon tents
TO represent you In the convent ton.
We seek and demand the best you
nave. Again, say send people to the
convention who will hereafter N axe
your political system workable and
| mauent."
Gen. Woods speech In considered BY
Cubans here to be the most important
declaration made since the American
hooan