Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-11-03
WILL MEET MONDAY
Convention That Will Frame a Con-
stitution for Cuba.
END OF A LONG CHERISHED AMBITION
Development Of the islanders Un-
der American Control.
FACTS OF THE CEN SUS
Written for The Evening Star.

Written for The Evening Star.
The convention to frame constitution
for Cuba will meet at Havana Monday to
begin its most important work. Thirty-one
delegates representing the provinces of San
ia Clara, Santiago. Puerto Principe. Man
tanzas. Havana and Pinar del Rio will de-
wise ways and means for the establishment
of a long cherished republic. The event
will be watched with interest by the civil
lied world, especially by all liberty-loving
people. To Americans, who sympathized
with the brave Cubans in their struggles
for freedom against Spanish tyranny, and
who know the benefcent work wrought by
American rule in the devastated isle, this
period of fruition appeals with special in
terest.
Culture of the People.
The few opponents Of Cuba's liberty
claim that the people are illiterate. To
some extent, true. The recent Cuban CEN
sus showed that of the 10000 native and
145. 600 foreign white population, and the
234, 800 negroes, over IS per cent could read
and write. and about $4,000 were highly
educated. In the late elections for dele
gates to the constitutional convention car
rled on under our Australian system, the
Cubans were quiet, orderly, keenly alive to
intelligent representatives and labored in
dustriously in polling almost the entire
eligible vote.
There was neither drunkenness nor fight
throughout the isle Compare such con-
dition with that ofttimes prevailing at the
American polls. There has been less crime
and lawlessness among Cubas one and
half million people in the past two years
than is annually committed in any Anglo
Soxan community of one-tenth the popu!a-
ton. The conditions of suffrage prescribed
for the Cuban election of delegates pro-
vided that a voter must possess one of the
following qualifications. Ability to read
and write, ownership of real or personal
property to the value of $3.50 American gold.
service in the Cuban army prior to July 49,
1898, and honorable discharge therefrom,
whether a native Cuban not. Further
more, that the voter must be native male
Cuban, the son Of a native male Cuban,
or a Spaniard included within the provi-
sionS of the treaty of Paris, who has not
made declaration of his decision to preserve
his allegiance to the crown of Spain. These
necessary conditions upon the Cuban cleo
tors disqualified two Of every three male
adults. They may seem harsh, but their
wisdom is proven.
Convention of High Character.
The personnel Of the constitutional con-
vention to meet Monday in Havana is ad-
mittedly of high character and intelligence,
well qualified to consider and determine the
grave questions Of constitutional liberty
and stable government. Despite several
recreant officials, American rule under the
wise. honest administration of Generals
Wood. Lee, Brooke, Ludlow and their able
aids has accomplished great good in Cuba.
The education of the youth. the all-impera-
tive feature in Cuba's regeneration, has
been successfully begun New motheds,
competent teachers and largely increased
| attendance are encouraging conditions
\ Tr1Nn Rro tnl off utr Inn
proved and skillfully conducted. The reve-
| nues are growing. An upright and learned
judiciary is established, an efficient police
and sanitary force are inaugurated. Peace
reigns throughout the isle. Commerce, in
dustry agriculture are slowly but surely
developing. The waste places are being
cultivated. The ravages of war are giving
way to fertile fields. General prosperity is
gradually dawning upon the beautiful.
heaven-favored isle and long-oppressed peo-
pie Though all of this is accomplished
rule, It was aided by the efficient, patriotic
and unselfish efforts of the Cubans SO for
tunately selected to serve under this ad-
minlstration. They have been tried and
| not found wanting.
Development of the Cubans.
Under our occupation and wholesome ex-
ample in the past two years the Cubans
have developed morally and mentally. They
are, by this benefcent experience, much
Delter QudllueQ 70 SOVeTH ne earliest ue-
sire Of the administration to afford the
Cubans self-government is warranted by
every consideration of justice, in fulfill
ment of the solemn declaration of Con-
gress, and after severe trial and positive
proof Of their capacity and integrity. 1t
| is the blessed privilege for which they.
their children. their children's children and
generations beyond for two centuries have
fought and died. Impartial justice will
| uphold the administration in the effort to
award the Cuban this privilege. The con-
stitutional convention will be encouraged
| In it's deliberations by the assurance that
President McKtnley's Cuban policy has the
| unbounded support of the American pee-
pie irrespective Of party and politics
Military rule will be supplanted by the
after trial. prove unfit to rule themselves
| the administration can readily intervene.
Relations With United States.
The United States, dedicated to and
| founded upon liberty, will not withhold
Cuban freedom upon any selfish score of
| trade, commerce or political patronage
| Friendly, profitable, commercial and indus
| trial relations will be had and maintained
/ between the United States and Cuba by
this countrys efforts to aid in every way
| the founding Of a prosperous Cuban re-
public and the early withdrawal Of our
military and civil forces. Such action will
! inspire the Cubans to the development of
the unlimited mineral and agricultural re-
sources of their country. Then the hatred
cherished by many Cubans against the
| United States will disappear. followed by
| their love and gratitude. Commerce and
industry will revive and small but thriv-
d. ing republic, emulating our laws customs
and civilization, will blossom as the rose.
| The Cuban youth will seek our institu-
lions of learning. Education in the isle
will be given new impetus. mutually
profitable commerce Of great volume will
| he Sfah hot ha fuvn
and the proclaimed purpose of the Spanish
| American war shall be accomplished. Let
| US hope new era is dawning upon the
long suffering pearl of the Antilles; that
| a bright star is soon to be added to the
| diadem Of republics and that the people
| of Cuba Libre are entering upon the full
| fruition of agricultural commercial and in
| dustrial prosperity.
| FOrlorn Hopes.
/ he