The age-herald., 1900-08-27
TIME HAS COME 5 FOR CUBA TO ACT Declares General Wood in a
 Speech at Santiago. UL TIMATE DESTINY OF CUBA Depends on the Constitutional Conven- tion Soon to be Held = General
 Wood Banqueted by Political
 Clubs at Santiago

Santiago de Cuba, August Ex-Governor l General Wood was officially banquetted last night by the Republican and Demo- cratic parties. The Civil Governor, the Archbishop of Cuba, the principal judicial | and civil dignitaries and a hundred repre- sentative merchants were present. The Archbishop said the time had ar rived for 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. Senor Tamay, Secretary of State, said: "A Constitutional Convention, where the fundamental law of the land is to be framed, is about to be held. In that con Vention the people of Cuba are to prove themselves capable of constructing a gov
 ernment, of guaranteeing life and property and of preserving order If we fail in this convention, we shall be unworthy of the
 blood that was shed at Fl Caney and on San Juan hill General Wood is the true
 friend of Cuba; and I can certify to it. The United States government is sincere
 in the promises 1t has made. 1 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 wor- thy of the confidence placed in their pacity for self government"
 Governor General Wood, on rising, was greeted with shouts of appreciation and ''viva's" which were taken up by some three thousand people assembled outside the club house on the Parque de Cespedes He spoke in part as follows:
 General Wood Speaks
 T 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 myself. When first say Fl Caney, matters were in most deplorabe condition The road to Santiago was marked with dead and dying. In the improvement one sees every where we have a proof of the friendly in- terest shown by the American people.
 Everybody in the United States was as- tonished 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 of Cuba may be, its immediate future is in- dependence. This Is no political move on the part of the United States, but sincere desire to do what is right. Therefore, I beg you, as personal favor to me, and to the United States government, to sink your po- ltical differences and passions and to send men to the convention who are renowned for honor and capacity, so that the conven- tion may mean more than the Cubans even now anticipate.
 Again I say send the best men. The work before your representatives is largely legal work. care not what your party pol itics are; but whatever they are, for the present party considerations must be sus- pended for the sake of the great end in view; the end that will make history and affect the welfare of all Cuban people" General Woods speech is considered by Cubans here to be the most important dec- laration made since the American occupa- ton began.