The sun., 1900-11-01
THE REAL SENTIMENT or CTBA.
The Military Governor OF Cuba Describes II as
Grateful to Is.

EMdjor-Gea Leonard Wood. in The independent.
The meeting of the Constitutional Conven.
ton on Nov will be an event in cuban history
of tho greatest importance. and much will
depend upon the action AMI outcome OF this
convention as TO our future control Of the
island Prediction aS to when the United
States can relinquish control will be much
easier after the delegate have met and adopted
some form of constitution The convention
is entirely Cuban affair. and the cuban dele
gate, have inanagei 1t without any outside
One gratifying feature is the condition Of
the general arairS oi the island. aud on the
eve ul their first great constitutional Conveu-
ton the tuban- have nothing but faith ana
good will toward the United state, There
are, of course, a handful of malcnntents, n,
there must be in every country and political
party. and they are energetic IN spreading re-
port. oi disanertion ana dl-Cord
The ma ority of the cuban people are friendly
in the h,1ha.t degree 20 tue nitci states and
tie present Administration. ana to the resi-
dent representatives Of the Government They
redeem every. promise 1t ha, made. They
are unqualitiedly con,cntcd with the progress
OF afa!r. on the island, and they, are in hearty
States officials on the island might well be
excused for feeling discouraged in my work
there IL this condition wer" Otherwise Some
may think that in my Official capacity | might
he mi~led a. to the sentiment of the pps1plp
who, out Of deieT"nc" TO my position, would
II possible that | could be misled by any such
ny 1oCriucai dcferrnoe When every where
there are manifestations which surprise by
their unexpe't"dnc-s warm outpour1ngs 81
intero.t and gratitude which Difference could
never have conceived. II l. impossible To doubt
either the geuuinene-s or the intensity of the
amty toward this country that prevail, through
out the length and breadth of cuba My OBJ
scrvationS are strengthened by the ConCon-IlS
Of opinion of other Americans who are in a
position To know The cordial and hearty CO.
operation and association OF tuban> and Ameri-
cans areindiCatlon- OF thetrue state oi affairs
II l. deporahle that total miSapprohcn-lons
n the roil sentiment, of the Cuharls toward
'he United States should bc spread abroad in
island al her very gHt", The propagation of
such errors Of sentiment and statement which
bear positively no relations whatever to tho
facts, must produC" unfortunate effects |
could not well conceive how th. Iuhats could
be otherwise han grateful - the liitci States
for H. EFFORTS In their behalf The recoustruC-
tlun Of the island has proceeded rapidly from
th" first, and think The transformation l.
without any superior IN the history of modern
times The devastatiOn Of the long war had
l"it the island in an unparalleled condition
when the inited states interfer-d. and in tho
hrlel time sine" the occupation Of the island
10y American troops the island has been COM
plately rehlhilitltci agrcul'urally. COM
mercially, financially, eduCationally and gov
ernmentRly This Improvement has been 81
rauli and 50 apparent that no Cuban could
mistake IL To doubt in IN" face of these facts
thN Their libera'"r@ we're not stu their faithful
iueud- w"Uld he impossible 10 the honest and
lut elgent inhabitants of the island
A. ! have SAID. the Constitutional Convon-
tion forms an important epoch in the history
q; Cuba. and IA" constitution they finally aC-
cept will bc entirely of their own making There
has been no draft of constitution offered for
consideration 10y ANY one authorized to repre-
sent the United States Government The dele
slhliity for the important work they have ahead
OF them.