The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1900-11-07
ANOTHER STEP
TOW ARD FREEDOM.
Convention to Form Cuba's
Constitution.

tutionai conveption met 10 the Mar,l
Theatre this afternoon at 2 o'clock.
Long before that hour the theatre was
crowded. Many thousands were
uoablc to gain aduittaoce, and the
streets 10 the nelghborbood we're block
ed with people.
Gen Wood and bis ataH. accompa-
uied by Gen Fitzhuga Lee aod his
staff, received an ovation on entering
the band playing "America.
Seuor Cisneros aud Gen Rivera es-
cortcd Gea Wood to the platform, and be
almost imm ediately opened the couVen'
sioo
Gas military governor of the islaod
Of Cuba sad representing the president
of the United Ssates.'' y he said, 81 call
this convention to order. It will be
your duty first Of ali to frame and
adopt constitution for Caba. aud
when this has been doue, to formulate
what 10 yeur opinion ought 10 be the
relations between Cuba auG the Uo,ted
States.
.sThe constitution must be adequate
to secure stable, orderly aud free gov
e7omens Whep you have formulated
the relations which. 10 your opinion,
ought to exist between Cuba and the
Uoited States. the government Of the
United States will doubtless take such
action ou its part as shai! lead to q
final and authoritative agreement be-
tween sbe people of the Two countries
to the promotion Of their common TO-
terests
"All friends Of Cuba will follow
your deliberations with the deepest
interest, earnestly desiring that you
shall reach just conclusioos that by The
dienity, individual self-restraiot and
wise conservatism which shall character.
ize your proceedings the capacity Of the
Cuban people for representative gov
ernmeut may be signaliy illustrated.
"The fundamental distinction be-
tween true representative government
ana dictatorship is that 10 the former
every representative Of the people, in
whatever Office. confines himself ssrios-
ly within the limits Of his defined
powers Without such Restraints there
cauoo. be free constitutional govern
meot Uoder the order pursuant to
which you have been elected and eos
vsped vcu bave 20 duty and 90
authority TO take part in the present
government Of the island. Your
powers are strictly limited by the terms
Of that order
The convention organized with Senor
Lorente. justice Of the Supreme court.
40 president. and Seoor Willueudo as
secretary. The following OATH vas then
administered
1--WE, delegates elected by the people
OF Cuba to the na,fonsl constitutional
convection, swear faithfully to ful6ll
the duties OF our ofhce We publicly
and solenoly renouoce allegiance TO. OF
conpac: made With any State or nation,
whether made directly or indirectly,
swearing to the sovereignty Of the free
aad Independent people Of Cuba end
swearing 10 respect The solution this
convention may adopt as vell as the
government established BY the coustltr.
tier
All Of the 81 delegates we're present.
Seoor Aleman. who said that the
convention vas "ooly contioaation ct
the fight for Independence moved that
the regulations governing the old
Cuban assembly at Yaya 10 1896 be
adopted. As nobody seemed fam't-
lar with them. the convention adjourn
ed uotil tomorrow at 2 p. %, when
copies will be furnished 10 the dele
gates
The following resolutions we're
presented to the president of the COD
veution just before the sdjouromeut and
will probably be adopted:
"Tbe undersigned delegates propose
that the consti,utiopal assembly adopt
the following resolutions:
/" First That com mittee OF the
assembly proceed Immediately to call 90
Gen Wood and to manifest the satlsfac,
ton with which the delegates bave
seen him carry out the dlthcult
mission entrusted to him
".oecoud. That the committee
request Gen Wood to cable to the presi
dent of the United States as follows:
'' The delegates elected to 'be COD
sutu,ioual convention assembled as their
inaugural meeting greet with profouud
gratitude aud affection the president ct
the Uuised States Of America, and they
are satisfied with the honesty demoo-
strated 10 the ful6llment Of the declars'
tiops made 10 favor of the liberty aud
the independence of the Cubao poo-
pie ;"