The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1900-09-12
GEN.W0OD THE CUBANS
Urges Them to Sink Political DIFF
ferences and Work Together.
Their Best Men, He Says. Should BE
Sent to the Constitutional
Convention.

Santiago, G lba By Cable).-Govern.
or-General Wood was officially BAN
quoted by the Republican and Demo
cratic parties. The Civil Governor,
the Archbishop Of Cuba, the principal
judicial and civil disnitarles and 100
representative acknowledgements.
/, The Archbishop, in the coursesef his
remarks, said the time had arrived
for peace, and rnat he bell wed "a con-
solidation Of both political parties
would be of greater benefit to Cuba In
the future than house divided against.
itself. He said he was happy to.
greet the people Of the United States.
in the person Of General Wood. x
Senor Tamaye, Secretary of, State,
in fercible speech, said: sFhis is one
Of the most important epochs In the
political history Of Cuba. A Constitu-
tional Convention, wher: the funda-
mental law of the land Is to beframed,
Is about to be formed. In. that con-3
.vention the people Of Cuba are To-
prove themselves capable of CONSTRUCT.
Ing a government, of guaranteeing affa
and property, and Of preserving order.
"This is a moment Whena poIit itical'
contentious should be ret aside. The;
issue is national. Cuba IS 4boht to OBJ
tain what three genera Hons bled for.
and If the Constitutfo tfonaI Convention
is not what IL shon3 be, tie noble
dead Will rise toS demand that blood
shall noehave been dfied In vain. T
'If we fail In this invention We
shall be unworthy ;of the blood that
was shed at EI Ganey and ll n son !, San
Goyernor-Genera oi rising,
was greeted with Sfg9t 0f 1proba.s
tion and "yiys V Ken
up by some 20 ps eMbied
outside the clu{ ouses ~ due
de Cespedes. HaMfe ~ as fcis
lows: d3 Il & u 3
II am here ass 4 and in
no other capacity. 01a J who re-,
member the ten years VIZ en- have
as full knowledge of the co1 Etions
Of this province as I have myself.
When I first saw El Caney matters
were in a most deplorable condition.
The road to Santiago was marked
with dead and dying. In the improve
ment one sees everywhere we have q
proof of the friendly interest shown
by the American people, ':
Everybody In the United States
was astonished at the satisfactory
way in which the municipal elections
passed off. President Mckinley per-
sonally asserted that he thought: the
time for the next step had come
Whatever the ultimate destiny Of
Cuba may be, Its immediate future Is
independence. This Is no political
move on the part Of the United States,
but a sincere desire to do what 1t
right. Therefore beg you as q. per-
sonal favor to me and to the United
States Government to sink your politi'
cal differences and passions and to
send men to the convention who are
renowned for honor and capacity, so
that the convention 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. I care not what
your party politics are, but whatever
they are, for the present party con-
siderations must be suspended for the
sake Of the great end in view, the end
that will make history and affect the
welfare Of all Cuban people.
"Your delegates must be competent
to draft a constitution, and 1t Is duty
you owe yourselves and your fellow
patriots to see that your representa-
tion Is without party prejudice. Bear
in mind that no constitution which
does not provide for a stable govern
ment will be accepted by the United
States. I wish to avoid making Cuba
into q second Haiti, although do not
think that possible.
"You want party liberty for all and
for no particular party. The United
States insists that you shall have it.
We have said it to the world. 1t lies
with you to help US make our word
good"
General Woods speech is consid-
cred by Cubans here to be the most
important declaration made since the
American occupation began.