The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1900-08-27
WOOD WAS BANQUETED.
Many Prominent People We're 10 Attend.
ance Upon The Occasion.
SHOUTS or APPRECIATION FOR wOon
Senior ,Tnmannya Exhorted His Peo-
pie to show Their Capabiiity
for seIf-Governmen

| Santiago, de Cuba, August Ex-Governor
General Wood was officially banqueted
last night by the republican and demo-
cratic parties. The civil governor, the
archbishop Of Cuba, the principal judicial
and civil dignitares and hundred rep
resentative merchants were present.
The archbishop said the time had ar
rived for peace and that he believed a
consolidation of political parties will be
Of greater-beneht to Cuba in the future
than the house divided against itself.
Senior Tamanaya said. "a constitutional
convention, where the fundamental law
of the land is to be framed, is about to
be held. In that convention the people
of Cuba are TO prove themselves capable
Of constructing a government, of guaran-
Jeeiug life and property and Of preserving
order. II we fail in this conven-
ton. we shall be unworthy of the
blood that was shed at Ell Caney
and on San Juan hill General
Wood is the true friend OF Cuba. and
] can certify to 1t. The United States
government is sincere in the promises It
to the convention the best and most capa-
BILE men among us and thus show to the
world that Cubans are worthy of the
confidence placed in their capacity for self
government"
Governor General Wood, on rising, was
greeted with shouts of appreciation and
'vivas," which were taken up by some
5000 people assembled outside the club
house on the Parque de Ceepedes. He
spoke in part as follows:
l am here as your friend and IN no
other capacity. Only those who remem-
Der the ten years war can have as full
knowledge Of the conditions OF this PROV
inve as have myself. When l first saw
El Caney, matters were in a most de-
plorable condition. The road to Santiago
was marked with dead and dying. In the
improvement one sees everywhere we have
a proof of the friendly interest shown by
the American people. Everybody in the
United States was astonished at the satis-
factory way In which the municipal elec-
ton 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 IS right. Therefore beg you as a
States government to sink your political
differences and passions and to send men
20 the convention who are renowned for
honor and capacity so that the convention
may mean more than the Cubans even now
anticipate
Again. ! say send the best men. The
york before your representatives, is large
ly legal work. care not what your party
politics are; but whatever they are, for
the present party considerations must be
suspended for the sake of the great end
in view; the end that will mcke history
and effect the welfare of the Cuban people.
Your delegates must be competent to
draft constitution. and 1t Is duty you
owe yourselves and your fellow patriots
to see that your representation is without
party prejudice. Bear In mind that no
stable government will be accepted by the
United States. I wish to avoid making
Cuba into second Hayti. although l do
not think that possible.
You want liberty for all. and for no par
ticular party. The United States insists
that you shall have It. This Is possible
and easily possible. We have said 1t to
make our word good. Your enemies pre-
dict failure. The people OF the. United
States and their representatives hope to
see you defeat these predictions. If va
were not your friends we would not seek
the best men you have, but would seek
the disturbed and the mslcontents to
represent you in the convention. We seek
and demand the best you have. Again I
say, send people to the convention who
will hereafter make your political sys- |
tenn workable and permanent.
General Woods speech is considered by
Cubans here to be the most important
declaration made since the American oc-
cupstion began.
The Cuban flag was raised over the pal
ace by General Woods permission today.
thousands CT Cubans witnessing the cere- (
mony Later in the afternoon the Ameri- I
can. Cuban and Spanish arms were fast
ened together in decoration at the prlnci- I
pal theater where General Wood was 4
present. This was the first time the !
Spanish arms have been exhibited since
the evacuation. This morning General .
Wood visited the battle fields OF San Juan
and El Caney Tomorrow he will go to /
The military road from San I
tlago to San Luis Is finished as far as the |
summit OF Puerto Boniato. an altitude of
1900 feet, This is a distance OF eight /
miles The Bayamo and Cauto valleys are |
thus placed in direct communication I
through Santiago valley. The area COW
erred is 5000 square miles. The suPar /
which the completion of the road |
will resuscitate, is believed to be the |
finest In the world. Seventeen miles OF /
the highway remain to be constructed.
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