The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1901-06-14
KNEW THEIR TEMPER.

N ~ NOCIluOu
to wait and allow the Cubans time
to get over their milf, confident that
the Plat amendment in the end
would be accepted, instead of taking
steps to dissolve the constitutional
convention, rs was suggested in some
quarters. good judgment was dis
played, for the expected has happened.
Despite the efforts Of the radicals
and fire eaters to prevent 1t, the
amendment has been accepted and
becomes an appendix to the Cuban
constitution. While it is a fact that
two OF the members who v~oted%against
the amendment as rejected by the adj
ministration were absent when Wed
nesday's vote was taken and pre-
sunably would have voted against it
again, still the majority the conser-
natives mustered would have been
considerably larger than it was on
the preceding occasion, showing that
some thinking has been done in the
interim and that reason was given
the opportunity to assert itself. Dur
ing the time which has elapsed since
the first vote and that of last Wednes-
day the ~recalcitrants have learned
that their attitude did not arouse the
enthusiastic spirit of approval in the
people Of the island that they had
imagined it would. Instead of being
on the popular side of the question
they found that they were in the
minority, not only sc far as the con
vention itself was concerned, but
also as representing the wishes of
their constituents. The Cuban people
have never resented the attitude
which this country has taken. only
the politicians of the Portuendo and
Silvala stripe have seen fit to assume
an attitude Of antagonism and for
purely selfish purposes.
It vas undoubtedly a realization Of
popular opinion that caused Seniors
Gener and Robau, two of the opposi-
ton, to remain away when the last
vote was taken. They were unable
to conquer their prejudices and
rather than again place themselves
on record as opposed to the wishes
of the majority and possibly delay
that which the people wanted and
demanded, absented themselves, SO
that the responsibility for failure,
should failure mark the efforts Of
the convention to adopt the amend
ment, could not be charged to them.
They laid themselves open to the
charge of moral cowardice, but being
politicians of the place hunting kind
they probably do not care for this
and as time softens their rancor. and
they e others line up for the pie
wagon they may be expected to be-
come just as earnest and enthusiastic
in their support of the new order OF
things as they were in the past op-
posed to them.
By accepting the amendment the
convention went q long way in the
direction Of Fastening the time when
American occupation of the island
shall cease and it now only remains
for its members to promptly and eff
GENTLY discharge their remaining
duties and give further evidence of
the ability and willingness Of the
Cubans to govern themselves in ac-
cordance with the provisions i'm
posed by the United States, provis-
ions calculated for the good Of the
island and its people. The United
States has asked nothing unreason-
able from them and may be depended
to act honestly and faiIly when the
time comes for it to carry out it's part
of the mutual contract entered into
between the two nations.
CARD FOR IRRIGATION.
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