Evening star., 1901-02-01

| ed the separation of the church and state
| made explicit. so that the action Of the
American authorities In separating them
could not be questioned Other delegates,
while agreeing with this view, further
more wanted the whole question settled
| for all time that there is to be no identity
between church and state in Cuba. Con-
seQuently they sustained the explicit decla-
ration of separation, and it so remains in
| the Cuban constitution, having been put
| there by q decided majority Of the dele
gates. Though this Indication of opinion
may have an unfavorable bearing on the
claims of the Catholic church for COM
pensatio for property taken by the gov
ernment this was not the controlling force
with the members, nor had they any idea
! of encouraging intolerance. Their aim was
! to preclude absolutely any question aris-
| ing in the future, and the significance OF
| their action is not to be underestimated
! The church in Cuba is separated forever
| from the government.
| Some signs have been had in the con-
yentfoA of the future division of political
parties in the island, yet they are too
| vague to be taken as genuine indications
| No question vet has arisen which can de-
| termine parties. The delegates elected
| were nominally nationals and republicans,
| but In forming the constitution these lines
| have not held. The republicans from Ha-
yana and Pinar del RIO provinces did not
| recognize the same basis Of principles as
| the republicans from Santa Clara. The
|
| purpose. because, without defining pro-
gram. they were the Maxine Gomez party
Gomez Stronger Than Ever.
IF happened that In choosing the dele
| gates through various causes majority Of
| enemies of Maximo Gomez were elected,
| and thew were elated at the notion that
| thew would be able to eliminate the old
| man from future Cuban politics. When
| thew got together they found that If they
| undertook to do so they also would elimi-
nate themselves. For this reason their
| plan of putting auallfylng clause IN the
| constitution which would prevent any one
except native born Cuban from being
| eligible to the presidency had to be re-
I modelled The provision was made to cover
foreigners who had 10 fought 81 -, for ast tuba pan IN
rection AS Gomez Is citizen Of Santa
Domingo, this provision was for his special
benefit.
In the public discussion of the articles
relating to citizenship and naturalization
| not one voice was raised against Gomez.
| This may not mean that he will be the
| first president of the Cuban republic, but
| it does mean that, ne rs rs, sun strong with
the Cuban people, and that no set of poll
ticians can sustain themselves simply be-
cause they are his enemies. II an Issue
should arise which would take the personal
element out of the politics of the island
| they might do something. But this issue
is not developing with reference to the
constitution itself Since the relations with
the United States are not to be discussed
until the organic law Is adopted by the
convention, that subject does not afford
| basis of division.
Regarding the debates, and discussions In
the convention opinions still differ. Some
Americans insist eOn treating the whole
matter as farce. That is an unwise view
to take The CONSTITUTION makers are
working seriously. and n considerable ele-
ment of the Cuban people is back Of them
and is in earnest. II went one afternoon to
the session with two Americans Of promi-
nence One is former member of Con-
gress and the other breaches from a pulpit
which gives him wide audience. The dis
cussion related to the church and state
Both Of them told me they found 1t both
interesting and instructive. 1t gave them
a glimpse of influences which are working
in Cuba They. did not undertake to pro-
nounce Judgment on ability of the people
| of the island to administer popular govern
! ment, and they have their own ideas of the
ultimate outcome; but they were agreed in
the opinion that the Cuban constitutional
that Its influence as an educating factor
is worthy of the attention of the Ameri-
can people CHARLES NJ. PEPPER
Tess-'I thought she was going to marry
old Gotrox."
Jess-"she was, but she broke the, en-
gagement"
Tess-"What for?'.
Jess-.sWhen she accepted him he told
her she had put new life In him."-Phila-
u