Evening star., 1901-02-13
Conflict in Cuban Convention Over the
Most Important Question.
CONTRADICTIONS THAT ARE CURIOUS
Delegates Evidently PerpIexed at
Responsibilities Confronting Them.
REVIEW OF STU ALTON
Copyright, 1901. by Charles NJ. Pepper)
ecial Correspondence of The Evening Star.

! Copyright, 1901. by Charles NJ. Pepper)
| Special Correspondence of The Evening Star
HAVANA, February O. 1901
The constitutional convention is edging UP
| toward foreign relations-that is American
| relations. AT this writing no one can guess
what VIII be the outcome. There is a con-
| fict between the moderates and the Jaco-
| bins, as the radicals are called. Neither
| side knows whether it is going to come
| against a stone wall or tumble over into
| an abyss. The majority seem to think that
| there is a chasm which must be bridged
| somehow. ''Mire seer they call to one an
| other. and this means the danger signal
| Look out"'
| Various propositions are being discussed
| In private. They are reflex of the debates
| in the secret sessions which were held a
| few weeks back, when the constitution was
| just beginning to take form. At one time
| during these secret debates several of the
members We're in favor of putting into the
| constitution tentative clauses which i'm
| Piled recognition of an American protec-
| torate, both in foreign relations and in
| commerce. But these members were in the
minority and they had to yield to the
stronger sentiment that the constitution
Tor sovereign and Independent nation
would be drafted and after that the ques-
ID.
This program followed the lines laid down
by Governor General Wood in his speech
opening the convention. This speech was
given the force of an official decree, and it
SO appears among the orders of the mill
tary governor.
The present trend among the delegates
Is timid one. A wave Of radicalism may
come up and sweep them all along, but
they have not yet passed the stage of pro-
ceedfngs where they can stop to deliberate
After the Spanish habit, most of them
would like to put the puZzling subject off
| till tomorrow-that is. until Cuban gov
ernment Is organized and congress
elected
No prophet would undertake to stake his
reputation on the result of the conflicting
| tendencies which are now noticeable He
could not ignore the impetus which the
sentiment for independence has received
since the collapse of the flabby conservative
movement. AT the same time he could not
ignore the fear of the radicals or Jacobins
that they will be carried farther than they
can afford to go and have to accept the re-
sponsibility which they have been seeking
to evade.
Among the propositions now under con-
sideration is one to inscribe on parchment
vote of thanks to the United States as
supplement to the constitution and let it
go at that. Then there is a suggestion
fl ON some of the members who call them
se.ves radicals that they shall formally
guarantee the neutrality of Cuba whenever
the United States shall go to with any
other nation A step beyond this is the
suggestion Of mandate from the cOnStitll-
tional convention to the first Cuban con-
gress that it shall conclude an offensive
and defensive treaty of alliance with the
United States, including a commercial
treaty. If anything beyond vote of
thanks comes from the convention it will be
along these lines.
On one subject the whole convention is in
agreement with what is reported to be the
American policy. This is that the Monroe
doctrine applies to Cuba. One of the al
legged inspired statements which came down
over the wires was that the Cubans must
United States would recognize the inde-
pendence of the island. The delegates ac-
cepted this reported ultmatum with en-
thusiasm, unanimity and relief. 1t is just
what they want in order to be relieved
from more direct responsibility. They
have talked among themselves about the
elasticity of the Monroe doctrine and how
1t could be stretched to cover Cuba. By it
they understand that the United States as
sumes responsibility for protecting the
island from foreign bulldozing or foreign
invasion without being granted authority
which would enable 1t to discharge that
responsibility.
Itch for Place is Epidemic.
The acceptance of the Monroe doctrine
would not prevent Cuba from treating with
the nations Of Europe on its own terms.
both with reference to commerce and to
tuc oDllSdliOIs VI all luuepeHueul nation.
1t would be no check on foreign relations
and would be a guarantee that Cuban le-
cations would be established at the capi-
tails of Europe. With most of the Cuban
leaders who are choked with sentiment and
ambition the chief ambition of all is to be
minister to Madrid. 1t is perhaps a nat
ural ambition. Some of them have been po-
litical prisoners in Spain and their con-
suming desire is to square old accounts by
the formal reception which Spain would
ho1 fn friy- hn Of G,rt-, rr,I,a
minister presented himself. Some of the
leaders also are anxious to be minister to
Washington. 1t would be telling secrets to
explain that most Of those who cherish this
ambition think the minister to Washing
ton will be the most important function
ary of the republic.
Aside from the moving impulse back of
the delegates has been their jealousy of alb
sorptiOn by the American people. They
have got out of the habit of talking about
the Anglo-Saxon race. Now 1t is simply the
American race, and this fear of absorption
has dictated much in the proceedings of
the convention that otherwise would be
hard to explain. The delegates have been
seeking to preserve ''the Latin identity of
Cuba They have sought to erect artificial
barriers to Americanization where the
natural barriers sufficient.
Opposition to Carpetbag influence.
Many illustrations of this tendency have
been noted. One of them is in the at
tempt to destroy what those who have
been in the states call the "carpetbag in
fluence." No one questions that the citi-
zenship and naturalization provisions OF
the constitution are broad. but when it
comes to Office holding the tendency to mar
rowness has become pronounced. Natural
lied citizens will not be able to become
president, members of the senate judges
Of the supreme court. though after eight
years they may be allowed to for Of
flee as members Of the house of representa-
tives.
1 asked one of the delegates If by this
seclusion with reference to the supreme
court and the senate the republic might
not deprive itself of the services Of good
men. His reply was characteristic. "Those
articles of the constitution" he said. "are
transitory ones They are meant to pre-
serve the independence of Cuba. The enc
mics of independence are foreigners. They
can become naturalized, but il we should
let them have the chief offices of the gov
ernment they would their positions to
destroy independence. When it has been
shown that the foreigners who come to
live among US are not enemies of inde-
pendence, then we will make them eligible
to highest positions by amending the
constitution. Probably this will happen
before the period Of naturalization has
passed, but until we are sure we must DrO.