Evening star., 1901-06-15
Its Acceptance a Triumph for Con-
SerVatiVe Cubans.
FULL MEANING TO COME LATER
People Want Their Flag to Fly
Over Moro.
RECIPROCITY VEMENT


HAVANA June II, 1901.
Three or four months from now the full
meaning of the unconditional acceptance
of the PIatt amendment by the Cuban con-
stiiutiona! convention will be better under
stood 1t is a real triumph for the con-
sarvative element among the Cubans. At
the same time it is defeat for the group
Of irrecoucilable radicals who We're bound
to keep the relations with the United
States unsettled. and it is also a temporary
setback for the auncXati1nists, who were
hoping that the outcome of the convention
wouId be failure, and that the United
states would be driven into a position
which would force the annexation issue
pr,matureIy. That danger, for it was
real danger. is now past, and the move
msrt which looks to making Cuba a state
Of the American Union can await its nat
grlI and inevitable development.
IL would not he correct to say that the
Cuban politicians like the P1att amendment,
hut there always have been seventeen votes
in the convention which were privately
pledged not u let the formation of a Cuban
government be postponed indefinitely by
th, rejection Of the conditions laid down by
Congress Then there We're the radicals
who We're not irTeCouCilab!e, and who want
cd tho amendment accepted without them
selves taking responsibility. While the con-
VtutIuu Hid not succeed IN getting Its inter-
IlrCtlttuu accepted by the national admins
tratiou part of the appendix to the
constitution. its members think that they
have been making history, and that they
have spread on record that which will he
justified in the future. For the rest it
should be said that they have had to take
the responsibility for other peoples mis-
takes and misunderstanding and throush-
out have shown scif-rcsIraint and good
sens.
Sumc Who Took n Leading Part.
some Of tha members who have taken
leading part in securing the adoption of the
amendment, when the conyention met six
months ago were looked upon radicals.
N1naug these was Manuel Sauguily the
director Of the Havana Institute. who de-
ysI.p,i into Il strcns, conservative. From
th- time the issue was raised h urged his
colleagues % settle the relations with the
United States whatever basis the
American government wanted as the best
means pt securing cuban government
which would be able to maintain itself and
90 SrrIr. recognition from the rest of the
world. Domingo Capote. the presiding OF
GC,r of tur convention: Senior NilluenddS.
'gs If lis secretaries. and others also
turned from radicaIism TO moderation.
They Will have good deal To say about the
future of the new government. as will
tlU,sgda. BetduCourt, NuneZ and Diego
TamAyo. who have been the active work
trs in adjusting the relations. II they took
"a winding path in the beginning instead of
the straight road, no one is concerned and
their constituents seem satisfied that they
have finally reached their destination. The
Influence which the various Cuban leaders
will exercise. and their probable position
in the future. IS likely to develop while
the convention is drafting the electoral
law which is to provide the machinery for
choosing the president, congress and other
officials as provided in the constitution.
1t is easy TO mistake the apparent indif-
ference of the mass of the Cuban public
for lack Of interest, but they have not
been without interest. and it was their de-
sire to have government OF their own
which prevented the frreconcilable dele
gates from precipitating a deadlock and
carrying the whole question over until the
meeting Of the American Congress next
winter. While the work Of drafting he cleo
tiOu law and the collateral measures will
not be done in rush. nevertheless from
now on IL may he assumed that every step
taken Will be a forward one, and the pro-
cess Of making the Cuban government will
proceed without Interruption. General
Wood has everything in excellent shape for
the progressive steps.
The Two PIatts Mixed
Within week it may safely be predicted
that all controversies growing out of the
P.att amendment will be buried though
Geglbrrto Gomez threatens to make its
supporters oGious To the Cuban people so
Ions as he has newspaper in which 10
z.prs them The leading spirits Of the con-
N-rL.,u -r. satisfied that in the future they
viii L.t he aSStiltd- When they put on
I,eHrf senator Pl3tt's letter explaining
tafr the Imeudm, Mt which bears his name
trI uIt mean "A preteCtOrate SuZcrdiutV
they Justified their own position in accept
lu- IT, The Connecticut senator has the
best ui the Cuban radicals in one way. The
tdIIr.tturrs and cartoons III which he was
rrpr'NIl"d. as the IrrcG1nClldbi"S called il.
do not bear his likeness at all. The carl
,.turIStS on the Havana newspapers got
hold II picture Of senator Thomas c.
Platt Of New FORK and il is the New York
senator whose features have been distorted
for the benefit If the Cuban public. He has
appeared in all sorts of guises and he goes
down To history in the newspaper litera-
tgr, uf this transition period with more
evidences Of unpopularity than ever has
happened To him in New York contests
kIpwiuE this Senator Piatt of Connecticut
can afford 70 cond1le with Senator Platt of
New York.
As it now stands the chief idea which
the majority Of the Cuban people have
of the republic which is TO be theirs is the
Cuhau flag flying on Morro Castle. The
public has taken very calmly the naval
surveys which have been made along the
coasts by the Eagle and other vessels
which have been locating the most aVaila-
hit harhurs for cnaling or naval stations
This is because of the conviction that the
Isle II Pines Is going TO remain Cuban ter
ritury. in return for which the United
states viii have Coaling or naval stations
on the mainland. But when the naval Of
fCrrs talk about retaining Moro and erect
ing fortihCatiOns in Havana harbor they
touch a raw spot They are also prema-
t.T-- The IlatJ amendment does not pro-
N'fiF Tor ibTllIHttlpNS- POSSIBLY after the
Cuban government is formed and when the
President of the United States is negotiat-
Ing with il regarding these naval stations
10 question may be raised concerning the
f'-titcatirns or even with regard 10 MORO
Castle But these are the things that come
att rward and may be left to the discretion
Of President Mckinley for the present
Cuban Flag Must Fly Over MORO.
Without the Cuban flag flying over Moro
no one VIII be able TO convince the Cubans
that they have their own government
Fourth of July addresses in the United
States. which are filled with stump speeches
about the American flag never coming
down. may be postponed until next year.
or the year after. Whether their own
standard flies for day or year. or even
five years. no one may determine at this
time. but that II must go up over Moro
castle for a while is inevitable, unless the
United States wants to cause unnecessary
irritation and friction.