Evening star., 1901-03-26
The Lieutenant Generals Speech 10
the Convention.
THEIR SPLENDID RECORD PRAISED
Island Can Become the Garden
Spot Of the World.
UNITED STATES ACTION

1
tutional convention at Havana, Gen. Miles
| assured them that the President Of the
| United States had approved the act of
Congress concerning the relationship with
| Cuba as he (the President) believed It was
! for their best interests, and wished him
| (Gen. Miles) to assure them Of his Interest
| In their welfare and good win toward them.
In addition to this Gen. Miles expressed
practically the following sentiments to the
president and members Of the convention:
| The occasion OF an Official visit to the
military garrisons Of western Cuba affords
| me the pleasure Of renewing the acquaint-
| ance Of many of your soldiers, patriots and
| statesmen.
| The courtesies and cfviiittes that have
been extended to me are highly appre-
| ciated
You are aware that have been a strong
friend Of Cuba during her years of adver-
| sity. I am happy today to greet you as a
| friend who has sympathized with you in
your darkest hours Of gloom. and who now
rejoiees with you in the dawn of your
| bright and promising future.
The story Of Cuba Is told on some of the
| darkest pages Of all modern history. Long
and sacrifice are conspicuous in her past
experience. and yet, sad as that expert
ence has been, it affords an encouraging
promise for the future. The years in which
| oHc SuIcIcO the greatest OppTcSSlOH anu
| lived under the severest despotism were
! the years of her deepest financial distress,
| stagnation and degeneration: and the years
| In which she enjoyed the largest measure
greatest progress. happiness and prosper
| ity
| The Garden Spot of the World.
The Island of Cuba can become the gar
| den spot Of the world. The fertility Of her
| soil is unsurpassed; her productive re-
| sources unequaled; her mines stored with
| inexhaustibIe riches, and her salubrious
! climate a panacea for the weak and lux
| ury for the strong. The only elements In
| dispensable now are liberal institutions and
| a free government, administered with wis
dom and integrity.
When we consider all the difficulties that
! Cuba has encountered and the mighty OBJ
| that the lingering shadows which remain
| will vanish as the light Of independence
breaks upon the dawn Of the brightest day
| OF her existence.
ed of the dark and chaotic years that fol-
! lowed the independence gained by our
| fathers prior to the establishment of the
constitutional government Of the United
| States The present condition Of Cuba Is
more fortunate in the analogy.
The contemplation Of the dark history Of
| Cuba Is less pleasing than the considera-
tion OF her present condition and bright
| to me to congratulate you upon what you
! have accomplished.
I congratulate you on the splendid
| struggle you have made for freedom You
| engaged in g. most unequal and desperate
contest and are entitled to the highest con-
| sideration for the heroic efforts that you
| made against overwhelming odds. You
were opposed by q well-drilled well-equip-
ped army Of greatly superior numbers and
| a navy which controlled the entire waters
! of the island. yet for ten long years the
| struggle for liberty was maintained.
A few years later you again fought for
| three long years against the best army
that Spain could send to your shores.
| I congratulate you upon the splendid rec
| ord OF the little army OF Cuba In this last
war against the same overwhelming forces
| You in the west here familiar with
| the record Of your military achievements,
but was an eyewitness of the indomitable
courage displayed by the army under the
| 1lustrfous General Garcia. Six thousand
Of his men held at bay over twenty thou
sand Of the best troops Of Spain and pre-
vented their coming to the assistance Of
the garrison at Santiago. The balance Of
his force-four thousand men-took con-
! spicuous part in the investment Of that city
| and garrison and are entitled to good
/ share Of the glory Of the success there
| achieved.
Splendid Record for Temperate Con-
| duct.
| What Is more creditable than all your
| suffering. sacrifice and heroism Is the
| splendid record that you have made before
| the world in the orderly and temperate con-
| duct of your people during the two years
| following your war for independence. There
has been scarcely an act Of violence or law
! lessness committed against the life or prop
| erty of any Of the citizens of Cuba during
| these two eventful years.
| You have laid down the arms and habili-
| ments OF war, returned to the paths Of
peace and taken up the implements Of in
| dustry in a most commendable spirit and
| with most gratifying results.
In due time convention has assembled,
| composed Of representatives from every
| section OF your country, and has framed
| constitution that. as far as know, or have
| heard. embraces not one single objection
! able article
most earnestly congratulate you upon
| your splendid history and your grand
| achievements, and I have the utmost con-
| fdence that your wisdom and patriotism
| will enable you to avoid any serious mis-
| take and to solve any minor problem that
yet remains for your present and future
! action.
1--WE see much In the public press con-
| cerning a difference of opinion as to the re-
| lations between the people and government
| Of Cuba and the people and government Of
| the great republic Of the north; but II we
note the important events and incidents
| of history, we will see standing forth in
| letters of living light the language of that
| immortal declaration made nearly eighty
| the breakwater for the people living in the
| southern portion Of the western henls-
phere.
I'VE see today sixteen republics south Of
| the Rio Grande and covering the entire
| continent Of South America, embracing
| forty y-six millions of people, who owe their
| existence to the influence and power Of the
great republic. 1 rejoice to- see that Cuba
is to add one more star to that glorious
| constellation of republics.
Action Of the United States.
again we note another important decla-
ration. when the government OF the United
| States, prompted by the call Of humanity.
came to the rescue and support Of Cuba,
and proclaimed to the world, by the unani-
nous vote Of her Congress-. that her act
was not for the acquisition OF territory.
but to promote the welfare Of q people
| struggling for liberty. Later there was
| enacted into statute law a provision to
guard and protect the interests Of Cuba
during its transient period.
cit Is not my purpose to attempt the in
| depreciation Of the laws Of Congress Your
Intelligence and wisdom win fully guide you