Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1901-03-09
SESSIONS CONTINUE
Conservatism Shown by Cuba's Con-
stitutional Convention.
GIVES HOPE FOR THE FUTURE
Acute Stage of Opposition Be-
Iieved to Be Passed.
P r o B A B L E OUTCO NJ E

Cuba'S constitutional convention by con-
tinuing it's sessions has shown the conser-
vatism which heretofore has marked nearly
every crisis that has arisen. 1t is one OF
the good signs that gives hope for the
future 1t is also a sign that practical poll
tics prevails. While the vast majority of
the Cuban people want a government Of
their own with their own flag they want it
within a reasonable time, and for the con-
vention to have adjourned without taking
notice of the resolutions of Congress was
universally known to mean delay. 1t is
a great point gained when the effervescent
protests are followed by discussion, though
probably this discussion will not end in the
outright acceptance of the American propo-
sitious.
One of the delegates writes me complain
ing that the American people do not under
stand the difficulties under which the con-
vention Is working. He thinks that too
much is expected Of the delegates in recon-
CLING to the minds of the Cuban popula-
ton the idea OF Independence with the
American control which Is indicated by the
action of Congress.
There may be ground for this complaint
yet it only strengthens the necessity of
discussion by the convention and a thor
0ugh understanding of what the American
position Is. In the United States the chief
need is patience and tolerance and appre-
citation of the fact that the Cuban consti-
tuition makers are confronted with a prac-
teal difficulty such as sometimes arises
when Congress and the country do not
seem to be fully in accord
The Acute Stage Passed.
In spite of occasional outbreaks of vio-
lent sentiment, especially in Santiago and
Santa Clara, the mass of the people are
not disposed to become excited. 1t was nat
ural enough for the delegates to seek to
bar tbai in signing the cOnStitu-
ton and then in formulating a very mild
series of opinions Endorsed by their const-
tuents, The public meetings and the resolu-
lions of the various municipalities were
feature of practical politics. All this was
worked just as 1t is worked in the United
States in similar circumstances. 1t Is the
opinion now of the representatives, or some
large American investors who are watching
the developments closely that while the sit
uation is liable to continue strained the
most acute phase is passed.
At most of the public meetings the dele
gates who have attended have been quite
moderate in their talk and very conserva-
tive in their advice They have counseied
moral resistance to the United States,
which means that they want their people
TO keep quiet while they are trying to de-
termine what can be done
The moral resistance of the great mass
of the Cubans to any American policy, II
persisted in, would become far more seri-
Gus than the physical resistance or a few
hot heads who would want to go to the
woods. but this is not the present condition.
1t is simply one of waiting and of not &C
quiescing in the resolutions of Congress un-
till there can be further discussion The
radical talk at most of the public demon
STATIONS has come from ambitious young
lawyers and doctors. who have not been
intrusted with responsibility and who seek
to talk themselves into prominence by the
violence of their utterances. They are not
to be feared.
In Santiago Province.
In Santiago one of the delegates did make
a rather radical speech, declaring that the
convention had granted all the concessions
it could to the United States. Yet this dele
gate had privately set on foot movement
to have the American troops kept In San
ttago for at least three years. His private
plea was that Santiago was the prov
ince in which everybody expected the Gu
bans would get to fighting among them
selves, and that they should have the troops
remain long enough to prevent such an out
come. 1t Is true that party sentiment, or
rather factional sentiment, is stronger in
Santiago that elsewhere. The danger to the
American control is that when the factions
get worked UP to the white heat and are
on the point of destroying each other they
save themselves by making common
cause against the American authority, which
they hold responsible for all their troubles.
In Santiago there Is also the color line.
but the blacks themselves are not so much
to blame for this. American adventurers
have been partly responsible for 1t, and the
feeling excited has been due largely to the
belief that the United States was going to
force annexation, and that under anneXa-
ton the blacks would be deprived of their
political rights. The SureSt way to contro
vert this delusion is to keep before them
that they are to have government Of their
own, under universal suffrage and a flag of
their own. When they are satisfied of this
there is not much danger of the Santiago
blacks worrying about the United States
having naval stations or exercising a re-
straining influence on the debt-contracting
and treatymaking powers OF the Cuban
government. The great difficulty IS to ttnd
Cubans who are ambitious for political dis
tinction and yet who have the moral cOur-
age to fight a popular delusion.
Political Parties.
Some of the advices from Havana say
that all the political parties will be unite
In UNFOLDING whatever action the conven-
ton takes, and that the delegates who were
most pro-American in their views are now
most radical in resisting the demands Of
the United States This Is only a half
statement of the facts. The delegates with
pro-American views are like the anti Amer
lean delegates in wanting a Cuban govern
ment, but they want 1T on solid founda-
ton
chiefly groups of individuals or factions,
because no well-defined issue yet has arisen
on which they can divide. The nationals,
as they are called, rally around Maxine
Gomez. though the old chief talks sarcasti-
cally of some Of their leaders and says he
does not propose that they shall use him
as cover for their own ambition.
The republicans have no recognized lead
er. though they have more men OF ability
than the nationals
There Is also populist party. The name
which has been formally adopted might be
taken a sign that Cuba Is really becom-
ing AmericaniZed. This idea might be
further encouraged by the knowledge that
the Cuban popuhst party has program Of
state socialism something like the populists
in the United States It is political mani
festation of trade unionism and draws it's
strength chiefly from the cigar makers, but
its leaders are affiliated with either the ma
1onal or the republican party.
What May Develop.
There Is possibility that out Of the pres
ent conditions will develop a genuine con-
servative party, because the relations of
Cuba to the United States as defined by the
resolution Of Congress furnish basis on
,tnL