Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1895-06-12
REFILIBUSTERS
Uncle Sam Is on the Qui vive
in Your Regard.
CLOSE WATCH ON FL0R1DA's COAST

No Expeditions Leave the United States
to Help the Cuban tionists-NC
OHicial News of the Chinese Attack ON
Missions, but Other Advices That the
Missionaries Arc Safe.
WASHINGTON, June 12.-The following
letter has been sent to all collectors OF
customs on the coast from New York to
the Rio Grande, from the treasury depart
ment, dated Washington, June II, 1895:
st is q matter Of rumor that ut various
points in the United States attempts are
making to enlist men to equip and arm
vessels and by other illegal measures to
aid the instruction now in progress in
the island of Cuba. While the depart.
ment has not boen furnished with tangi.
bic evidence conilrmatory Of such rumors.
it deems it Of great importance that nc
possibility be given for complaints that
the government of the United States has
in any respect fallen short Of Its full duty
to a friendly nation. Collectors of
customs for the several districts between
New York and Brownsville are especial.
ly enjoined to see to it that the neutrality
laws of the United States, particularly
sections $3.50 and 5290 of the revised stat.
utes are fully complied with"
The Law as to Neutrality.
The sections Of the revised statutes re-
fcrred to are as follows: 1.-THE owners or
consignee of every armed vessel sailing
out OF the ports of the United States, be
longing wholly or in part to citizens
thereof, shall before clearing out of the
same give bond to the United States,
with sufficient sureties in double the
amount of the value of the vessel and
cargo on board, including her armament,
conditioned that the vessel shall not be
employed by such owners to cruise or
commit hostilities against the subjects,
citizens, or property of any foreign prince
or state, or Of any colony, district or peo.
pie with whom the United States are at
peace" "The several collectors OF the
customs shall dctain any vessel manifest
ly built for warlike purposes and about
to depart the United States the cargo OF
which principally consists of arms and
munitions Of war, when the number Of
men which shipped ON board. or other
circumstances, render it probable that
such vessel is intended TO be employed by
upon the subjects, citizens" ETC., until
the decision of the president Is had
thereon" e.
Instructions to the Raleigh.
Acting Secretary McAdoo, of the navy
department, said that the instructions
sent to the commander of the cruiser Ra.
leigh for his guidance when on patrol
duty of the Florida coast were OF tho
most comprehensive kind, and provided
for q full and strict enforcement of tho
neutrality laws. The Raleigh probably
will go first to Key West. This is tho
only port on tine Florida coast which Il
vessel Of her draught can safely enter.
She then will make thorough patrol Of
the coast line, and to render it more diff
cult for a iilibustering party TO set away
the cruisers steam launches and small
boats will be manned whenever it is nec-
cssary to look into narrow inlets and
passes for light-draught schooners and
yachts. which are the favorite means Of
.Ia,.su,-. .IaII3n oi -.it4.,.5.5-..
With Spanish men-of-war lying of the
Florida coast outside the threc-mile limit
ard the Raleigh and her boats sweeping
the inside waters, the ovcr.enthusiastic
Cubans and their American sympathizers
who undertake to drive the United States
into trouble by using Florida as base Of
hostile operations against the government
of Cuba are likely to be repressed with a
strong hand. The position of the admin
istration is that it must make all hon
orablc efforts to prevent the abuse Of its
territory in this way, and if the measures
alrcady adopted are not sufficient to Sc
cure the enforcement Of the neutrality
laws to n degree that we have ourselves
insisted upon when our own interests
were concerned then active steps may be
taken ashore to move upon the people
who have laid themselves open to prose.
Cution.