Evening star., 1895-06-13
THE CUBAN EVOL T
A Proclamation on the Observance of the
Neutrality Laws
The President Warns Citizens Against
mcmt by Senator's Morgan and Call.

The reported departure of several armed
expeditions from Florida against the Span
ish government IN Cuba has aroused the
adrniu.stra ion TO the necessity of radical
action for the prevention of further viola
ions of the neutrality laws in this respect.
Complaints have been made to the De-
rartment of State through the Spanish
minister that men are being recruited on
American soil, and that armed expeditions
are leaving our shores for the purpose of
attacking the Spanish forces in Cuba. Sec
retary Olney regarded the situation as Sc
rious, and he urged upon the President and
his assistants the national obligation to
prevent the continued use of United States
territory as a base of hostile operations
against friendly power ike Spain.
The President's Proclamation.
As a result of his representations the
President last evening issued proclama-
tion warning all citizens against violation
of the neutrality laws in the case of Cuba.
1t is follows:
Whereas the Island of Cuba is now the
seat of serious civil disturbances accom-
panied by armed resistance TO the author
ity of the established government of Spain,
power with which the United States are,
and desire to remain, on terms of peace
and amity; and
Whereas the laws of the United States
prOniDlt their clt.ZenS, as well as all DINERS
being within and subject to the.s jurisdic-
tion. from taking part in such disturbances
adversely 10 such established government,
by accepting or exercising commissions for
warlike service against it, by enlistment
procuring others to enlist for such SER
vice by fitting out arming. or procuring
to De fitted out and armed ships of war
for such service, by augmenting the force
of any ship of war engaged in such SER
vice and arriving in port of the United
States. and by setting foot or providing or
preparing the means for military enter
prises to be carried from the United
States against the territory of such gov
ernment:
'Now therefore. in recognition of the
laws aforesaid and in discharge of the OBJ
legations of TIE United States toward
friendly power, and a measure of pre-
caution. and to the end that citizens of the
United States and all others within it's jur-
isdiction may be deferred from subjecting
themselves to legal forfeitures and pen
altes:
Il, Grover Cleveland, President of the
United States of America, do hereby ad
monish all such citizens and other persons
TO abstain from every violation of the laws
hereinbefore referred to, and do hereby
warn them that all violations of such laws
will be vigorously prOsecuted; and 1 do
hereby enjoin upon all officers of the
United States charged with the execution
OF said laws the utmost diligence in pre-
venting violations thereof and in bringing
to trial and punishment any offenders
against the same"
No Recognition of DeIliSerent Rights.
The issue of this proclamation gave rise
to considerable discussion as to whether it
practically amounted to a recognition of
the rebels as belligerents. Such an inter-
probation of the proclama ton, however, is
not correct according to the opinions of
several well-known public men. Senator
Morgan of Alabama, who is recognized
authority on International law, when asked
about the matter said:
IN Nf ,,,--l,t
ency are accorded by the proclamation, but
just the reverse is the case. There would
nave been no necessity for such action If
the insurgents were beligerents, for then
have the right to sell munitions of war If
they could escape the blockade of the Span
ish feet Similar proclamations have 1 be-
Heve'been heretofore issued at times of Gu
ban instructions, and at the time the Tex
ans were endeavoring to throw off the au-
thority of Mexico one was issued warning
citizens of the United States from aiding
them
Senator Call of Florida said the procla-
nation did not intend to accord to the in
SurSentS the rights of beligerents, and un-
doubtedly did not do SO. 1t would, how
ever. he sad have no effect in preventing
the departure of those who We're willing to
aid the. Cuban cause, because it was utterly
Impossible TO guard the coast of the United
states, for the government had not the
force at hand to do 50. What" he asked,
lis there to prevent a foreign ship from
sibly Tor Europe any other place with as
sistance aboard for the insurgents. and
then transferring its cargo or sailing from
some other port for Cuba ?" The Presi-
dents proclamation. said the Senator, was
rather stronger than he liked. Il am," he
said, lin favor of the independence of
Cuba for it is a foregone conclusion that
this island will throw off the Spanish yoke
In my judgment, it is wild idea to sup
pose that this government can support the
tottering government of Spain over Cuba,
or that it ought to do it.
THE sentiment in Florida he continued,
sis generally with the insurgents as l am
satisfied it Is in the country at large, and
but for the Cuban climate and the danger
of contracting fever the part of native
Americans, l believe the Cuban army would
ere this have been reinforced by hundrad
thousand men from this country"
The Raleigh to Sail To-day.
The Navy Department officials expect
that the cruiser Raleigh will sail from New
York this afternoon for Key West, where
she is to assist the revenue cutters in pre-
venting the departure of Cuban flibuster-
ing expeditions from that place and from
other points in the United States. 1t is ex-
pected that she will make the trip in about
three days and half.