The true northerner., 1896-04-15
THE CUBAN REBELLION
President Cleveland Wants to
Know the Truth.
DIFFICULTIES ARE IN THE WAY.
Constitution Of the Revolutionists- Sim
pie but Practical Form For the Time
Being-Basis For . Treaty of Peace-A
Free and Independent State

WASHINGTON. April 14.-[Special. J.
President Cleveland has for some time
been giving great deal of consideration
10 the status of the Cuban rebellion. He
| is anxious TO know tho truth, but finds IL
very difficult TO ascertain. Our consular
officers i'm Cuba have been instructed to
make full reports, but they are not In po-
sition to give anything more than local
and narrow view of the situation. The
president has from the first taken the posi-
tion that until the Cuban insurgents actu-
ally establish government, with collection
of taxes, administration OF justice and
other functions OF de facto government,
they are not entitled 10 recognition. The
president does not hold that they should
have perfect government, or that their
dominion should extend TO all parts of the
island, or even to half of 1t, but he
does maintain that they should have that
sort of government with which the
United States could deal if occasion should
require. 1t must not be simply a govern
ment in moving camps, literally "in the
saddle"
A Point In Favor of Cuba.
1t is not claimed that the Cubans have
this sort of "a government at the present
slime. At Cubilas a village far up in the
mountains, so remote that the Spanish
troops cannot get to 1t, they have their
seat Of government. We have never had
any satisfactory description of that govern
ment We do not know of what 1t con-
sists, or how far 1t goes in performance of
the functions Of a real government. One
point of interest was brought out by Sen
ator Turpie Of Indiana in Il recent speech
in the senate. He quoted from the official
or Spanish reports to prove that the Span
iards had seized courthouse In the in
terror Of the island, where they arrested
the Judge and other officials who were
holding court and carried them off to i'm
prisonment. OF course the Spanish au-
thorities who permitted this fact TO leak
out did not suppose 1t would convey any
information in favor of the Cuban cause,
but Senator Turpie very quickly seized
upon it as proof positive that the insur-
gents were maintaining some sort of civil
government in the territory controlled by
them. If they were holding court and ad-
ministering justice in one town, probably
they were doing so In many others.
The president has endeavored to get
facts about the condition of affairs in the
island; but, as may be readily imagined,
there are many difficulties in the way. The
fact that the insurgents carry on guerrilla
sort of warfare and will not meet the foe
in set battle is not now held against them
Formerly the president was OF opinion
that unless the insurgents were willing to
make open battle they were not entitled
to recognition as belligerents But it Is
understood he has abandoned that view,
II having been assumed by General Scho-
field and other military authorities that a
guerrilla warfare is perfectly Legitimate If
the conditions warrant 1t. The main point
is as TO the organization and discipline of
the rebel forces, and on this score the
Cuban armies meet all requirements
They are organized, they do maintain dis
cipline, and they are certainly much more
humane much less given to acts of vio-
lence against the person, than the Spanish
troops.
The Cuban Constitution.
Some question has been raised here as to
the form of government which the Cubans
are now maintaining, and on this score l
am able to give some information. The
Cubans are operating under the constitu
tion adopted on the 18th of September last.
Their preamble is in the following words:
1.-THE revolution for the independence
and creation in Cuba of a democratic re-
public in its new period of war, initiated
aration of Cuba from the Spanish mon
archy and its constitution as free and
independent state, with its own govern
ment and supreme authority, under the
name of the Republic of Cuba and con-
firms its existence among the political di-
visions of the world.
1.-The elected representatives of the revo-
luton In convention assembled, acting in
its name and by the delegation which for
that purpose has been conferred upon
them by the Cubans In arms, and previ-
ously declaring before the country the
purity of their thoughts, their freedom
from violence, anger or prejudice, and in
spired only by the desire of interpreting
the popular voice In favor of Cuba, have
now formed n compact between Cuba and
the world, pledging their honor for the
fulfllment of said compact in the follow
ing articles of the constitution.
The articles provide for a simple but, on
the whole, practical form OF government
OF temporary nature All the powers,
except the judicial, are vested In n govern
ment council composed of president, vice
president and four secretaries of state.
Everything is placed In their hands, and
they are empowered to order an election
for an assembly or legislature whenever,
In their opinion, IL Is deemed desirable TO
take such step. AS yet no assembly cleo
tions have been held. Control of the armies
is placed without reserve In the hands of
the general In chief General Gomez
Clauses Of the Constitution.
Three or four clauses In this constitution
are suggestive of the indomitable purpose
of the Cubans to achieve their independ-
ence and to set a high standard for their
future government, as witness the follow
ing:
ARTICLE 1.-THE treaty of peace with
Spain, which must necessarily have for it's
basis the absolute independence of the is
land of Cuba, must be ratified by the gov
ernment council and by an assembly of
representatives convened expressly for this
purpose.
ARTICLE 19.-All Cubans are bound
to serve the revolution with their persons
and interests, each one according to his
ability.
article 20. = The plantations and
property of whatever description belonging
to foreigners are subject to the payment
OF taxes for the revolution while their re-
spective governments do not recognize the
rights of belligerency OF Cuba.