Evening star., 1896-12-15
Surprise at the Professed Ignorance
at the State Department.
NO OFFICIAL REPORT RECEIVED
Effects of the Reported Enlist
ments for the insurgents.
PEN Atty OF THE LAW

III
| State Department concerning recent events
| IN Cuba is matter OF general surprise. IL
| The stories told the newspaper men WIN
visit that department in quest of news gre
| true the department is still I'm official ig-
| norance of the death of Maceo the in
surgent leader, although there is a general
| belief that he was killed (either trea ch-
| erously under flag of truce fairly on the
| field of battle) on the 9Th instant or eight
| days ago. The silence of the consular Of
ficers I'm Cuba on this most important point
| is ineXplicable in view of their orevions
/ record for promptness in keeping he de-
partment informed of the progress of
events of far less Significance. In the ab-
sence of Consul General Lee, the vice con-
sui general, Mr.. Springer, is in charge of
The interests Of me United States in the
Cuban capital. IL is generally understood
| hat one of his functions is TO promptly
advise the department of all unusual ham
penings on the island that might possibly
| affect the relations between the Spanish
army and the insurgents.
| No single event of greater Significance
| than the death Of the able Cuban general.
Maceo, has occurred since the first insur-
| rectionary outbreak; yet if the officials Of
Inc state DE- partment are to be believed,
| not single word on that subject has been
| reported to the department by its repre-
| sentatives in Cuba
4 Singular State of Things.
1t Is regarded as most singular state of
| affairs. In view Of the great interest taken
| by the people of the United States I'm the
fate of the Cuban patriot it is likely, how
| ever, that Secretary Olney may feel called
upon to ask the vice consul general at Ha-
vana Tor the facts in the case in order that
| he may be in position 20 properly respond
| 10 an inquiry from Congress on the subject
lnasmuch as proposed legislation on this
Iaff b.
| 1t is more than probable that either the
Senate or the House will ask the State
department to supply the desired informa-
ton.
Consul General Lee is now in New York
city and is expected TO sail for Havana on
the steamer leaving tomorrow. He has
JCst concluded visit to his son at the
west Point eilitary Academy. His wife
mat they will accompany him to Havana
III this is SO, it may be accepted as a pretty
good indication that Gen. Lee does not re-
gard the Cuban capital an unsafe place
| for ladies' under existing and prospective
conditions.
The death of Maceo was reported before
tne departure OF President Cleveland on his
duckfng expedition. Consequently that
event In itself is not likely 10 cause any
change in the established policy of the ad-
mihstraton or strict neutrality and nom
intervention.
Reported Enlfstments for Cuba.
The attention of officials here has been At
Uacted by the stories coming from all
portions OF the country, from time to time
indicating that enlistments are going on of
parties OF men to go to Cuba to Join the
insurgents in their struggle against the
Spaniards. Particularly in the west ana
notably in Denver is il said thar thesa
movements are most formidable and in The
latter case it has been reported through
the press. that no less than one thousand
N ara H.,
for such service.
Now, all this is in direct violation of
'he neutrality laws. and the penalties pre-
scribed for such violations are very g.
we're. For accepting a commission 10 serve
against Spain, 4. country with which the
United States is now at peace th. men,
atty prescribed by section 52Sl, Revised
statutes. Is $1,000 fine and three years i'm
prlsonment, while for enlistment TO serve
against Spain or hiring any one to enlist
the penalty is almost as heavy being a
maximum OF $1,000 fine and three years
Imprisonment. The enforcement of these
laws naturally fall within the functions of
the United States officials to whose knowl-
edge the attempt at infringement is
brought, but il the movement continues on
as large scale as reported it is probable
that the Department of Justice will send
instructions of a special character to all
OF its agents calling their attention to the
proclamation issued by the President last
spring and enjoining upon them strict
enforcement of the neutrality laws The
government Will doubtless be Obliged IN
DO TINS IN order to manifest its purpose 10
meet the requirements of international law
just as II has warned the shipping inter-
ests against taking part in filibusterine
movements. and las sent rigid instruc-
uons to judicial officers at Atlantic ports
to prevent the infraction of the laws I'm
that respect
Representative WOOdman's Joint
Resolution.
Representative Woodman QI) today in
troduoed a joint resolution directing the
President to intervene in Cuban affairs
The resolution, after reciting Gen Maceo's
assassination and Spanish cruelties in Cuba
says that the President has failed to carry
out the wishes of the people; that the honor
of the United States is at stake, and that
history gives no precedent which TO
base a hope that Spanish operators will
change to compliance with civilized war
fare. The President is directed to express
severe condemnation of the Spanish meth
DDS of warfare, especially the murder OF
Maceo; to recognize the Independence OF
Cuba and to demand of Spain the with
drawal of all troops from Cuban soil. He
is also directed to take proper steps to
see that this demand is carried out.
What He Says About Ii.
Representative Goodman says with re-
gard to his resoluticn: THE republic of
Cuba is well organized at present. and at
tehus 10 matters OF CIVIL government IN Tue
peaceful parts Of its domain, now amount
ing to about half the territory of the
island. The fact does not seem to be ia
milar to the public, nor even to President
Cleveland, that the president of the repub-
lie of Cuba is not. under its constitution.
the commander-in-chief of its armies. Un-
der their constitution General Gomez is at
the head cf military affairs, and is not sub
ject to civil authority, so far The con-
duct of the war is concerned. A general to
designated by Gomez, must be confirmed
by the civil council of state, consisting of
the president, vice president and secre-
taries of foreign affairs. interior affairs.
war and navy. From these facts probably
arise the idea that there is no government
there except the military. But, as a mat
ter Of face, the civil organization is very
complete. and has ample power to treat
and be treated with"
Naval Ordera.