The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-01-17
NOT CUBAN CITIZENS.
Leaders Of the Revolution Now
in Progress.
SOME OF THEM ARE AMERICANS.

| Under the Circumstances the United sesses
Government Might as Well Declare war
Against Spain as To Recognize the Inssr-
gents as BeIligerents-Brief History Of
the Principal Leaders OF the Revolt
Views of President Cleveland.
WAsHISGToN. Jan. i7-There are In
surmountable reasons why the belligerent
rights Of the Cuban revolutionists may
not be recognized by this government.
The principal leaders Of the revolution
and the officials Of the provisional govern
ment arc either citizens Of tho United
States or other countries than Cuba, and
the president feels that we might ss well
declare war against Spain and be done
with IL as to recognize the belligerency OF
party of our own citizens who are try
ing to destroy the government Of colony
OF that kingdom. Salvador Cisneros Bet.
tencourt who was formerly known as the
Marquis Of Santa Lucia, but dropped his
title when he became president Of the Gu
ban republic, has been naturalized citi-
zen OF the United States since 1879. and
has never renounced his allegiance.
Gomez, Maceo and Others.
Rafael Portuondo, the minister of for
eign affairs, who is seeking tho recogni-
tion OF the president for the provisional
republic, was naturalized in New York
about the same time and his family have
collected s60, 900 IN indemnity from Spain
through our government for injuries In.
hlcted upon them as citizens Of the United
States by the Spanish authorities. Car
los Roloff, the secretary of war, Is q sub
Ject of the czar Of Russia, citizen OF
Poland although some of his friends say
that he has declared his intention TO be
a citizen Of the United States by
taking out his first papers. Max.
imo Gomez, the general-in-chief OF the
revolutionary army, is citizen OF Santo
Domingo and is employed upon salary
by the Cuban patriots TO command their
armies. Jose Maceo, the second In CON-
mand, Is IA negro exile from Perto Rico,
and being expelled from that country
some years ago took refuge In Cuba,
where he has been a sort OF black terror
bandit king. Ii was he who plotted the
capture OF John sherman. while that gem
tleman was making tour through Cuba
some years ago. IL was intended to seize
him, carry him of into the mountains,
and hold him for ransom, with the ex-
pectation that the government OF the
United states would pay large sum Of
money for his release.
The Minister from Cuba.
Thomas Estrada Palma, the envoy ex-
traordinary and minister plenipotentiary
from the Cuban republic co this Eovern-
ment, is'also a citizen of the United States.
and has resided la this country continu-
ously for nearly twenty years. Mr..
Quesada, his secretary, and the active
leader OF the Cuban propaganda, has been
a citizen for nine years. These two gen.
tlemer last named art now in Washing
ton seeking recognition by President |
Cleveland Of the Independence and bellig-
erent rights of the republic Of Cubs, and
hold commissions signed by Salvador |
Cisnoros Bettencourt its president
While there Is no law expressly prohib- |
iting citizen Of this country from hold. |
ing office under a foreign ruler, the presi. |
dent would never receive or formally rec |
ognize fellow citizen in the capacity of /
envoy extraordinary and minister pleni. \
from another government, even /
under ordinary circumstances. There /
are, however, several sections Of the re- |
vised statutes which might be applied to /
prohibit the Cubans who have taken out /
NATURALIZATION papers In this country
from assuming, under the existing cir.
the duties and powers OF the
ofli ,es to which they have been chosen by
their fellow patriots.
Cannot Receive Palma.
There Is no doubt that the president |
might find plenty of authority to order
their arrest and imprisonment II they
would return TO the United States. But,
while there is no intention on the part OF
the United States to interfere with them,
Mr.. Palma has been informed by the sec-
retary Of state that for the reasons stated
The president cannot recognize or
wen receive him as the diplomatic
agent of the revolutionists This
mere fact Of their citizenship In this
although IL Is we'll understood to
nave been acquired In order to sHord
hem the protection Of our flag In case
hey get into trouble with the Spanish
seriously complicates the Gu.
pan situation. The presidents could rec.
'gnize the belligerent rights of the revo-
utionists a great deal more readily IL their
eaders were citizens Of Spain. In fact,
he government Of Spain has q good claim
gainst us because of their hostile conduct
md their destruction Of property.