The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1896-08-05
Purposes of the Presidents RI
cent Proclamation.
FlLlBUsTERlNG MUST CEASE
The Law is Plain and it Wall be
Rigidly Enforced.
AN EFFORT TO HELP SPAIN
The President Also Desired to Assure
The Spanish Government of Our
Sincerity in the
Matter.

ton issued by the President last week
| against violations of the neutrality
| laws was a friendly act towards the
| Spanish cabinet, which just now Is be-
| ing seriously threatened by the Cortes.
! MIR. Cleveland desires to assure Spain
! of the sincerity of this governments
efforts to protect her aginst tilibuster-
| inc expeditions or other forms of as
| sistance that might tend to aid the
| insurgents. The report of the last
proclamation, therefore, was to en-
| Dhasize the determination of the State
| department to prevent, if possible, the
! landing of men and munitions of war
in Cuba The Spanish Cortes for
months has been wayering as to what
new action should be formulated with
reference to the Cuban question, and
several times the cabinet has been on
the verge of dissolution. The admins
tration has known of this, and acting,
it is understood, under the request of
the Spanish minister at Washington,
the President drew up another procla-
nation, differing but little in general
terms from that of last winter, as an
additional warning TO intendin pro
moters of expeditions.
TO DEFINE THE LAW.
The object of the proclamation was
also to clearly enunciate the decision
of the United States Supreme Court
in the Horsa case, as in the minds of
some there was some doubt just how
far international law and practice re-
quired a country to go in preventing
armed expeditions from leaving its
territory. The Supreme Court held
that person is stopped by neutrality
law not only from associating himself
with filibustering expeditions, but also
from assisting such expeditions in any
manner, and especially by serving as a
vehicle of transportation. Further
more, that the presence on some yes
sells of arms and men not forming a
part of the natural crew was sufficient
to establish a tilibustering expedition
under the law. The effct of that de-
cision was to upset the decision of the
local courts at Wilmington, n. c., and
in Florida relative to such expeditions.
If the celebrated Horsa case had been
decided adversely to the government
this last proclamation would never
have been issued, nor would any fur
Their efforts have been made to inter
fere with the departure of filibuster-
ing expeditions except when they sail
ed on vessels provided with guns and
manned at the departure.
The President recognizes that many
of the States are exceedingly friendly
to the Cuban cause and their officers
might be negligent purposely in sup
pressing expeditions. There have been
instances already where the authorities
could have prevented the departure of
filibuster expeditions if they had tried.
This has been the ease in the Southern
States. where the cause of free Cuba is
especially strong.
GENERAL LEES REPORT.
What developments in Cuban affairs,
so far as this country may be con-
cerned, are expected by the admins
tration is a subject the officials will
not discuss. 1t is certain that General
Lee has completed some report on the
military situation on the island, and
it is probable the President has it I'M
der consideration. 1t was the impress
sion, strengthened by unofficial state
ments. that General Lee was sent TO
Cuba mainly tc observe the military
operations and send TO Washington the
exact status of the contending forces,
the probabilities of success of each and
the approximate period of time the war
might be expected to yet cover:
Whether he has done this will be de-
veloped later. 1t is equally certain
that the public will not be informed
of the character of the report until
Congress assemblies and a resolution
calls for its transmission to the capitol
Even then, if the President considers
| it incompatible with public interests,
| it may be held up to the close of this
administration.
MASTERLY INACTIVITY.
Regardless Of the Importance of this
report, it is conceded that there will
| be little change in the situation until
| the autumn sets in. Both sides are
now maintaining a mastery inactiY-
| ity'' and neither seems to be making
| attempt to dislodge or weaken the
other. General Weyler has announced
| that no further decisive move will be
| made on the insurgents until Septem-
| Der, when the warm season and I'M
| healthy period closes. Then he pro
poses, with additional assistance from
| home, to force the Cubans to surren-
| der. That is what the General says
| but insurgent agents in the United
| States are not losing any time, and
| almost weekly are strengthening their
, cause at home. Delays win be to the
advantage of the insurgents, they
| claim, and the longer Spain puts off
| direct action the better it will be for
the Cuban cause, as each month brings
additional recruits, enables more
munitions to be secured and weakens
the Spanish forces in the island. Six
months ago, when Weyler succeeded
Campos in command, it was announced
in Spain that the rebellion would be
put down before the summer.
RECOGNITION NOT PROBABLE.
Should the war continue through
the autumn and early winter the duty
of this government TO recognize the
belligerency of the Cubans will be OBJ
ligatory, so say two of the best stu
dents of international law in Washing
ton. But recognition is not probable.
The President has all along contended
that it cannot be granted until the
Cubans show themselves capable of
maintaining n famnora1.y form Of ooy-