The copper country evening news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 18??-1907, 1896-04-15
YHE CUBAN REBELLION
President Cleveland Wants to
Know the Truth.
DIFFICULTIES ARE IN THE WAY.
Constitution of the Revoiutionists-A Sim
Pile but Practical Form For the Time
Being-Basis For a Treaty OF Peace
Free and independent state.

60 the status OF the Cuban rebellion. HC
IL anxious 10 know the truth, but finds II
very difficult TO ascertain Our consular
officers In Cuba have been instructed e
make full reports, but they are not In pc
sitiOn 10 give anything more than "A local
| and narrow view Of tho situation. The
| president has from the first taken the po-
sition that until the Cuban insurgents
actually establish "A government, with col
lection of taxes, administration Of justice
| and other functions of de facto govern
ment, they arc not entitled to recognition.
4 The president does not hold that they
should have a perfect government, or that
their dominion should extend 10 all parts
| of the island, or even to one half of IL, but
| he does maintain that they should have
| that sort of a government with which the
| United States could deal II occasion should
require. IL must not be simply govern
| ment in moving camps, literally in the
saddle.
A Point In Favor of Cuba.
IL Is not claimed that the Cubans have
| this sort of government at the present
time. At Cubilas, village far up in the
mountains, so remote that the Spanish
troops cannot get TO IL, they have their seat
of government. We have never had any
satisfactory description Of that govern
ment. We do not know of what it con-
sists or how far IL goes in performance Of
the functions OF rebel government. One
point OF interest was brought out by Sen
ator Turpie of Indiana In 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 10 i'm.
prisonment. OF course the Spanish au.
thorities who permitted this fact TO leak
out did not suppose il 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 "A civil
government in the territory controlled by
them. IL they were holding court and ad-
ministering justice in one town, probably
they were doing so in many Others.
The president has endeavored 20 get facts
about the condition Of affairs I'm the island,
but, as may be readily imagined, there are
many difficulties in the way. The fact
that the insurgents carry on guerilla
sort OF warfare and will not meet the foe
in set battle Is not now held against them.
that unless the insurgents were willing 20
make open battle they were not entitled 10
recognition as belligeronts. But | under
stand he has abandoned that view, having
been assured by General Scho1eld and
other military authorities that n guerrilla
warfare is perfectly legitimate il tho con
ditions warrant it. 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 discipline,
and they are certainly much more humane,
much less given TO acts Of violence against
tho person than the Spanish troops.
The Cuban Constitution.
Some question has been raised here as
20 the form OF government which the Gu
bans are now maintaining, and ON this
score | am able to give some Information.
The Cubans are operating under the con-
stitution 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 democratic re-
public in its new period of war, initiated
on Feb. "a last, solemnly declares the sep
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 tho
name OF the republic of Cuba, and con-
firms its existence among the political d.
visions of the world.
The elected representatives Of the rev.
olution 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.
spircd only by the desire of interpreting
the popular voice in favor of Cuba, have
now formed a compact between Cuba and
the world, pledging their honor for the
fulnllment Of said compact in the follow
ing articles of the constitutions"
Tho articles provide for simple but on
the whole practical form Of government of
a temporary nature. All the powers, ex-
cept the judicial, are vested in a govern
ment council composed of a 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 it Is deemed desirable to take |
such a step. AS yet no assembly elections
nave Dcen nelu. control OF the armies Is
placed without reserve i'm the hands Of the |
general in chief, General Gomez
Clauses of the Constitution.
Three or four clauses in this constitu- /
ton are suggestive OF the indomitable pur- |
pose Of the Cubans to achieve their indie |
pendence and to set high standard for |
their future government, as witness the |
Article 1.-THE treaty Of peace with /
Spain, which must necessarily have for its |
basis the absolute Independence of the is |
land of Cuba, must be ratified by the gov |
eminent council and by an assembly of |
convened expressly for |
this purpose.
Article 19.-All Cubans are bound to |
serve tho revolution with their persons
and interests, each one according TO his |
ability.
'Asticle 20.--The plantations and |
property Of whatever description belong
Ing to foreigners are subject TO the pay
ment Of taxes for the revolution while
heir respective governments do not rccog-
nize the rights of belligerency Of Cuba.
ARTICLE 21.-All debts and obliga-
lions contracted since the beginning Of
he present period of war until the pro-
mitigation Of this constitution by the |
,hiefs Of army corps for the benefit of tho
evolution shall be valid. ms well ~ those
which henceforth the government council
nay contract" WALTER WEIINAS