The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-07

terms from that of last winter. as al
| additional warning 10 intending promo
tiers Of expeditions.
| The object of the proclamation was al
SO to clearly enunciate the decision o.
the United States supreme court in tht
| Horsa case, as in the minds of some
| there was some doubt just how far in
| ternational law and proctice required &
| government 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 sucn
expeditions in any manner and espe-
cially by serving as vehicle OF trans
portation. Furthermore, that the pres
ence on some vessel of men and arms
not forming a part of the natural crew
was sufficient to establish a fiHbuster-
ing expedition under the law. The eff
feet OF that decision Was u WA
decision of the socal coui is at Washing
ton, n. c., and IN Florida relative 10
suc fexpeditfons. If the celabra ted
Horsa case had been decided adversely
to the government this last proclama-
tion would never have been issued. nor
would any further efforts have been
made TO interfere with the departure Of
hhousterfng expeditions except when
tney sailed on vessels provided with
guns and manned at the departure
The president recognizes that many
or uhe 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
flibuster expeditions if they had tried.
This has been the case in the southern
states where the cause OF free Cuba is
especially strong
what developments in Cuban affairs.
90 far as this country may be concerned.
are expected by the administration is a.
subject the officials will not discuss. 1t
is certain that General Lee has CONFLICT
ed some report on the military situation
on thei sland, and it is proba bic the pres
ident has 1t under consderat ton. It was
the impression, strengthened by unoffi-
cial statements. that General Lee was
sent to Cuba mainly to observe the mill
tary operations and send to Washing
ton the exact status Of the contending
forces, the probabilities OF the success
OF each and the approximate period of
eaiAfC lliO wal De expected 10 Yet
cover. Whether he has done this will
be developed later. 1t is equally certain
that the public will not be informed of
the character of the report until con-
gress assemblies and a resolution calls
for its tranmission to the capitol Even
then, II the president considers It Gin
compatible with public interests" It
may be held UP to the close OF this ad-
ministration.
Regardless Of the Importance OF this
report, 1t is conceded that there will be
but little change in the situation until
tho autumn sets in. Both sides are now
maintaining a mastery inactivity"
and neither seems TO be making any at
tempt to dfSlodge or weaken the other
General Weyler has announced that no
further decisive move will be made on
the insurgents until September, when
the warm season and unhealthy period
closes. Then he proposes, with addi-
tionA assistance from home, to force
the Cubans 10 surrender That is what
the general says, but insurgent agents
in the United States are not losing any
time, and almost weekly are strength
enins their cause at home. Delays will
be to the advantage of the insurgents.
they claim, and the longer Spain puts
Off direct action the better il will be for
the Cuban cause, as each month brings
additional recruits, ena bles more NUM-
tions to be secured and weakens the
Spanish forces in the island. Six months
ago, when Weyler succeeded Campos in
it was announced in Spain
that the rebellion would be put down
before the summer.
Should the war continue through the
autumn and early winter the duty of
this government to recognize the bell
ligerency of the Cubans will be obliga-
tory. so say two of the best students
of international Ia win Washington.
The president has all along contended
that ii cannot be granted until the Gu
bans show themselves capable of main
tanning a temporary form of govern
inent Of some sort and can retain pos
session of a town. This they have not
yet bene able to do. and IL is not likely
that they can hold any towns of inn
portance on the island, inasmuoh as
all of them are on the seal board and I'M
der the fire OF the Spanish gunboatS.