The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-10-28
As TO rILrBusTERrNo.

According 10 yesterdays press dispatches
tho offc,sl reply OF the Spanish minister
~ foreign affairs to the recent note OF tne
United States will express regret at tne
fact that The insulrcction IN Cuba re
ceives support from American hlibuster'he
exhibitions" and will claim that otherwise
the war in Cuba would probably not ex-
list. ut is hoped by the Spanish govern
mont" says the cabled synopsis OF the re-
ply, "that by granting autonomy to CUBA
and withdrawal Of American support OF the
insurgents, the insmrection will speedily
be put down."
Ths plea Of Spain that she can not name
a date to end the war because throush the
conniyance or Indifference Of the United
States officials filibusters keep the insur-
gents supplied with arms and ammunition'
will not stand in the face OF the FACTS
The United States government has been
even Jealous in performing It's duty to
maintain the neutrality law. 1t has gone TO
great expense. and has even bravsd pubic
reprobatbon by playing not only the patrol
man, but the detective. 1t has required It's
officers and agents to perform services
which, while rendering loyal obedience In
accordance with their oaths and with the
law. their souls shrank. II has already
expended In these efforts to prevent NIL
clustering over s2,oo0.ooO. That is the es-
innate OF Secretary Long. and is well
within the mark.
The facts In the case are ably discussed
by the Now York Mail and Express,
which thus shows that the government has
conscentiously fulfilled every obligation
of international law:
The Spanish premier should remember
that we have over 1000 miles or Atlantic
coast line, available for the purpose OF
Cuban sympathlzers, to guard. At the
very beginning of the revolution the Cleye-
land administration sent Il warship to
Key West and instructed collectors OF GUS
IONS, revenue officers and marshals TO en-
force the neutrality laws. Later three
men-oi-war and four revenue cutters were
stationed in Florida waters. President
Mckinley has not lessened this rigorous
regard for cur legal obligations. There Is
a whole naval feet now off Florida, and
along the coast, comprising the Maine,
Newark, Amphitrltc. Raleigh Cincinnati
lf'AApfN' Niul bitutdAi, .Ndsu-
Vile, Wilmington. Helena. Annapolis and
Vesuvius. Four revenue cutters are also
there. and others arc scattered along the
Texas and North Atlantic coast All this
costs u pretty penny. but 1t serves to
prove the falsehood OF the Spanish claim
that Uncle Sam Is not performing a most
unpleasant duty with thoruughness.
Nor Is this all. The treasury depart
ment has required It's special agents and
its deputies In the custom houses to act
as spies and to learn the plans OF the
Cuban sympathi2ers IN order to Illustrate
tiltbustering. This is about the last kind OF
duty that n self-respeeting. liberty loving
American Citizen would like to perform
but with reverence for the law, and with
loyal earneslness to vindicate the goot
faith OF their government, these officer
have performed even this repulsive tasl
with honorable fldelity--and at the esti
| mated expense for this special service o
| 81 900 600.
| IL Is congress that holds the money bags
lt Is congress that can stop this drail
| of millions upon the United States treas
| ury by a single recognition OF belllgerency
| II Is not wise for Sagasta to compel publ
| attention to these figures in answer TO hl
false and evasive charge. It would be bet
ter for the Spanish fleet that patrols tn
coast OF Cuba to do little prevention q
| hllbuSterng On its own account