The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1898-04-11
quarters for their leniency or Indifference.
P. Y. L. Remanaguns, 22d July, 1896. The
General-in- Chief.


Cespedes, for the years 1896 and 1897
quoted in one Of Senator Morgan $
speeches. confirm every one of our
statements and are worthy of perusal
Five newspapers are also published in
the republic, Ell Cubano Libre, La In
dependencia, Ell Boletin de la Guerra,
La Sandal, Las Villas. Books have
also been published, the first being
the primer for the public schools
Pursuant to the mandate contained
In the constitution Of 1893, constituent
assembly was convoked to meet in Oc-
tober, 1897, to revise the laws and to
elect new officers. The government
council passed an electoral law, and
tWenty-four representatives were cho-
sen from the six provinces by all the
citizens of the republic, those in the
army, as well as the civilians; the cleo
ton was untrammeled by the military
In notable letter Of Gen. Calixto Gar
ella, a translation Of which reached
President Mckinley, he told how In
Santiago de Cuba he gave his vote
the same as the soldier and peasant
and how inspiring 1t was to see the
people exercise the right of suffrage in
districts controlled entirely by the re-
public.
1T was a brilliant congress which
sat the months Of October and Novem-
Der. DR.. MendeZ Capote, eX-professo1
of law in the Havana university, was
president. The outgoing secretaries OF
state submitted their reports, which
were examined and passed upon by
committees appointed for the purpose
new constitution was adopted ON tbs
18th of October, 1897. which will be in
force two years, unless independence
is obtained beforehand, when an as
senably shall be called to provide tenn
porarily. for the government and adj
ministration OF the republic, until a
definite constituent assembly shall
meet
1.-The preamble says:
I'VE, the represe natives of the Cuban peo-
pie, freely meeting in constituent assembly,
convoked by virtue of the mandate con-
tanned In the constitution of the 18th of
September 1895 ratify our firm and I'M
shaken resolve Of obtaining the absolute and
immediate independence of the island. in
order to establish in 1t a democratic repub-
lie, and inspiring ourselves In the present
necessities Of the revolution we decree the
following constitution:
The COnstftution.
THE constitution determines what Is
called the republic, who are citizens
their individual and political rights
the officers of the government, their
powers and provides for the assembling
Of the representatives.
THE principal articles are:
Article 6. Cubans and foreigners will be
protected in their religious opinions and in
the practice Of their respective cults as
long as these are not opposed to public
morals.
ARTICLE 8. Education is free in all the
territory of the republic.
Article 10. The electoral right shall be
regulated by the government on the basis
of universal suffrage.
Article IT, The administration of justice
in reference to civil matters belongs to the
civil authorities and it's procedure shall be
regulated by law.
"Article o. Besides the powers conferred
upon it by other articles Of this constitution,
the government council has the following:
81. To make all laws and regulations re-
garding the revolution and the military,
civil and political life of the Cuban people.
'2. To resolve the petitions addressed to
it, ordering those which are not properly
transmitted to take their due course.
SO. To depose for just cause and under
its responsibility any counselor or sub
secretary. This resolution shall be reported
to the first assembly, and can only be passed
by the affirmative votes of four councillors.
"a. To appoint secretary and sub-secre-
tary for the transacting Of business In any
department, when both positions shall have
been vacant for two months.
80. To appoint and remove public func-
tionaries of all classes in the manner pro-
vided by law ordering that they shall be sub
mitted to the courts of justice in the proper
cases.
sc. To determine the policy of the war
and the general lines of the campaign, and
to intervene, when, in their Judgment, there
be found motive for it, in the military opera
tons, always by means OF the generals OF
the nation.
II. To raise troops, to declare reprisals,
and to grant letters OF marQue
"8. To grant military ranks from sub
lieutenants to major general in the form
established by the law Of military organi-
zetion.
30 To icsua naner money to coin money
fixing it's kind and value.
10 To contract loans. determining
when they shall become due, the inter-
ests discounts, commissions, and guaran-
ties. and to make all negotiations advised
by the public veal, being strictly RESPONSE
pie for the use it shall make of these facul7
ties and of those provided in the previous
articles.
III. To levy taxes, to decree the invest
ment of the public funds, and to ask and
approve the accounts of the same
"12 To determine the foreign policy and
to appoint an remove agents, representa-
tives and delegates of all classes
"13. To grant passports.
"a. To issue the safe conduct necessary
for the discharge of the functions of the
government.
"15. To make treaties with other powers,
choosing the commissioners who are to
celebrate them but without being able to
delegate in them its final approval. The
one of peace with Spain must he ratified
by the assembly, and cannot be initiated
but on the basis of the absolute and I'M
mediate independence OF all OF the island
of Cuba.
ARTICLE 81. The secretary of war will
be the superior chief in rank Of the army
of liberty.
The Military.
In the additional articles as to mill
tary organization the following /:
found:
NO 8. That the government can name
and may freely separate the general in
chief and the lieutenant general.
mo. A. That there shall be chief for
every army corps appointed by the gov
eminent, on the information or at the pro-
posal of the general in chief as to the first
mentioned and by the chief of department.
through the general in chief, for the sec
onds.
Pursuant to the constitution, which
is published in document 129 of the
Fifty-ffth congress, second session
! the new government was elected as fol
lows:
President, Bartolome Maso.
Vice president, Domingo Mendez Capote.
Secretary of war, Jose B. Aleman.
Secretary of foreign relations, Andres Mo-
reno de Latorre.
Secretary of the treasury, Ernesto Fonste
Sterling.
Secretary of the interior, DR.. Manuel R.
Silva.
"Sub-secretary of war, Rafael de Cardenas
"Sub-secretary of the treasury, Col. Sa-
turnino Lastra.
"Sub-secretary of foreign relations, Nicolas
Alberdi.
"Sub-secretary of the interior, Pedro Agui-
lera Kindelan.
THE said government council ap-
pointed Maj. Gen. Maxine Gomez gen
eral-in chief, and Maj. Gen. CaliXtC
Garcia as lieutenant general But the
best proof of the existence of the Gu.
ban capital and government is the fol
lowing official telegram published by
the Spanish minister, Dupuy de LONE
dated the 22d of January, 1898, anG
signed by Senior Congosto, the secre