The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-04-14

WASHINGTON, April 11.--Senor Con.
zalo de Quesada, the diplomatic repre-
sentative of the Cuban insurgents has
issued signed statement to show that
the insurgents have a regularly organ
lied civil government whose independ-
enoe can be recognized. He says
From the very inception of the revo.
luton the Cubans provided for civil
power. The Cuban revolutionary party,
which prepared and directed the move.
ment, was q civil organization headed
by Jose Marti, most Jealous in establish.
ing the paramount influence of the law
over the sword. General Gomez then
and throughout all the revolution has
shown himself desirous that the civil
authorities should have the supreme
power. When he and Marti landed
their first aim was to constitute q pro.
visional government.
"The death of Marti postponed for a
time the selection of the representa-
tives, but in the beginning of Septem-
ber, 1895, the Eli previously issued was
complied with.
Representatives from each of the
provinces of Santiago, Puerto Principe,
Santa Clara and the western part of
the island, comprising the provinces of
Matanzas and Habana, making 20 in
all, were elected to the constituent as.
sembly, which was to establish a civil
government, republican in form.
"The constituent assembly, composed
Of DOCTORS lawyers and distinguished
Cubans, met at Jimaguaya, in the prov.
ince of Puerto Principe, on the 18th of
September, lSOj 1t was duly organ
ized, it sOlemnly declared the independ-
enCe of Cuba and its separation from
the Spanish monarchy, and confirmed
the existence Of the republic of Cuba
among the political divisions of the
world. The constitution, based on demo-
cratic and republican principles, was to
be in force two years, unless the free.
dom Of CuLa was obtained previous to
the expiration Of that time.
ION the 18th of September officers of
the government were elected by the con.
stituent assembly III accordance with
the terms of the constitution and gen.
erals of the army elected.
"During the two years of the Cis-
neros administration, and up TO the
present time of MaSo's, the civil au.
thorities of the republic have exercised
their functions throughout the territory
controlled by the republic of Cuba,
which is about three-fourths Of the
island. There is a governor in every
province, who has his subordinates and
employees.
"Ihe provinces are divided into pre-.
lectures, under the supervision of the
secretary of the interior. The duties OF
the projects are various and are subject
to special laws. That these prefectures
are in working operation, the Official
kilograms of the Spanish press afford
innumerable proofs. General Blanco
in a communication to his government
under date of March l3, published in al
the Madrid papers, says:
"'Hayana-Captain general to minis.
ter of war: In operations of columns
in the east, the military lines Of the
enemy between BayamO, ManzanillC
and Cauto were broken, also destroying
the civil organization which they haC
in that territory for two years.
documents were filed before the sen
ate committee Of foreign relations last
April, which were published as docu
ment No. -, Fifty-fifth congress, first
session, which proved that the civil gov
ernmcnt lCgislated as to commerce, gov
ernment workshops, manufactures coast
inspectors, pOstotiIces, that stamps have
been issued public schools established
civil marriage provided for; that the pub
lie treasury well organized, taxes being
collected and amounting to hundreds of
thousands of dollars, President Cisneros
and afterwards President Maso, issuing
state papers as they became opportune
The military authorities are subordinate
to the civil government. In many docu.
m"nts the generals SO declare it, and
General Gomez, the commander-in.
chief, duly took the oath to the constitu.
ton.
1.-The general reports of the civil gov.
ernor of the east, Carlos Manuel de
Cespedes, for the years 1896 and 1897,
quoted i'll one Of Senator Morgan )
speeches, confirm every one of our
statements and is worthy of perusal.
Five newspapers are also published in
the republic: Ell Cubano Libre, La Inde.
pencia, FL Boletin De La Gerra, La
Sanidad, Las Villas. Books have also
been published, the first beng the
primer for the public schools.
Pursuant to the mandate contained
in the constitution of 1895 constituent
assembly was convoked to meet in Octo-
eletJ
new officers. The government council
passed an electoral law and "a repre-
sentatives were chosen from the six
provinces by all the citizens of the re.
public, those in the army as well as the
civilians. The election was untram-
meled by the military. In a notable
translation of which reached President
NIpE itn1n hn fn11 Ia, Il.
Cuba, he gave his vote the same as the
soldier and peasant, and how inspiring
it was to see the people exercise the
right of suffrage in districts controlled
entirely by the republic.
ut was brilliant congress which
sat the months of October and Noyem-
ber. DR.. Mendez Capote, ex-professor
Of law in the Havana university, pre-
sided. The outgoing secretaries of
state submitted their reports, which
were examined and passed upon by
committees appointed for the purpose.
A new constitution was adopted ON Oct.
20, 1897, which will be in force two
years, unless independence is obtained
before hand, when an assembly shall be
called to provide temporarily for the
government and administration of the
republic until a definite constituent as
sembly shall meet.'
Then he gives the preamble and prin-
cipal articles of the constitution.
THE said council appointed Major
General Maxine Gomez general in chief
and Major General CahXto Garcia rs
lieutenant general. But, the besU proof
Of the existence Of the Cuban capital
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