Evening journal., 1898-04-11
STATEMENT BY ouEsADA.
a History of the Cuban Republic, Proving
It's Right to Recognition.

2alo dc Quesada, the diplomatic repre-
sentative of the Cuban Insurgents, has
issued the following signed statement
10 show that the insurgents have q reg
ularly organized civil government whose
independence can be recognized:
1T is circulated by the enemies of the
cause OF the independence of Cuba that
they have no government or civil organ
ization 70 recognize, 1t is admitted by
al that there is a Cuban army which
has forced Spain to confess her inability
20 re-establish her control of the island
The triumphs and hardships of the Gu
ban soldiers are written up every day,
but the more admirable example Of the
virtue and capacity of the people Of
Cuba, the creative and working organ
ization Is lost sight Of. And yet there is
no writer who has visited the island,
English or American, who has not told
the world Of the government of the Re
public of Cuba. At this moment a short
sketch of the laws and officers of the re-
public cannot fail to interest the Amerl-
can people and serve to dispel any doubt
IN the minds Of senators and congress-
men who will be called to vote for a
resolution recognizing the republic.
From the very inception Of the revo-
luton the Cubans provided for a civil
power. The Cuban revolutionary party,
which prepared and directed the move
ment was a civil organization, headed
by Jose Marti, most Jealous in estab-
fishing the paramount influence of the
law over the sword.
"The constitution, based on demo-
cratic rules. was to be in force two
years, unless the freedom of Cuba was
obtained previous to the expiration Of
that time.
con Sept. IS the following officers Of
the government were elected by the
constituent assembly in accordance
with the terms Of the constitution:
president, Salvador Cisneros Betan-
court OF Puerto Principe; vice president,
Bartoloma MasO of Manzanillo; secre-
tary Of war Carlos Roloff Of Santa
Clara; secretary OF the treasury, Severe
Pima Of sancti Spirltus; secretary of the
Interior Santiago Garcia Canizares Of
Remedies; secretary of foreign rela-
tlons. Rafael NJ. Portuondo Of Santiago
de Cuba; subsecretary Of war. Marie
Menocal OF Matanzas; subsecretary OF
the treasury. Joaquin Castillo OF San
tlago de Cuba; subsecretary Of the In
terror, Carlos Dubois Of Baracoa; sub
1tcltAAIE Ol IpItiBn ItldllOnH, EGIInln
Valdez DOmlnguez Of Havana.
"The installation Of these officers duly
followed. The election OF the general in
chief and the second in command, who
IS 10 bear the title Of lieutenant general,
was then had and resulted in the unan-
imous selection of Maxine Gomez and
Antonio Maceo, respectively.
ION the same day the constituent as
sembly elected by acclamation as dele
gate plenipotentiary and general agent
abroad Of the Cuban republic Tomas
Estrada Palma.
During the two years Of the Cisneros
administration and up to the present
time OF Maso's the civil authorities Of
the republic have exercised their func-
tions throughout the territory con-
trolled by the Republic Of Cuba, which
is about three-fourths of the island.
There Is a civil governor in every prov
ince, who has his subordinates and en-
ployees. The provinces are divided in
to procedures. under the supervision
Of the secretary of the interior. The
duties OF the procedures are in working
operation, the official kilograms Of the
Spanish press affording innumerable
proofs.
Five newspapers are published in the
republic El Cubano Iibre, La Indepen-
dencia. El Boletin de la Guerra, La San
idad and Las villas. Books have also
been published the first being the prim-
er for the public schools
Pursuant to the mandate contained in
the constitution Of 1896. 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 q
! representatives. were chosen from the
six provinces by all the citizens Of the
republic. those in the army as we'll as
tho civilians. The election was untram-
meled by the military. In a notable let
ter OF General Calixto Garcia, a trans
lation Of which reached President Nc
| Kinley, he told how in Santiago de Gu
| ba he gave his vote the same as the
| soldier and peasant. and how inspiring
| ii was to see the people exercise the
right of suffrage in districts controlled
entirely by the republic.
IL was a brilliant congress which sat
the most Of October and November DIR.
! Mendez Capote. ex-professor of law in
! the Havana university, presided. The
outgoing secretaries of state submitted
their reports, which were examined and
/ pdHHeu upon uy the committees appoint
ed for the purpose. A new constitution
was adopted on the 29th OF October,
1897. which viii be in force two years,
unless independence is obtained before
hand when an assembly shall be called
TO provide temporarily for the govern
ment and administration Of the repub-
lie until a definite constituent assembly
| shall meet
The preamble says: I'VE, the repre-
sentatives OF the Cuban people. freely
| meeting In constituent assembly. con-
voked by virtue Of the mandate con-
tanned in the constitution OF the 10th
OF September. 1895. ratify our firm and
unshakable resolve of obtaining the alb
solute and immediate independence OF
the island, In order to establish in IL a
democratic republic and inspiring our
selves In the present necessities Of the
revolution do decree the following con-
rtitutiuu."
The constitution determines what is
allied the republic. who are citizens
helr individual and political rights. the
~licers of the government, their powers
|