The herald., 1898-04-11

law In Havana university, presided. Inc
outgoing secretary of state submitted MS
reports. which were examined and passed
upon by committees appointed for the pur-
pose. A new constitution was adopted on
the Goth OF October, 1897. which will be In
| force two years, unless independence Is
| obtained beforehand, when an assembly
shall be called to provide temporarily Tor
the government and administration OF the
| republic, until definite constituent assem-
bly, shall meet.
1.-The preamble says: we, the represent
atives of the Cuban republic, freely meet
| Ing In constituent assembly, convoked by
virtue of the mandate contained In the
constitution of the 10th of September, 1896.
ratify our firm and unshakable resolve of
obtaining the absolute and immediate In
dependence of the island in order to es-
| tablish in it democratic republic, and
inspiring ourselves In the present necessi-
! ties of the revolution, we decree the fol-
lowing constitution:
1.-The constitution determines what Is
called the republic, who are citizens, their
individual and political rights, the officers
of the government and their powers. and
provides for the assembling of the repre-
sentatives.'
1.-The principal articles are:
| ".Article g. Cubans and foreigners will
be protected in their religious opinions and
in the practice of their respective cults,
as long as they are not opposed to public
morals.
"'Article TO- The electoral right shall be
regulated by the government on the basis
of universal suffrage.
Article II. The administration of JUS
| tice, in reference to civil matters, belongs
to the civil authorities. and its procedure
| shall be regulated by law.
"'Artcle 90 Besides the powers con-
ferred upon it by other articles of the con-
stitution, the government council has the
following:
-. To make all laws and regulations
regarding 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.
"'3 To depose, for just cause and under
| its responsibility, any councillor or subsec-
| retary. This resolution shall be reported to
| the first assembly, and can only be passed
| by the affirmative votes of four councillors.
- To appoint secretary and subsecre-
taries for the transacting of business in
| any department, when both positions shall
| have been vacated for two months
| "'5. To appoint and remove public func-
| tionaries of all classes in the manner pro-
vided by law, ordering that they shall be
| submitted to the courts of justice in the
proper cases.
"'6. To determine the policy of the war
and the general lines of campaign, and to
| intervene when in their judgment there be
| found motive for it, in the military opera
| tions. always by means of the generals Of
| the nation.
| ~. To raise troops. to declare reprisals
and to grant letters of marque.
"'S To grant military ranks, from sub
| lieutenants to major-generals, in the form
| established by the law of the military or
ganization.
80 To issue paper money and to coin
| money, fixing its kind and value.
" N-To contract loans determining
| when they shall become due, the interests.
discounts. commissions and guarantees.
and to make all negotiations advised by
the public veal being strictly respons ible
for the use it shall make of these faculties
and Of those responsible for the use it
| shall make of these faculties and Of those
provided in the previous article.
Ito levy taxes, to decree the invest
ment of the public funds, and to ask and
approve the accounts of the same.
" ITO determine the foreign policy AMI
to appoint and remove agents, representa-
tives and delegates of all classes.
"13.-To grant passports.
"14-To issue the safe conduct necessary
for. the discharge of the functions of the
government.
" Ito make treaties with other pow
ers, choosing the commissioners who are
| to celebrate them, but without being able
to delegate in them its final approval. The
cne of peace with Spain must be ratified by
the assembly, and cannot be initiated but
on the basis of the absolute and immediate
independence of all the island of Cuba.
"'Article 3l-The secretary of war will be
the superior chief of rank of the army of
liberty
I'm the additional articles as to military
Organization the following are found:
"(No. 3)-That the government may
freely separate the general in chief and
the lieutenant general.
"(No. 4)-That there shall be a chief for
every army corps. appointed by the gov
ernment, 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 second.
Pursuant to that constitution which is
published in document of the Fifty-fifth
congress, second session, the new govern
ment was selected as follows:
President-Bartolomo Masso.
"Vice president-Domingo Mendez Ca
pote.
Secretary of war-Jose B. Aleman.
Secretary of foreign relations-Andreas
Mora Latorre.
"Secretary Of the treasury-Ernesto
Fonts Sterling.
Secretary of the interior-Dr. Manuel r.
Silve.
"Sub-secretary of war-Rafael de Car
denas.
Sub secretary of the treasury-Col. Sat-
urnino Lastra.
Sub secretary of foreign relations
Nicolas Alberdi
Sub secretary of the interior-Pedro
Aguiera kindelan.
1.-The said government council appointed
Major General Maxine Gomez as general
in chief, and Major General Calxto Gar
cia as lieutenant general. But the best
Jroof of the existence of the Cuban cap
ital and government is the following Off
cial telegram published by the Spanish
minister, Dupuy de LONE, dated the 22nd
of January 1898, and signed by Senor Con-
gosto the secretary of the Spanish govern
ment in Cuba. 1t is as follows: