The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1870-04-21

not understand the former principle as di
vorced from the latter. Both are intimatel,
bound together; and, in order that the first bi
worthy, honorable and beneficial to humanity
it cannot be separated from the second.
| am g Cuban, the same rs yourselves, and
have consequently the same right to busy my
self with the welfare OF my country. Le
every one have his method; you pretend tha
You obey the popular will; that You are at the
head of government, because Of the will O
the people and popular choice; that you act ir
conformity with ideas and sentiments OF the
Cubans, and, finally, that you are promoting
the welfare and prosperity OF Cuba. I shall
proue entirely the contrary
The favorable reception with which my ideas
were met at Bayamo, the meeting at Ciavelli.
mas, that at Las Minas, and the desire-a
most unanmous-to accept the concessions
offered by General Dulce, prove sufficiently
that the country wanted peace; nevertheless
you maintain war Hence, popular suffrage
in the country is but chimera.
formed. On the one eide, Carlos Manuel de
Cespedes. who. for himself and in his o,on
name, set himself np as the dictator of Cuba, al-
pointe.l e certain number of deputies for the
East, at the famous meeting in Guaimaro. That
Is fine representation OF popular will and an
admirable republic, when the deputies are not
elected by the people On the other hand,
the assembly at Puerto. Principe, was illegally
constituted and entirely unauthorized and,
finally, some deputies lOm the Cinco Villas
the only ones which perhaps held legitimate
representation = met together and formed
the actual government, which they should have
called the Venetian, rather than Cuban Replt6-
Tic. They formed the government by sharing
,oith each otter the offices. and they propose
thus to shape The destiny OF Cuoa. A handful
of men, thus representing over million souls,
who haue no share In their nomination, does
not assuredly constitute popular election.
The Cubans want the liberty Of assemblagc,
freedom of speech, respect of property, per-
sonal security the liberty to leave the territory
Of the repubc-which Is right secured in all
nations OF the world to every Individual; they
want, in fine, to be governed as The majority
choose, and not according to the will of a few.
puts forth ideas contrary, TO those of the gov
ernment or of any of its tlnctionaries is threat
e,,ed with four shots; property is q prey to the
frst conner, who, with arms In hand, can take
possession of what suits him; the liUes Of men
are Sported with, just as children sport with
flies; and In fine, whoever attempts to aban-
don the government, even without intending
to wage war on It, Is prosecuted unto death.
Hence The conduct of said government Is not
In conformity with the ideas and sentiments Of
the country.
If to all this be added the arsons and the
complete destruction of Cuban wealth, the
demolition of touns and what must follow in
the end, can there be one sensible man who
will maintain that all this constitutes the pros
perity and well-belng OF Cuba? Assuredly
not.
You employ force. deceit, terror, to drag
The masses on and to carry out whatever you
Judge beneficial to the cause OF Cuba; use
only reason, truth, and the irresistible logic
Of facts and Of experience, not the material
argument of arms.
Well, then, knowing as do. that the country
does not todnt acQr and that it continues there
in under the pressure of the Cuban govern
ment, on the one hand and, on the other, out
Of fear Of the punishment which the Spanish
Government might intllct; knowing, as do,
that nothing Is to be expected from the United
states, as it was attempted to make the peo-
Pile believe; knowing that, since the beginning
Of the insurrcction, 10000 men have come
from Spain, aud that many more will comc-a
fact generally unknown In this country; aware,
as am. that over 100, 900 men are under arms,
that the coasts are well watched, and that the
New York Junta lacks resources to send ma
teral aid TO the lnsurrccioni aware. moreover,
that the Cuba, the Lillian, the expedition OF
Goiconria and others are lost resources; that
the insurrection is almost stf1ed in the East and
in the tincu Villas; Cr IN Tnc Vac la f.v
from there being any secessionists, it is the
country-peoplc themselves who pursue The i'll
surgents, as has just taken place In Gulncs;
knowing, as do, that the families, to be met
with in the fields, are anxious to return to the
towns; and aware OF the Importance attached
to nv condnct, both in the island and abroad,
have made new sacrifice for my country. |
have come forward With my family to prove,
by my example, that do not believe in the
triumph Of the insurrcction, nor do fear the
Spanish government; which, animated rs it Is
with the best Of wishes, is ready to draw q
veil over the past, provided the country can
be pacified, and many tears, much blood and
loss of property be spared.
It is q sacrifice, indeed. gentlemen, for eX-
nose my name to the evil tongued and make
it the butt of false interpretations.
believe firmly that the happiness Of Cuba
and the welfare of humanity consists In the
maintain this In the presence Of The whole
universe, with my hand on my conscience and
head erect rs becomes q man OF honor.
There Is no man who is infallible, and per-
haps nv opinions and determination may De
wrong: but can at least affirm that | am act
ing in good faith, having for my sole object In
view, the welfare of my country and ofhll-
manity, and making total abstraction OF my
own personality, Us well as of my own In
terests.
nm not q tlme-seryer but O man OF fixed
principles; am convinced of my opinions and
feel the energy of my convictions. now main.
tain what have maintained since the begin
ming of the revolution. even previous thereto.
Nv actual conduct is not therefore an apostacy,
but the energetic continuance in my opinions
and principles. These / do not mean TO impose
on any one; merely make them known, In
viting all TO examine them in every detail,
and am sure that they will follow my eN.
ample. But, if blind to reason and unmindtu
M fha events which for q year aud q half have
supported my predictions, they persist in q
struggle which I believe hopeless, let them
keep on, but without extending the horrors oJ
1par to filInilies. Let the women and children,
whom 9ouermme,at wishes to foster and daily
s,,pporLs with rations Of bread, rice, butter.
&c. come to the city; and let You keep on, Il
unfortunately YOU refuse to listen to the voice
of reason and of patriotism, in that senseless
contest, which you must later repent having
ever begun.
Reflect moment; examine thoroughly,
and not merely, the appearances OF the stua-
ton. and YOU will see that the existing strife
tion an unparalleled blindness. The country
has been dragged into revolution which the
majority repUdidtsd ; and not only the mdJori.
tn in number, but in the character of the per-
sons. 4 small number-rery small indeed, an
insiquifcQnt minority, has dragged on the
majority. Where was ever such thing wit,
messed before, gentlemen? What has become
of the intelligence of Cubans? Where are the
energy and the influence of men OF intelligence
and character?
,na;or;W think as lido: and, nevertheless, they
net differently, only because they lack resolll.
ton and are deceirM by the lew who are in
terested in keeping up the revolution, no mat.
for bv what means. The system, followed