Connecticut western news., 1873-07-04
The Cuban InsurrectiOn,
Interesting Testimony of am American
 Witness.

A correspondent of the Herald in Cuba, Col. F. F. Millen, published a very graphic account of his trip to, es- cape from, and experiences in "The Ever Faithful Isle." The details of his interview with President Cespedes are particularly interesting. We give Pres tdent Cespedess words as reported by MT. Millen:
 Correspondent-Do you think, Mir. President, that it is possible that any pacific arrangements could be entered into between the Spaniards and the Cubans so as to put an end to this war ?
 Cespedes-No arrangements can be entered into with the Spaniards so long as they pretend to rule this island. In dependence or death is the ultimatum of the Cubans.
 Correspondent at least some un- derstanding might be arrived at for the purpose of softening the rigors of war and conducting it on footing more in consistency with the usages of modern warfare.
 Cespedes regret that the Spaniards, by committing outrages on women and children and noncombatants, have raised the black flag, and created the present atrocious condition of a war without quarter. The Cubans have frequently made overtures for the purpose of con ducting the war on a more humane foot ing, but the Spaniards, saying that we are only so many banditti, have refused to entertain any propositions from us.
 Correspondent-Have you any idea, Mir. President, that the war will soon come to close? Do you still believe that the Cubans will triumph?
 Cespedes-We are now going on to five years engaged in this struggle, and it can terminate only with Cuban inde- pendence or Cuban annihilation. When the end will be it is impossible to say. The Spaniards believe that if I were dead the war would cease, and they have sent no less than six different parties from Havana to assassinate me. Some of these parties have never been heard of since sent out, others have died, and one. was discovered by Quesada in Camaguey, and put to death after con- fessing the whole plan. The Spaniards are mistaken the continuance of the war does not depend on my existence. Were I dead tomorrow the struggle would go on all the same. Some one would be elected to fill my place. The idea we contend for can never die. One Cuban never asked another, "Shall we win ?" They never doubt that. But the question was frequently asked by officers and men, "How long will the war last-what time must elapse before we triumph ?''
 Correspondent -C Could not some diplomatic arrangement be entered into by which the Cubans would agree to pay an indemnity to the Spaniards pro- viding the latter would evacuate the island?
 Cespedes of that nature were made. Gen. Sickles intimated in Madrid that $1O0,OOO, ,OOO, payable in twenty years, would probably be given by the Cubans if the Spaniards, with out further blood, consented to recog- nize the independence of the island and leave the public buildings, fortresses, arsenals, &c., in the condition in which they might be found at the time of the treaty. It was also intimated that, if necessary, the United States would guarantee the payment of the indem- nifty. But nothing had come of this proposition. Since then a good while has elapsed, the phase of the war has entirely changed, and while have no doubt the Cubans would still allow handsome indemnity to Spain if she would consent to put an end to 8 war that Tn the end must prove disastrous to her yet not so large a sum could now be given as that formerly offered. The island IS now in far worse condi- tion than then; property continues to hn q hn .1o1 of the country is passing away. This makes it more difficult to pay large sum, and lessens the value of the con- sideration for which they would pay 1t. l think sixty-five or seventy millions of dollars would be the probable sum we could now offer as indemnity for the close of this war.
 On the subject of the possibility or the probability of Cuba being eventually annexed to this country, President Cespedes, in reply to Col. Millen's in- probably expresses the feelings of nine-tenths of his country men.
 Correspondent-A good deal has been said on the subject of annexation. I would like, MT. President, to report your views on this important matter for the information of the American people.
 Cespedes-At the outbreak of the war there was undoubtedly great ma jority of the people in favor of the an- nexation of the island to the United States. I was never 8 great supporter of the measure and never opposed it !; but I am only one among so many hun dreds of thousands. The people and the army at one time had grand demonstration in Camaguey for the pur- pose of ventilating the annexation doc urine. Resolutions were passed en- dorsing it and sent to the Chamber of Deputies, then and there in session. The Chamber unanimously adopted the resolution in favor of nnexation. The paper, which immediately received a thousand or more signatures of the peo- pie, was sent to New York to be for warded to Washington, but It's receipt by the State Department there has never been acknowledged.
 This slight, together with the fact of the American government, so far from granting belligerent rights to Cuba, had put themselves on the side of the Span iards, had to @ great extent cooled the d11hCAdC1O1 hlNO1 O1 Ul1O OuUduS. WHO now entertain no thought but that of beating the Spaniards. These once ex- pelled from the island, then, if the peo- pie choose to become part of the United States, their will is supreme and I would not only not oppose it, but give the measure my support as one of conven- fence for the future of the island. The Cubans are of pacific disposition and easily governed. Their past history and every day of the present. struggle proves this. It is possible, therefore, that we could be able to sustain a gov ernment of our own, which of course would be preferable to annexation even with the United States. The Cubans justly feelaggrieved at the policy which MT. Fish is observing toward us. At the commencement of the revolution the Spaniards were allowed to build thirty gunboats in New York, and also to cT1pn1u than ca1vac with orrou en1