Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1873-01-15
TIE REPUBLIC OF CUBA.

The Csshans Stronger than Ever Arms
Alone Wamteda@ Food and kmtttytni-
tIon Elentys-Tsze Republic Founded:
on Equal RI gi,ts- s-eGenstant Fighting
From the Cuban Correspondence OF the New York
Herald
At a signal from one Of the officers a
few soldiers came up and took charge
of our horses. There was no ceremo-
nv, no formalitY, nothing of pteten
tious character around The place, to in
dieate that in this lovely spot the Pres
ident of the Cuban Republic was at
hand. As we approached the group
all rose from their recumbent position,
and foremost to advance was Cespedes
himself, and without much ado 7 was
kindly presented BY Major Reeve.
CARLOS MANUEB ,CssPHbEs,
President OF the Republic of Cuba, is
medium-sized, broad -chested man Of
apparently fifty years Of age. His fair,
FULL closely shaYen face beams with
a,nia5iIity and good nature. With
dark hair which time is just beginning
to silver, undimmed dark brown eyes,
and q perfect set of teeth behind lips
whose compression often shows the
fire and determination of youth, his
years appear TO sit lightly npon Hin.
He was arrayed IL 2 FIJI SUIT of the
same brown linen worn by his officers,
and boots reaching to the knees with
silver spurs. He was armed with a
sword and revolver. ~ FF
After few salutations the officers
who had accompanied me threw them
selves on the bank hard by the stream.
[ was not slow TO follow their example,
and beneath the thick shade Of the
trees President Cespedes spoke his
mind freely On the et,bieet of Cuban in
dependence. Nor was the conversation
marked by any subtlety on his part,
for he uttered his views without hesi-
tation, and conversed with O sincerity
that could not be mistaken. Strange
enough, the first topic TO which he al
luded was that 6f The Presidential
electlon-asked almost the same ques-
tion that had been put by Gen. Agra
monte, VINO is gong to be the next
President of the United States ?" [
made almost the same response Z had
previously given, tc the effect that
Gen. Grant would be the successful
candidate. Il .,.-#-
THE STRENGTH OF THE INsURGENT
FORCES.
81 am glad, SIR" remarked Presi-
dent Cespedes, after brief pause,
+" that you have come here. What the
result OF your mission may be [ cannot
tell, but it will be source of consola-
tion to the patriots of this sorely dis
tressed country if you can let the world
know the actual condition of the Gu
ban patriots. Full well you know that
stories were spread abroad with no in
tent other than to dishearten our sym-
pathizers. But now you may see for
yourself, and for once let the truth go
forth. "
President CeBpedes spoke these
words in a slow, yet earnest tone, all
the officers, meanwhile, listening with
wrapt attention, and I could see that
every eve was turned toward me to
watch what effect they might produce.
6 Mr. President, / observed, {" my
mission to Cuba has been to ascertain
the actual condition of affairs, and, let
me assure you, it Will be no fault OF
mine should the truth not be made
known. / would like to ask. in
the first place, what the strength Of the
entire 1nsurgent army is at this present
time? 0-
Well, SIR" replied the President,
" L underestimate our forces when
say we have $4,000 men, cavalry and
Infantry, at our command; but if we
had arms enough the insurgent troops
IN Cuba would number $4,000 men.
Let me explain to you. We have now
Waged, the war of independence for
four long years. Those who have seen
service during that period will always
stand by our colors Long ago MANY
surrendered and were pardoned by the
Spanish authorities, believing at the
tune our cause was hopeless. Now,
Slr, venture to assert THAI if we were
provided with a sufficient quantity of
arms the majority of those who sur
rendered would promptly return to the
ranks of the insurgents. I have made
inquiries into this matter and feel con-
tident that with our prospects little
brighter our army would increase to
$4,000 men"
May / inquire, Mr.. President, in
What you stand most in need of just
now ?''
.... ONLY ARMS.
Arms, slr; only arms, replied
President Cespedes, very promptly.
& Our men you might suppose We're
poorly clad and badly fed. That, how
ever, is far from being the case. First
Of all, the climate is not such where
anything but the slightest garments
could be worn. Besides, most of the men
here have been accustomed to wear
nothing more than Won saa Vhev are