National opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1865-1874, 1873-06-27
The cuban InsurrectlOn.
Interesting Testimony Of an American
wilmer,

. interview with President Ccspedes ar
A particularly interesting. We give Pres
> tdent Cespedes's words M reported b,
Mr. Millen
, Correspondent-Do You think, Mr.
( President, that it is possible that any
pacific arrangements could be entered
into between the Spaniards and th,
, Cubans so as to put an end to this war
Cespedes-No arrangements can be
entered into with the Spanlnrds 50 long
us they pretend to rule this island. In
dependence or death is the ultimatum
of the Cubans.
Correspondent--Bnt at least some I'M
derstanding might be arrived at for the
purpose of soitening the rigors Of war
and conducting it on footing moro in
consistency with the usages OF modern
warfare.
Cespedes-I regret that the Spaniards,
ny committing outrages on women and
childrenan noncombatants, have raised
the black flag, and created the present
atroclous condition of war without
quarter. The Cubans have frequently
made overtures for the purpose OF con
Quoting the war on q 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,
Mr.. 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
i've years engaged in this struggle, ana
1t can terminate only with Cuban indie
pendence or Cuban humiliation. When
the end will be it is impossible to say
The Spaniards believe that if | 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 Ill
Camaguey, and put to death after con
tossing the whole plan. The Spaniards
war does not depend on my existence.
Were / dead tomorrow the struggle
would go on all the same. Some one
would be elected to fill my place. The
| idea we contend forcan never die. One
Cuban never asked another, "Shall we
win ?" They never doubt that. But
he question was frequently asked by
Ulcers and men, elbow long will the
war last-what time must elapse before
we triumph 2
Correspondent - Could not some
diplomatic arrangement be entered into
ny which the Cubans would agree to
paw an indemnity to the Spaniards pro
viding the latter would evacuate the
island?
spedes-Overtnres of that nature
we're made. Gen. Sickles intimated il
dadrid that 800, 1000, 900, payable il
4wenty years, would probably be given
oy the Cubans if the Spanards, with
nut further blood, consented to recog-
nize the Independence of the island and
cave the public buildings, fortresses,
lrsenals, &c, in the condition in which
hey might be found at the time of th,
.reaty. 1t was also intimated that, il
necessary, the United States would |
guarantee the payment of the indem-
lity. 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 u
handsome indemnity to Spain if SHE
would consent to put an end to wal
chat IN the end must prove disastrous
10 her yet not so large a sum could
now be gwen as that formerly offered
The island is now in far worse condi-
ton than then; property continues to
ne DESTROYED, and the material wealth
Of the country is passing away. This
lessons the resources of the Cubans.
makes it more difficult to pay large
sum, and lessons the value of the con
'ideration for which they would pay it.
think sixty-five or seventy millions OF
dollars would be the probable sum We
,ould now offer as indemnity for the
,lose of this war.
On the subject Of the possibility or
he probability of Cuba being eventually
annexed to this country, President
in reply to Col. Millen's III
errogatories, probably expresses the
ceilings of nine-tenths of his country
men.
Correspondent-Ag good deal has been
aid on the subject of annexation. /
would like, Mr. President, to report
our views on this important matter for
he information of the American people.
Cespedes-At the outbreak of the
var there was undoubtedly great ma
GRITTY of the people in favor of the an
exation of the island to the United
'tates. l was never a great supporter
f the measure and never opposed it
ut am only one among so many hun
reds of thousands. The people and
he army at one time had grand
in Camaguey for the pur-
ose of ventilating the annexation doc
rine. Resolutions were passed en-
orsing it and sent to the Chamber of
Deputies, then and there in session
he Chamber unanimously adopted the
esolution in favor of nuexation. The
aper, which Immediately received a
lousand or more signatures OF the peo-
lie, was sent to New York to be for )
y the State Department there has n
ever been acknowledged. Il
This slight, together with the fact of u
le American government, so far from r.
ranting belligerent rights to Cuba, had
ut themselves on the side of the Span
Irds, had to great extent cooled the n,
nnexation ardor of the Cubans, who
ow entertain no thought but that of 70
eating the Spaniards. These once ex- Y,
elled from the island, then. if the peo-
lie choose to become part of the United
tates, their will is supreme and / would
OF only not oppose 1T, but give the y.
Ieasure my support as one of conven- in
nee for the future of the island. The ls
ubans are of pacific disposition and a
isilv governed Their past history Sc
nj every day of the present. struggle ",
roves this, 1t is possible. therefore iu
49,. ,,o ,,,,,Il \. III ., &C.,. =. : -
INV We Coutu Dc dpie W suSlhln u gov pr
-urppnt af our nup which of oo,,rs, 20
''uise to
olld De preferable To annexation even W.