The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1873-06-30
The cuban InsurrectlOn.
Interesting TsItImony of M American
Witness,

Interesting TsItImOny Of M American
Witness.
A correspondent Of the Herald in
Cuba, Col. +. F. Millen, published O
very graphic account Of his trip to, es'
cape from, and experiences in "ThG
Ever Faithful ISLE" The details OF his
interview with President Cespedes are
particularly interesting. We give Pres
tdent Cespedes's words NJ reported by
Mr., Millen:
Corresponlent-Do you think, Mr..
President, TINT it is possible that any
pacific arrangements could be entered
into between the SpGniRrds and the
Cubans so ms to put an end to this war
Cespedes-NO arrangements eau be
entered into with the Spfhiards 50 long
AS they pretend to rule this island, In.
dependence or deNth is the ultimatum
Of the Cubaus.
COrTespOndent-Butat least some nm.
Outstanding might be arrived ut for the
purpose of soEtening the rigOrs of war
and conducting it on footing more IN
consistency with the usages Of modern
warfare.
Cespedes-Tregret that theSpaniards,
by committing outrages on women and
clildrenand noncombatants, have raised
the black hag, and created the present
Gtrocious condition Of war without
quarter. The Oubans have frequently
made overtures for the purpose Of con-
Quoting the war on more humane foot
ing, but the Spauiards, saying that We
are only 80 many banditti, have refused
to entertain any propositions from us.
Correspondent-HavS you any idea,
Mr.. President, that the war will soon
come to II clOssg Do yOu still believe
that the Cubans will triumph
Cespedes-We are now going on to
five years engaged in this struggle, and
it eau terminate only with Cuban indie.
pendence or Cuban unnihilation, When
the end will be it is impossible to say.
The SpaniRrds believe that il l 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 i'll
Camaguey, and put to death after con.
tossing tile whole plan. The Spaniards
arc mistaken; the continuance Of the
var does not depend on my existence
We're | dead tomorrow the struggle
would go ON all the same. Some ont
would he elected to fill my place. The
ldea we contend fUrcan never die. One
Cuban never asked another, "Shall VT
win 2" They never doubt TINT. But
the question was frequently asked b!
ulcers and men, "HOw long will thu
war last-what time must elapse before
We triumph p
Correspondent - Could not some
diplomatic Arrangement be entered into
by which the Cubnns would agree tU
pay IN indemnity to the Spaniards pro
yiding the latter would evacuate the
island?
Cespedes-overtures of that nature
we're mnde. Gen. Sickles intimated il
Madrid that SlON,0OO,OO0, payable il
twenty years, would probably be given
by the Cubans If the Spaniards, with
lut further blood, consented to recog'
nize the independence OF the island AMI
cave the public buildings, fortresses
lrsennls, &c, in the condition in which
hey might he found at the time of TIL
'reaty. II was also intimated that, il
necessary, the United States would
guarantee tue payment OF tue indem'
lily. But nothing had come OF THU
proposition. Since then good while
nus elapsed, the pllase Of the war ha'
'ntirely changed, and while | have Ut
loubt the Cubans would still allow Z
mndsome indemnity 10 Spain if shI
would consent to put an end to u wal
Int IN the end must prove disastron,
% her yet not so large a sum could
now be gwen rs that formerly offered
The island IS now in far worse condi
lion than then; properly continues t.
Ne destroyed, and the material weNltl
OF the country is passing away. Thii
essens the resources OF the Cubans
makes it more difficult to pay larg'
ann, and lessons the value OF the con
liberation for which they would pay it
think sixty.fve or seventy millions o
dollars would be the probable sum ",
could now offer as indemnity for tht
.lose OF this war.
On the subject OF the possibility o.
the probability of Cuba being eventual!
nuexed to this country, Presiden
CespedpS, i'll reply to Col. Millen's in
terrogatories, probably expresses tn
feelings OF Aine.tenths of his country
men.
Correspondent-Agoo deal has beer
said on the subject Of annexation.
would like, Mr. President, to repor
yOnr views on this important matter 70
the information of the American people
Cespedes-At the outbreak of th,
war there was undoubtedly great ma
iority of the people in favor OF the MI
lexation of tho island to the Unitet
States. I was never n great supporte
Il the measure and never opposed it
but nm only one among so many hun
lreds OF thousands. The people nm,
the army at one time had grant
demonstration in CAmaguey for the pur
pose Of ventilating the annexation doc
trine. Resolutions were passed en-
llorsing it and sent 10 tho Chamber o
Deputies, then and there in session
The Chamber unanimously adopted tn
resolution in favor Of nuexation. TIL
paper, which Immediately received
thousand or more signatures OF the pee
pie, was sent to New York to be for
wardcd to Washington, but its receip
by the State Department there Ia
never been acknowledged.
This slight, together with the fact o
tho American government, so far fron