The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-04-17

having exacted the establishment of lib
eral system in this Antille; but very few
knew express n nep Ira9k s5ad verg
arrived. Some time afterward my ideals
were somewhat destroyed. and would
siderations of interests, the doubt that
might be in error also restrained me, as
well as the idea of troubling the govern
ment. The enemy at times have been dis
couraged, but the rains and the sickness
which we have had in the army. and espe-
claliy IN this department, made the effect
lvenesS or our troops nil. l believe the
Cuban forces which remain are broken
this kind of life. and If they do not insist
on the question of independence on account
p rise tn With tbs aey d eTpef1 the to
IT Is question of time. and i cannot fix
the time In which / win conquer them,
of making illusions; the danger still exists
for the pacified portion, which may not
come, but 1t is threatened.
1T was thought before the character Of
the inhabitants was not proper for war,
but the whites, as well as negroes, have
Deen proven the contrary. Promises which
were never fulfilled, all kinds of abuses.
nothing devoted to interior progress, the
of the administration and other faults were
the causes of the instruction. The belief
or the government here was that they had
no other means but terror and that 1t
was question of policy not to establish
the reforms until all war-like demonstra-
tics we never would have finished. not even
by filling up the island with soldiers. 1t
span to ro openy 40 mt tb aev 70 Of in
critics. / believe Cuba to be too small to
be Independent. but she is more than suffi-
series of venal employees should not all
come from Spain; that the natives be given
by this It is understood that we give our
selves up In their hands. My opinion is that
the tn ,os nIddeR enmities are worse now than
lie in order to rebel but that to-day they
are veterans and if among them there. are
no great generals they. have what they
need-remarkable guerrilla chiefs.
y am less liberal perhaps, than you,
times 81, exact them len Force can Constitute
nothing stable; right and justice will open
their way sooner or later. You have not
when you commence to put drawbacks,
saying that the representatives should not
go to Madrid until the removal of the
Cortes / do not comprehend this; if there
is any difficulty which prevents new Depu-
ties going to these Cortes. close them. l
personally suggested to Martin Herrera the
convenience of the Deputies going and that
they should be there to arrange the slav-
cry, question: fearful question, without
which the war would not have lasted SO
long, question which / consider myself
Incompetent to consider, but which religion
and humanity condemn. / do not think it
will be solved in day, neither do | think
that the Moret law will be sufficient; and
even to suggest it. To discuss this question
has caused me great deal of trouble In
enemy you have noticed that nobody speaks
of it. / think il is the greatest weakness
/ have been guilty of in my life. l have
not dared to touch it. because it attacks
considerable interests, because it affects the
situation in Cuba, but | believe that II 1T is
not considered by the government foreign
nations which have nothing to do with
our interests viii consider it. The gov
eminent should have the initiative in order
to direct the question and see that 1T is
not solved in a hurry. for, the, abolition Of
Cuba; 1t is necessary to fix
colonization, and to study the ways of in
Identifying by fixing a period IN which
the labor will indemnify the owner or
charging it to the state, but the latter
way would be ruinous, and as there would
be no money to pay, it would be deceit.
Il, with the little success / have had,
dislike to touch these questions, but have
judged it to be duty not to keep silent
any more, and /, therefore. think it ex-
pedent to address and officially present
this letter to you that you may make
whatever use of it you see mt. because
in fact it is not in my jurisdiction and
besides, it is possible that should be
mistaken in my opinions for have never
aspired to be a statesman. not even a
politician, although fate has placed me in
some positions.
.tAs the government, Notwithstanding my
good will, may think have not been lucky
as q general. nor an able diplomat, must
inform you that although / do not resign
my office is SO heavy that / would not feel
hurt if the government would retire me.
! continue because I believe / am doing
my duty, but the bitterness of the post
and the difficulties of the problem are