Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-02-10

cling to their mountain capital; but sup
posing they should become weary of their
elevated position and move away, what
then? Why. the Spanish troops would SIM
ply swoop down upon them, gobble up the
government and store 1t away in the great
Moro at Havana! Later on the entire batch
of officials, were they fortunate enough to
escape capital punishment for being traitors
to the crown Of CASTLE. would find lodg-
ment for indefinite periods in the place for
such people provided at Ceuta, Africa.
These were the impressions that were
carried away from Cubitas. Who could
think otherwise? At Puerto Principe, only
twenty-five miles away, was large Span
ish garrison. Soldiers were everywhere: at
the hotels, around the railway stations, on
the trains between the provincial capital
and its northern port, Nuevitas, and even
aboard the steamers between the latter
place and Havana. So far as the observer
was concerned, Spanish rule was dominant
everywhere except over an area of 5000
acres at the top of Cubitas mountain.
A Message From the President.
But let another journey be made. The
Cuban president himself gives directions.
The note which he sends by special mes
senger to Havana reads:
II have an important document for you.
Meet me at the headquarters any time after
February 4. You will I've compelled to ex-
ercise great caution at Nuevitas since the
account of your late trip has been publish
ed. Should you not be averse to long
saddle ride, I would suggest that you take
the steamer to Puerto Padre, beyond Nue-
vitas, and from that point meet our party
at Las Tunas, just across the border in the
- Co.. Il
say state of .Oriente, but do not wish to
confuse you)
"The person who presents this note to
you will direct you to our party at what
ever place it may be, but if you respond
without delay you will be enabled to join
US at the place already mentioned"
1 met President Cisneros at Guanaro,
about sixty miles from the Cuban head
quarters, accompanied by small band of
troops, and rode with him to Cubitas The
details of what l saw and heard on the
journey before meeting the president will
refer to later.
The President at Home.
When Mr.. Cisneros reached the summit
he found the home garrison drawn up to
receive him. A volley from the rifles told
those back at headquarters that he had
arrived, anu lQe uttl6 cannon lnat three
weeks ago doomed welcome to an Ameri-
can correspondent, now doomed again and
again like renewed peals of joy at the re-
turn of the man upon whom, with Gomez
and Maceo, the hopes of the republic rest
Once again in the little cottage which
we must call the Executive Villa" Presi-
dent Cisneros said:
Here is the document I promised you
Give it to the press of the United States
and ask them in the name of liberty and
of Cuba to publish it to the American ma
tion.''
Cuba's Appeal.
'REPUBLIC OF CUBA,
"EXBCUTIVE HEADQUARTERS,
CUBITAS MOUNTAIN, Feb 1,
'"To the American People:
1.-THE infant and struggling republic of
Cuba appeals to the grand and powerful
Union of American states.
Undoubtedly this action is most unusual
in the history of nations, but because of
| the International standing Of the Cuban
republic. more correctly because it has no
recognized place among the powers of the
world, are we thus compelled to appeal in
| formally and through the medium of the
press directly to the people.
Indeed, 1t Is that international standing
! that we are now seeking; that we now ask
| the American nation to give us, and that