New-York tribune., 1896-12-09

ABSOLUTE INDEPENDENTS FOR CUBA THE oNL:
MEANS OF SETTLEMENT HE DECLARES.
sesor Tomas Estrada Palma. delegate OF the Cuban
ro,uhlic in the United States. yesterday gave out
. statement regarding the reference by President
Cleveland 20 Cuba in his annual Message 10 Con-
rrass REGARDING the Presidents suggestion OF au-
.onornv for the island as OF ending me war
Senor Palma says: .
",u.onorov would mean that the Cuban people VIII
raLa their own laws appoint all OF their puolc ON
cers except the Governor General ana attehd 10 'he
local affairs with entire independence wthou'' Oh
course interference by the metropolis Wha'. ,hrh'
would be left 10 Spain. since between ner ana 'upa
there IS no commercial intercourse OF any K'ho
Spain is not and can not be market Tor CUBAN p'ou
uc,s and Is moreover unable to provide CuDa win
the articles needed by the latter Tne hatnrsi mar
ket FOR the Cuban products is the United states from
which in exchange. Cuba buys with great aoVan'ase
sour provisions machinery etc. What then. Is left
n span but the big debt incurred by ner, without the
cons.n, and aeains, the will OF the Cuban people ?
We perfec,ly understand the autonomy OF Canada
as colony Of Great Britain. The two countries are
already connected with each other by the most pow
erful tes-the natural interest OF reciprocsi com
merce which is the only thing apt 10 create anu
strengthen the friendly relations, goodwii ana re-
spect among the people OF the world
"On the other hand IL IL an idle talking 10 SPEAK
OF autonomy 10 the Cuban people. They nave
framed a constitution for a sovereign nation 'hey
have bravely fought for ABOUT TWO years W "i"'"-
tain their independence, shed their blood IN TOR
rents lost their dearest relatives and iriehds anu
forfeited their possessions TO that Just ana hooe
end In tne meantime the hatred OF the Cuptns
which the Spanish officers and the Spanish GOV
ernment have entertained as evinced by the sho''-
ing In cold blood OF prisoners OF war IN dehahcc o'
the laws Of civilization and humanity by the mas
sacres Of defenceless people including women ana
children. by the overcrowding with suspects OF thc
jails and dungeons and the deportation OF tnouf =
sands OF them 10 the murderous penal coionles OF
Africa-al this. policy OF terror approved Dy .a .ne
Queen Regent Ia woman. and lazy VINO proissoes
10 be eminently Christian and Cathonc,, mas ueep-
ened 10 such an extent the political abyss rent oe
tween Cuba and Spain that II is absoiuteIy impos-
sibe TO Ill Il up with any sort oil ,chemc whicH
does affirm the absolute independence OF inc
Cuban people. Cuba mas decided to get rid forever
OF The Spanish rule, and her people count heitner
their enemies nor the many patriots VINO daliy
succumb In the struggle. They 20 on. conhJent In
the justice Of their cause, the hrmncss OF tnelr
resolution and the protection OF God. They realize
OF course that they are. In the very centre OF ,ree
America left alone TO themselves without hand
outstretched 10 them: but. far from being dlscour-
aged they feel convinced OF their ultimate sue
Gers"
General Palma's statement seemed TO express the
general sentiments OF Cubans regarding the iTesi-
dents Message None OF them believes that tuDa
Will be content with autonomy or with any FORM