New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-18
CUBA,S CASE SET FORTH.
GROUNDS ON WHICH RECOGNITION OF
BELL1GERENCY is ASKED.

GROUNDS ON WHICH RECOGNITION OF
BEI,L1GERENCY is ASKED.
prc1r.API.y ORGANIZED GOVERNMENT AND
srpoxa AND wELr~EoUIPPED ARMY POS
srssrp BY THE NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
PA1.MAs LETTER TO SECRETARY
oLNEY READ IN SECRET
SESSION OF TIE
inv TELEGRAPH TO THE rRIBuNEl
WASHINGTON March 1.-THE letter OF I. rs
trada Palma TO Secretary Oney Is an interesting
ao,ur,or. II was submitted to the Senate IN
secret session at first. and is now inade puoc
for the first time. Palma, 1t appears. hIst "'
dressed Secretary Oney on December '"s',
handing TO him statement OF what are sa'a
70 be the facts on which he as the authorized
renresontatiye OF the Cubans In arms, asks tha'
,ha rights Of be.igerency be accorded to the
C.hans bv the United States. Palma In MS
communication points out the causes ieau!hs u
the present uprising In Cuba. Speaking OF 'hese
causes he says that they are substantah! ."o
same as those Of the former revolution whch
lasted from 1868 to 1875 and terminated ohy Oh
tho renresentation OF the Spanish Government that
such reforms as would remove the GROUNDS OF
complaint on the part of the CUBAN people "o"..
10 Granted Unfortunately the hopes thus held
ont have never been realized. he says Inc repre-
sentation which promised mas proven " oe
absolutely without character; taxes nave been rev
g., orow on everything conceivable. the offices
IN the island have been increased. but the OH
cers are all Spaniards. The native Cupans nave
heen left with no public duties whatever 10
perform. except the payment OF taxes 10 '"o
Government and blackmail to the OFFICIALS
snaIn has framed laws, Mr.. Palma SAYS 30
bava euhstantially
~ tho right of suffrage. The taxes levied nave
been almost entirely devoted TO support OF 'he
Army and Navy in Cuba. to pay the interest VI,
the debt that Spain has saddied on the is!ahd, anu
10 nav the salaries OF the vast NUMBER OIL spun
,sh on,ce-holders devotng only Si6,w Tor inter-
ma, improvements out OF s25,ooo0N collected by
tax. ,,,
ue states that no pubic schools are within
roach OF the masses for their education. ana tna'
ALL the principal Industries OF the isand are nam
ncred by excessive IMPORTS also that the COM
rerce 81 the island with every country except
Spain has been crippled In every posSiD'e man
ner as can readily be seen by the frequent p'o-
,cs,s OF ship-oyxners and merchants
He asserts that the Cuhans have no security
=, ,e,son or property: that the judiciary are IN
s,r,ments Of the military authorities; that pini
nv military Tribunals can be ordered at any umc
a, the Will Of the Captain GeneTal' that '"e'e -
M free1ou OF speech. press religion. ana 'ha'
tho causes OF the revolution In this country were
not nearly so grave as those when nave urN""
,he Cuban peop.c 20 the various nsurrectlons
which eliminated in the present outbreak
INDEPENDENCE OR DIFFERENTIATION
He says that the only solution Of the present rev
tuition Il the Independence OF cube or the eN'e'''-
nation OF those striving for INDEPENDENCE III o W.
ina, the present moyemcn, should be strong from
| ,ha hsgtnnng and organized, both as - civil ami
military administration. the Cuban revolutionary
par,v was founded with Jose MART at It's heal.
The principal objects were by unltd EFFORTS 10 on
tot, tho absolute Independence OF Cuba. 10 pro-
| r,o,c the syrnpattJ OF other countries. 10 correct
funds with this object In view and to Invest 'hem IN
| munitions Of war The military organization was
| completed by the election OF Maxine Gomez nm
comma nder- chief The time for the uprising "af
fixed at the solicitation OF the people oil 'uDa' VINO
| proes,ed that there was hope OF autonomy. ana
| their deposlts % arms and ammunition were III
| danger Of being discovered and their leaders ar
| rested large amount OF war material was th"n
bought BY MART and vessels chartered to trans
port II to Cuba arrangements were made Tor IFS
reception in the provinces OF Santiago. Puerto Prn-
| cipe and Santa Clara. The date fixed for the up
| rising was February a. 1895. The people responded
| in Santiago Santa Clara and Matanzas. Other
provinces did not respond owing TO a lack OF arms
| The revolution rapidly increased in strength.
| Palma states that General Campos's first plan or
campaign TO connne the revolution to the prov
ince of Santiago. crush the insurgents. establish
peace and to Spain by November Of last
year From the very beginning OF the uprising con-
| hicts between the Spanish troops and the Cubans
were Of daily occurrence. and many engagements
| OF Importance took place. ports being captured and
towns taken.
I THE CUBAN MILITARY ORGANIZATION
| Palma says that the military organization OF Cuba
| Is ample and complete. Major-General Maxine
Gomez IL the commander-in-c chief Of ali the forces.
lie is veteran of the last revolution as are nearly
OIL ho ireu he IL %
five corps two In Santiago one In Puerto Principe
and two In Santa Clara and Matanzas. These corps
divided into divisions, these again into brigades
and finally into regiments. The forces consist OF
cavalry, infantry and engineers. Lately corps OF
| artillery and a perfect sanitary corps have been
added to the army. The first two corps consist of
5000 men. mostly Infantry the third Of about 1880
men, mostly cavlary; the fourth and the nth corps
| OF over 10000 men. chiefly infantry and cavalry.
This force has been considerably increased of late.
OF the insurgents In the field. more than half are
fully armed and equipped. The rest carry mscel-
| eneous weapons.
The work Of improving the equipment OF the army
is proceeding rapidly Stations for the manufacture
OF powder and reloading OF cartridges have been
established. as well as for the making OF shoes.
saddles and other equipment. Red Cross societies
have offered their cooperation. but the Spanish
commander in-chicf has refused TO allow them to
enter the insurgent lines The discipline OF the
| army Is reported to be strict The army Is com
posed entirely OF volunteers. who serve without pay
THE CIVIL GOVERNMENT.
Az TO the Cuban Civil Government concerning
which there has been much discussion In the Senate
| Palma says that representatives, from each OF the
provinces OF Santiago, Puerto Principe. Santa Cara
and the western part Of the island. comprising the
provinces Of Matanzas and Havana. making twenty
In ALL have been elected TO the Constituent A.
sembly which was organized TO establish a civil
government. republican In form. lie gives com
plete list OF the members Of the Assembly. which
first met Mt Jimaguay. in the province OF Puerto
Princpe on September 10 last, together with nc
count Of its organization and subsequent action
The Constitution Of the Republic OF Cuba was
| adonted September l6 Of the year. Palma