The San Francisco call., 1896-12-22

mediate cause of the robbery of the step
children of their inheritance and their
cruel persecution to keep down revolt.
The committee were engaged in 1858 in
providing for the purchase of Cuba by
negotiating with Spain, and were as gen.
tie in their description of Spanish rule in
Cuba as decent respect for the worlds
knowledge of the truth OF the actual stu
alton OF the people there would permit.
1t is dark enough without the iliumina.
ton OF the fires of devastation that sue
ceeding years have interpesed in Cuba"
After quoting the speech made in the
Senate on February IL, 1858, by
judah P. Benjamin. which they consider
a more complete state ment of the condi-
tion of the people of Cuba and the
methods of the Spanish Government in
that island then than is stated in the re-
port of the committee in 1859, they con-
tinue:
1.-THE relations of Spain and the
United States were not then strained
by the disturbance of actual insurrection
in Cuba as they were afterward from
1868 to 1873, and have been almost ever
since and are now, by excessive and inhu-
no limit can be anticipated, cit her as to
the time when they will end or the in
creased cruelty which is now settled
feature of the present Spanish war of ex-
termination. The President recognizes
the fact that the present war is for lnde-
pendence on the part of the Cubans, and
not for the qualification of personal am BIZ
ton or alone for the redress of personal or
political grievances with which the painful
history of their suffering is crowded. For
the sake of liberty and the independence
of their country they are willing to forget
the recompensa that is due them for their
individual sufferings.
9Hon. T. Estrada Palma was duly ac-
redited as diplomatic delegate plenipo-
tentiary to the United States. under an
appointment by the Constitutional As
sem bly, of the Republic of Cuba. He ap-
pears to have been received informally,
for the purpose of presenting the cause of
Cubs to our Government, on Decem Der 9,
1895. He addressed note to the Secre-
tary of State. accompanied by statement
of facts, in which the case of Cuba is set
forth officially. That document has been
printed by the order of the Senate and is
appended, In the papers accompanying
this note the delegate stated the causes of
the revolution in Cuba; that it had
reached that stage in which the issue be-
tween the contending parties lis in peace
or determination
"The recent message of the President is
clear on the point that he has been forced
to the same conclusion. The delegate
then stated the facts showing the prelimi-
nary organization of the revolt, the up
rising; the battles and campaign that had
already been fought, including the great
and victorious campaign of Gomez against
Captain General Campos, which caused
him to be recalled to Spain and be sup
planted by Capsain-GeneraI Weyler; the
military organization OF the Cubans; their
civil government; their treatment of pris-
oners; that the government here repre-
sented is not a negro government; the
character of the war; the protests of resi-
dent citizens of the United States in Cuba
against their cruel treatment by the Span
ish forces, that their lives and property be
placed under the special protection of the
Cuban Government, and that they are
exempt from taxes and contri buttons by
the constitution of the Republic of Cuba
when that Government is recognized by
their respective governments. The letter
of the Cuban delegate, thus addressed to
our Secretary of State, has appended to it
several papers which set forth fully the
grievances complained of by the Cuban
people.
''In its nature it is a declaration of the
independence of the island of Cuba, stat
ing the grounds of their united action.
That declaration is in keeping with the
historical narrative given by Mr.. Ben ja-
min in his speech, herewith presented,
ana with the report of the committee on
foreign relations In 1859, and with the
message of President Grant and President
Hayes and the letters of Mr.. Sickles and
Mr.. Cushing as Ministers to Spain, and of
Mr.. Fish and Mr.. Eyarts as Secretaries of