Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-11-17
AN APPEAL FOR CUBA
A Statement of What the Insurgents Have
Accomplished.
President CisncrOs' Earnest Plea for
the Moral support of All Latin
American Republics.

The representatives in Washington of the
various Latn-American republics have re-
ceived copies of letter from the president
and secretary of foreign affairs of the Gu
ban republic. setting forth the causes Of
the present rebellion. the condition of the
island and the outlook for the future, to-
gether with an earnest appeal for the moral
support of other republics in the war
which the Cubans are so heroicaly wagiug
for their own freedom. This circular letter
is in part as follows:
AT the historical fields of Jimoguayer
the constituent assembly met a provisional
charter fully adapted to the necessities Of a
state of war was enacted, and the eStab-
lishmeEt of the republic of Cuba was de-
clared. The supreme power of the new
nation was conferred upon a government
council made up of a president, vice pres
| ident and four secretaries, for the dispatch
| of the affairs of war, finance, interior and
| foreign relations. To fill these offices the
assembly elected Citizen Salvador Cisneros
Betancourt, president; Bartolome Masses,
| vice president: Gen. Carlos Roloff, secre-
tary of war; Sewers Pima, LID, secretary
of finance; DIR. Santiago Garcia Caniza res,
secretary of the interior, and Rafael Por-
tuondo y Tmayo LID, secretary of for
! eign affairs. Gen. Maxine Gomez was ap-
pointed ccnmander-in-chief of the liberat-
ing army, and Gen. Antonio Mdceo, lieu
tenant general Of the army. To represent
the republic abroad Citizen Tomas Estrada
Palma was appointed as plcnpotentiary
delegate.
THE military success of the revolution
after the accomplishment Of these events
has been beyond all expectations. With ir-
reslsuple power cur army invaded the prov
1nces of MatanZas Havana and Pinar del
Rio; the plans of the Spanish leaders were
outwitted, and their troops broken to pieces
in such way that it took the invading
army but few days to reach the western
emo OF the island and cause general up
| rising of the people. The advance of the
liberating army through the western terri
tory was triumphal march.
10 military success political triumEh
was added, for the inhabitants Of the towns
fastened to meet and greet our soldiers
and the peoples allegiance to TIE cause of
the republic was shown even in the districts
which were considered to be strongh olds of
Spain.
The Tyranny of Spain.
The maintenance of peace is something
like international duty A people should
| never appeal. however, except when their
conduct may be justified in the eyes and in
| the conscience of other people, SO that none
may ever deny the strength of their mo-
| tives for thus rcsorting to such an extreme
| means In demanding their rights Such is
posed upon her by Spain, far from an
swering the fundamental and permanent
ends OF power, impoverishes, degrades, de-
moraliZeS her, and keeps the country in q
state of CONFUSION and turmoil, which
are perpetual menace to its development
and civilization.
Spain denies the Cubans the exercise Of
political rights within their own country.
Only three per cent of the inhabitants have
| the right of suffrage, and of these a large
majority is made up, through all sorts of
craft, of the peninsular immigrants, who
consequently. represent Cuba in the Span
| fsh CcrteS and have control of all provin-
| cial and municipal affairs in the island
These immigrants are also invested with
military power, to such an extent that
| they actually constitute army of occu-
patton.
with words, with pen and sword, Cuba
| has been for over fifty years striving to
overthrow SPANS tyranny and have it re-
placed by home rule to guarantee order
and liberty. The present struggle will not
cease Until Spain desists from her rash at
| tempt to hinder and smother by force of
arms our legitimate aspirations.
This, Cuba has been, and still is
| though not through her fault, source Of
| disorder and menace to the concert Of
the American nations The supreme in
America especially, is that Cuba shall
cease to be Il bloody field, where American
| liberty and European despotism are al
ways at war. Such tremendous war i'm
4 4
| must be looked upon by the Latin-Ameri-
| can nations with distrust and aversion
" lille she persists in maintaining over an
American country the same oppressive rule
| which alienated from her the good will of
| the continental colonies, and forced them
| to sever all political connection with her.
Free and prosperous Cuba would be an
| element Of prosperity and security for her
kindred American nations Cuba exhaust
| ed and ruined would be an easy prey for
| strange, If not hostile, races. 1t is there
fore in the interest of the Latin-American
countries to intervene with their advice
and with their influence so as to hasten
| the moment for definite constitution
as nation. Should they decide to use
their moral influence in behalf of this great
endeavor. they will show a foresightedness
which will prove to be advantageous to
themselves and at the same time they will
render valuable service to Cuba and to
| Spain.
1--WE rely upon the wisdom of the Latin
American republics, upon their love for
| liberty, sure that they will appreciate the
! nobleness of our intentions, the justice of
our rights, and the mutual convenience for
| SO many countries; that the independence
| OF Cuba, founded upon the blood and eff
forts OF her sons, may be finally accom-
| plished through the Intervention and the
agreement of all the nations of our own
race"