The citizen., 1896-12-11
AUTONOMY IDLE TALK
Cubans Want Nothing Short OF
Absolute independence.
STATEMENT OF DELEGATE PALMA
No Commercial Intercourse Between
Cuba and Spain and the Political
Abyss To Deep To BE
Ever Healed.

repu bic In the United states, mas
given out a statement regarding the
preference by President Cleveland to
Cuba in his annual message to con-
tgress. Senior Palma in his statement
says: II think that the message, gem
.erally speaking, is in a great measure
livery Oppressive to Spain as an lnde-
Ependent nation. The message ac-
kknowledges the grievances which have
fled to the present revolt of the Cubans
against the authority of Spain. 1t
supports the Cubans in their distrust
of any promise whatsoever that the
Spanish government can make to them
and pledges the guaranty of the United
States as security for any agreement
which Spain may enter upon with
Cuba President Cleveland finally de-
clares, without hesitation, that the
patience of the United States in wait
ing for Spain to end the contest has
limit; that the obligations to the
sovereignty of Spain will be super
ceded by higher obligations, and that
considerations of humanity and de-
sire to see rich and fertile country,
intimately related to the United States,
saved from complete devastation, will
subserve the interests thus involved
and at the same time promise to Cuba
and it's inhabitants an opportunity to
enjoy the blessings of peace.
Cuban Party Governments.
GAS to the inference contained in
the message that the Cuban govern
ment has now given up all attempt to
exercise its functions, l shall only
mention the fact to prove the contrary,
that Immediately after the capture OF
Guaimaro by Gen. Calixto Garcia,
President Cisneros and his cabinet pro.
ceeded to the town and there issued
and enforced various DEGREES, some of
which related to the treatment of pris-
oners, and to further military opera
tions At the time Gen. Gomez, COM
mander-in-chief of the army, was only
eight miles from Guimaro, receiving
orders from the government and max
ing ready to comply with them. This
fact proves, beyond any doubt, that
the civil government of the republic
of Cuba commands the respect and
obedience of the military authorities
even, as in this case, superseding a
victorious general in the very moment
of his triumph.
Against Autonomy.
cit remains for me to say some words
about autonomy. Autonomy would
mean that the Cuban people will make
their own laws, appoint all of their
public officers, except the governor
general, and attend to the local affairs
with entire independence, without, OF
course, interference by the metropolis.
What thent ,ould be left to Spain, since
between her and Cuba there is no COM
mercial intercourse of any kind? Spain
Is not, and cannot be a market for
Cuban products and is moreover unable
to provide Cuba with the articles in
need by the latter. The natural mar
ket for the Cuban products is the
United States, from which in exchange
Cuba buys with great advantage flour,
provisions, machinery, etc. What then,
l repeat, is left to Spain but the big
debt incurred by her, without the con-
sent and against the will of the Cuban
people? We perfectly understand the
autonomy of Canada as a colony of
Great Britain. The two countries are
already connected with each other by
the most powerful ties-the natural in
tercourse of a reciprocal commerce,
which is the only thing apt to create
and strengthen the friendly relations,
good will and respect among the people
of the world.
Demand Absolute Independence.
son the other hand, it is an idle
talking to speak of autonomy to the
constitution for a sovereign nation,
they have bravely fought for about
two years to main tain their independ-
Nence, shed their blood in torrents, lost
Ntheir dearest relatives and friends and
forfeited their possessions to that just
land noble end. In the meantime the
thatred of the Cubans which the Span
lish officers and the Spanish govern
Nment have entertained as evinced by
1.-The shooting in cold blood of prisoners
Nof war, in defiance to the laws of
{civilization and humanity, by the mas
Asacres of defenseless people, including
Iwomen and children, by the overcrowd-
ling with suspects of the jails and
dungeons and the deportation of thou
sands of them to the murderous penal
colonies of Africa-all this, policy of
terror, approved by the Queen Regent,
has deepencd to such an extent the
political abyss rent between Cuba and
Spain, that it is absolutely impossible to
fill it up with any sort of scheme which
does not affirm the absolute independ-
ence of the Cuban people. Cuba has
decided to. get rid forever of the Span
ish rule, nd her people count neither
their enemies nor the many patroits
who daily succumb in the struggle.
They go on, confident in the justice of
their cause, the firmness of their reso-
lution and the protection of God.
They realize, of course. that they are
in the very center of the free America,
left alone to themselves, without .
hand outstretched to them, but far
from being discouraged, they feel con-
vinced of their ultime success"
FATHER CONATY'S ELEVATION.