The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-22
WARMING TO THE SPANISH.
Peace Messengers VIII he Shot Unless They
Como ConcedinE Cuba's independence.

Peace Messengers Will ne Shot Unless They
Come ConcedinE Cuba's independence.
Seior Tomas Estrada Palma, delegate of the
Cuban republic, gave out yesterday the fol-
lowing statements:
, "The death Of Col. Ruiz did not occur as the
Spanish have put it, while he was negotiating
as q peace messenger under a flag of truce.
Again and again have the Cubans promulgated
the law that all who should come to them with
peace propositions not based on the indepen.
dence Of Cuba would be treated as spies and
dealt with accordingly. Col. Ruiz not only
knew Of the existence of the law, but according
to the Spanish accounts, was personally warned
as to his fate. Gen. Blanco and Secretary-Gen.
eral Congosto, too. were well aware of the exist
ence of the decree. Nevertheless these latter
took advantage Of the unfortunate Quixotism
Of Col. Ruiz and sent him to the Cuban lines.
The blood of Col. Ruiz is not on the hands of the
Cubans, but upon the heads of Blanco and Con-
gosto. who sent him to his fate.
IF the penalty Of the law had not been car.
rled into effect. doubtless Spain would have
taken advantage of the fact to show that the
Cubans were not In earnest In their rejection of
autonomy absolutely but were willing to listen
TO arguments. This decree was not promul-
gated because the Cubans are afraid Of disaffec-
ton in their ranks, but because 1t Is known that
innumerable Commissioners would otherwise
be sent and on their. return make false state
ments, encouraging the belief that peace might
be established on q basis other than indepen-
dence.
such statements would only serve the inter.
ests of Spain In gaining time, with the result
ing death OF thousands, owing to the useless pro-
lonRation of the war. Besides, the Cubans are
advised that the Spanish arc seeking to enter
the insurgeni lines with the purpose OF assassi.
mating the more important leaders. .Documen-
tary proof Of this fact Is in our hands, and we
are tho more cautious when we remember that
in 1879 Gen. Blanco authorized Gen. Polavieja,
in Santiago de Cuba. to execute as many un-
armed Cubans as the latter thought necessary.
lit is somewhat remarkable thut with the
first news of the death of Col. Ruiz came the an.
nouncement Of the killing by the Spanish Of
hospital. and not O voice was raised In prote t
thereat. The shooting OF Cuban prisoners by
the score passed almost without comment, the
thousands of wounded Cuban soldiers slain in
hospitals attracts but little notice. 1t Is 30 COM
mon. ,a,n. % al ,ho ,.-. u-.,
fare. the Cubans from the beginning had the
right to retaliate in kind, but they never have
done 80. On tho contrary, all prisoners taken
by them were set at liberty and the wounded
attended to. We are denied by the entire
fore claim that We haye not the obligations to
conduct the war as belligeronts, but We do not
intend 10 take this stand either.
1.-THE conditions obtaining, in Cuba and the
character OF tho Spanish. demand, however,
that we take the necessary measures to speed
lily terminate the war by convincing the world
that independence alone can satisfy us. We
accordingly issue a decree and soleinnly warn
Spain Of It's enactment. II, despite this warn
ing, they persuade a man to DO rash enough TO
come to us to treat on the basis of autonomy,
we must either acknowledge that our laws are
made only to DO broken or be compelled by q
painful duty to carry II into effect. 1t is q ques-
tion OF the lives of one or two rash men or Of
the lives OF thousands OF patriotic Cubans."