Evening star., 1897-01-12
DELAY is DESIRED
Gonzalo de Quesada Talks on the
Present Policy Of Spain.
ABSOLUTE INDEPENDENCE FOR CUBA
The Alleged Desire Of Gomez for
Peace Vigorously Denied.
THE CUBAN ToCsIN OF WAR

Senior Gonzalo de Quesada, the charge
d'affaires Of the Cuban legation in Wash
ington, is suffering from a severe cold,
which confines him to his room and bed In
the Raleigh, but this morning he sat
propped up by pillows and talked with a
Star reporter over the conditions in Cuba
and the persistent declaration being made
In the dispatches from Havana that Co
nlez, the Cuban leader, was suing for peace
There is no truth in all those assertions"
said Senior Quesada, earnestly. They are
merely sent out as part Of the Spanish
policy to delay the inevitable interference
outside with her cruel and useless reign OF
terror In Cuba. There is not Cuban in
the island or in this country who does not
know that anything less than absolute in
dependence for Cuba means a continuation
OF the ruinous rule which has oppressed its
people, and which has caused this war, as
it did the one which preceded it.
Maxine Gomez is the last man in the
world TO be suppliant for Spanish mercy"
continued Quesada. He is a soldier with
out fear and inspired with the most de-
Vout confidence in the success of the cause
he Is so valiant in upholding. Even now,
while the Spanish are filling the newspa-
pers with these allegations about his desire
for peace on other terms than absolute in
dependence. he is having read to his armies
dIsu u tno commands OF OIner loaQerS the
declaration that was issued by Jose Marti
and himself in April 1896"
What was the nature of that declara-
tion?" inquired the reporter.
1T is the proclamation that has become
the gospel Of every patriot who is strug-
Cling in behalf Of Cuban liberty said
Qnesada, land you might as we'll try to
make devout Christian deny his Bible as
to endeavor to make Cuban disregard the
words of Marti and Gomez. Here is the
document" Quesada handed the reporter
a printed slip, the translation of which is
as follows:
The Cuban Declaration of Rights.
General Headquarters in Campaign.
Circular to the Chiefs:
''The Island Of Cuba, by virtue Of the
general and respectful work which the
Cuban revolutionary party initiated. has
risen of its free will, and, after long and
previous agreement, and with the orderly
aid of the Cubans abroad, has commenced
war which Is an enemy to unnecessary
devastation and useless violence. in order
to obtain its absolute independence of Span
ish domination. The revolution which has
broken out in Cuba never thought Of ad
mitting, nor of hearing even, owing to the
radical incapacity Of Spain and the patent
insuff1ciency for Cuba of the greatest
amount of Spanish liberty. of any PROPOSE
tion whatsoever from Spain, directly or in
directly, which will tend to have the Gu
bans give UP their arms with anything less
than the recognition of the independence
of the country. All the armies raised to
extirpate the foreign government have
signed the obligation to uphold until they
fall the war for absolute independence.
AN American people like that of Cuba,
with a character and elements of its own,
capable Of governing itself by the genius
and labor Of her children, and unified after
slavery, in the sacrifice Of war cannot con-
tfnue in needless dependency Of far-away
country like Spain, of a different spirit,
and which is threatened at no distant day
with disruption, and whose vicious national
existence principally depends in the public
and secret spoliation of our island.
Mere changes of names in the Spanish
councils of government in Cuba, nor any
reform whatsoever can change the indis-
putable fact Of the absolute inability of
Spain to deprive herself Of the great re-
sources that by public and private means,
as corrupt as they are corrupting, she de-
that small group Of Cubans give to the
Spanish aim of localizing the war, suppos-
ing the war. by the lips of some in the ser
vice of Spain, to have local or other kind
Of tendencies unworthy of reputation and
radically different from its ample and lofty
spirit, known by the very ones who deny
1t In public. Is but an error punishable
as 1t will be opportune to repent for 1t, and
as natural as the resistance, always van
quished. of men who are afraid Of sacrifice,
OF men antagonistic to the duties of human
ity.
Neither the government Of Spain nor
any one in Its name can sincerely offer to
Cuba concessions which Spain by it's ma
t1onal constitution cannot confirm, and
which, at the most, would not satisfy the
country's superior qualities and stage Of
development, and which only with indig-
nation and as an insult, indeed, would be
heard by Cuban dignity.
The war for the independence of a use
full people. and for the salvation Of the op-
pressed men, is sacred war, and the crea-
ton OF free country conquered by such
a war Is service to the universe. He who
pretends to stop with duplicity the war for
independence commits q crime.
Therefore. the revolution, through its
representatives, elected in power until it
snail nave designated others. in compliance
with Its duties orders you that in case
propositions are made to you, whatever be
their form, or the person bringing them.
OF surrender. cessation Of hostilities or ar
rangement which may not be the recoeni
tion of the absolute Independence Of Cuba.
said offensive propositions not being more
than ruse of war to isolate or disturb the
revolution. you shall summarfly punish this
crime with the penalty provided for traitors
to the country.
With greetings to you and to the forces
under your command, in country and lh
erty. ~
."rhe delegate: JOSE MARTI.
''rhe commander-in-chief:
"MAXIMO GOMEZ.
10th Of April, 1885,
Martyrdom Before Misery.
THAT tells the Inspiration of Cubans in
their present struggle" said Quesada. with
touch of pride In his tone TT means
that they will suffer martyrdom before
they will again submit to the misery of
Spanish rule, no matter how it may he
cloaked in the disguise Of reforms. And
Gomez" he CALCULATED in conclusion. 'Is
more earnest now, II such a thing were
possible. In his loyalty to the policy set
forth In that magnificent declaration than
he was when It was penned by the illus
sr1OuS MArtt. BE has seen her send hor