Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-01-29
WAR; 70 THE BITTER END
President Palma, ofthe Cuban
Junta, Issues a Statement.
NO THOUGHT OF COMPROMISE
Insurgents Will Not Accept Auton-
omy-They Are EightipE for Their
Independence and Nothing EIss.

omy-They Are Tightipg for Their
Independence and Nothing Else.
New York, Jan. 25.--Thomas Es-
trada Palma, presiednt Of the Cuban
junta, tonight issued the following
statement:
80 much has lately been said Of the
probability Of the termination of the
Cuban revolution by the acceptance, on
the part of the Cubans, Of autonomy os
reforms, that ! feel it incumbent upon
me, as the accredited representative OF
the Cubans, to make brief statement
on the subject:
Reforms were passed by the Spanish
cortes, but the outbreak Of this revolu-
tion was not thereby stayed for one
hour. There was and is but one idea
for which the Cubans are fighting. We
had enough Of so-called reforms,
enough Of promised autonomy. Every
intelligent man would rightly condemn
the leaders and participants in this
movement il anything short Of indie
pendence were the basis Of a treaty Of
peace with Spain. 1t is claimed that
General Gomez is willing to treat with
Spain on the basis Of autonomy, and
that letter to that effect has been re-
ceived by me. There is no such letter.
Gomez is made OF too stern material to
surrender on any such terms, particu-
larly when, in his latest letters TO me,
he writes OF his own convictions that
this winters campaign will be most
successful.
'But, even though any one OF our
foremost leaders should be inclined TO
terminate the war by the acceptance
Of autonomy (which is barely within
the bounds Of possibility, while he
himself might surrender, he would do
90 alone. We Cubans are not worship
pers Of individualities. We are stead
fast followers OF our ideals. The death
of our glorious Maceo brought sorrow to
the hearts Of every Cuban, but we did
not falter; his forces did not surrender;
the revolution received no perceptible
check. The leader who proposed peace
under the Spanish flag would find him
self without followers. No treaty of
peace can be made by the Cubans un-
less ratified by specially convened as
sembly. 1t is beyond the bounds of
possibility to expect that the Cubans,
after two years of sanguinary strife,
when they find themselves in a posi-
tion such as has never before been their
good fortune to occupy in point OF num-
bers, equipment and resources, will
now weakly accept terms Of compromise.
Every Cuabn, every American, knows
that the apparent generous and coacili-
atory spirit Of Spain springs not from
her strength, but from her weakness.
How can we, then, under the circum-
stances, be expected to waver?
s'If the Cubans in the field are toe
strong to even consider such proposals,
the Cubans in the cities are too well
advised of Spain's plans and Spain's
precarious situation to counsel this step.
In the cities, Spain's only stronghold,
men Of position, of refinement, oi
wealth, have but lately signed state.
ment, in which they unequivocally say
to those in this country, who seem tt
labor under the error that autonomy
would be a solution of the so-callec
Cuabn problem, that nothing short oi
independence is acceptable TO them
They base the statement, not only or
political, but also on economic reasons
"What form Of autonomy would hell
Cuba, when saddled not only with hei
previous debt, but with the added bur
den OF the cost Of the present war? The
future of the country would be ruir
and starvation. News OF our success,
in the field may be suffocated by tht
censor; pacification of the island prov
inces may be falsely proclaimed, as il
the case of Pinar del Rio; DEGREES al
lowing grinding of sugar may be issuet
where all cane has been destroyed
promises OF reforms and autonomy may
be given and amnesty promulgated
and foreign countries may, by these
means and mendacious Spanish diplo
macy, be cajoled into the belief tina
Spain is mighty, is generous, and tina
we are weak, are ungrateful, but WI
Cubans will continue to fight for indie
pendence, first, last and all the time
Our leaders may fall, but others vii
take their places. The opportunit.
will find the man. Gomez has writer
that, even should he fall, the revolu
tion is strong enough to continue its tri
umph, The only excuse we will hav'
for having begun the war will be it
triumph; the only fitting monumen
for our fallen comrades will be the in
dependence of their country"