The age-herald., 1897-10-02
cUBA's PATRIOT LEADERS.
The War Chiefs Write to This Country About Our
 Altitude.
From the New York Sun.

quest of the Sun correspondent to give their views on Gen. Woodfords mission to the Spanish govsrnms nit and the pres ent s3.u-lllon of the United States and Spain with regard to the war in Cuba. Besides explaining the real feelings of the Cubans in the field with regard to American intervention, the leg.ers of these brave fighters show the stern at ttude of the paitrio,s ard The d-ffieu.ti-s in the way of solving the Cuban prob ssm without the acknowIe dgnlent by Spain Of Cuba's freedom before the ts- land is converted iri.o dlsSer,.
 Gen. Gotnez writes from Seborucal, Remedies, Santa Clara province, under date of Sept. 10: q nave oftsn expressed my optnioa that the United States was morally under obligation 70 give the Cu- bans belEgerent rights. Preside mt C1eve- land, when in power, knew my opinion concerning this matter, and President Mckinley knows it also. What less can the great American republic do for an American people fighting for is inde- pendence againsa the most cruel ai.d most backward of European nations? If the sterling sentiment of Amerlean pa triotism tlh1. inspired the founders or ln6 OH.pSu E'dltS IS siidi GU ny ti-~4A NY scondants, fhfs idea most strongly ap- peal to all true Amslacan hearts.
 r;But if the United States dec.des to interfere and stop this war in the name oH humanity and civilization, winch Is .he bolder step and sur>ly more fhle-sen- ing to the peace ot that nation, men there is only one way to do IL, anu t6"' IS to compel Spain to acknowledge Gu bas independence. Wha- other kurd or interference is possible? We will never accept any concession from Spam snCrt of our absolute freedom. 50 foIlg as a single Cuban has stfl lng'sh enough leIl to handle a weapon the war for 1nte- pendence will go on tn this courtry. Even if he falls the triumph Of Spain over Cuba will be bu,- a halt in the mmor- tal struggle. A new generation of Gu bans, if i.he island is not totally aban- doned by human beings, will rise In arms to free this hand forever. Men may be th.own into dungeons fettered and killed, armies may be an-dhiia ed on the field of battle, but the spirit of free dom will never be quelled, for it IS roc't- ed in the hearts of our enslayed plopie The history of Cuba shows this 70 ce true The Cuban revolution of 1868 took up the lone star flag bequeathed to them by the heroes and martyrs of 1850. The revolu,.io ion of 1895 is the continuation of the war of 186S The deep-seated hatred which the Cubans have for their ruth less oppressor is an unquenchable feel ing. SpainfS rule means hel for Cuba. It wLn mean it until the last Spanish flag is lowered on the las'- Spanish fortr esS in the island.
 "If the United States wishes to inter veTe, let it, therefore, make Cuba free. Is tha,- the mission to Spain of General Woodford? Then Il applaud it. I feel cnore certain every day that we shall liberate the island from Spain by our own efforts The fact is known to the world tha,- 100000 Spanish soldiers have failed to conquer us. We have said, also, that we did not like to involve the United States in a war for us, and that we only demand fair play from that government in our struggle with Spain. The steps the United States may take will, there fore, be inspired only by her sense of her own duty. The statement. of some of the Spanish newspapers that the United States will cooperate with Spain 10 extinguish the revolution is too sha me- ful ito be believed.''
 Gen. CaIxto Garcia says under date of September T, from Santa Catalina, mar Victoria de las Tunas: Cuba will soon be free If the United States interferes in a short time many lives will be spared and larger destruction of prop:rty will be aveTted. It will be a brilliant page in American history But be it known that we are not fighting merely in the hope of securing our indepen- dencs through the intervention of the United States. Every Cuban soldier has confidence in his own patriotism and in the unabated resolution of his country men to throw off the Spanish yoke.
 "In 1896 I was arrested in the United States for the crims of loving the free d1m of my country. The Spanish spies and the Spanish diplomats secured war rants aginst me and other Cubans, and we were locked up by agents of the American government. The Ame rican administration was then decidedly hos tile to Cuba. No hope could be enter tained of intervention, and yet we d'd our duly and fought, because Cuba did nclt revolt 10 secure the help of the United States but to make herself free.
 'I have always been very skeptical with regard to American intervention. But if such intervention comes for ths benefia of Cuba and not of Spain, I will gladly welcome it. Any diplomatic ar rangement on the basis of home rule will be of no use to us. If the question of home rule is discussed bstwlsen Wash ington and Madrid, then, in my opin- ion, the best service the United States could render us would be to let us alone to se.tle this and other questions on the field of battle"
 Gen. Dr. Pedro E. Betancourt writes from his headquarters near Sabanflla, Matanzas, on September Is: You ask me what IS my OplWon etpoul 1eHerai Woodford's mission to Spain. If it ds a mission in behalf of the independence of | Cuba, think it is the performance of | a duty that the American people has in- | cured since Spain's refusal to accept | tn. good offices of MT Cleveland to end 1 the war. If it is not so, I consider 1t a new disappointment for the patriots" General Ducasi, from Pinar del Rio. writes in similar terms under date Of September A. Genera4c Jose Maria Rod riguez and Alsjandro Rodriguez, the principal leaders of 'he Cuban army in | Havana province, express also the sam 1 views on September IS. Jose Maria | Rodriguez writes:
 "It was a great uttecance of tha he roic Maceo that the Cubans ought to haye more confidence in the power Of the sword than in the wiles of d.plo- macy. Diplomatic negotiations witn Spain are a waste of time. The Span iards are the greatest liars and deceivers on earth. and are masters in the art l of gain.ng time by eluding definite an swers. If the United States is going
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