The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-10-31
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NothinE short or Independence Will satisT
Cuhnn pntriots.


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Nothing short OF Independence viii Satisfy
Cuban Patriots.
To THE EDITOR or TIT SuN-Sir. Snpnpso
that Spain were willing 10 acccpt the services Of
the United States az n mediator in her troubles
with Cuba. On this side It is intimatcd TINT, in
such an event, the United Sta'Cs would recon-.
mend tho Cubans either to lay down their arms
and return 10 their allegiance upon the promise
by Spain 10 grant them autonomy" or that
Spnin shall grant them absolute Independence
upon their paying TO her 100000 600, the pay.
mcnt TO no guaranteed by the United States.
II is not easy TO belioye that the Cubans would
accept eithor of these propositions. II they no.
ceptcd the first OF them. all they have been 80
long and so CALAMITY fighting for. all tho suffer
ings they have horne SO uncomplaininsly, an
tho Victories they have won. will have amounted
to nothing. Submission would ~rolcgato them to
their former condition of dependence aud cps
poso them TO additional burdens and humili.
atiohs. Autonomy" is a rather melifluoun
word, out what. nftor all, does it moan 1t In
defined 10 DO 'the power or right of sclfgoycrn-
ment, whether in n city which elects its own
magistrates ana makes its own laws, or In an
Individual who lives according to his own will"
or what benefit will It be to tho Cubans II the
control of their municipal affairs is granted to
them So long as the flag Of Spain floats from
the MORO and the other fortresscs on tho island.
SO long will they be under the heol OF a dcsnotio
power-the mich COW OF a bankrupt nation. II
was TO relieve themselves from this condition OF
affairs that they hive been fighting for SO lone
against ouch tremendous odds, and not to obtain
Autonomy"
The prerequisite to the granting OF autonomy
would bo the surrender of arms by the rovolu.,
tionists. Not a toy pistol would be left in the
hands OF n child on the island whose parents
had taken part in or sympathized with the
revolution. They would then be at tho mercy
or the Crown. Tho supreme government Of the
island would remain with Spain. Spanish
troops would BIO quartered upon them at their
expense. with power to force them to obey, for
they would have nothing with which to oppose
force by force; they would DO held to pay the
enormous sums which Spain has incurred I'll
lighting th"m so long; 20 accomplish this, tnxes, Z
n addition to those which have already dos
pleted them, would be IMPOSED and mercilessly'
t5iHcrs Would niad,ihw hold tSem IN de shd aH as si6lmPs.
s sns h M9oI1 20 treated nn mo as E conquered people,
than the oneof. Spanish conquest.
Autonomy" could not bring prosperity Ia
the island. which has been devastated, and
which needs to be regenerated. 1t can be re.
generated only after it becomes free. It VIII
require many millions to ,elstablish the plane
place thereon the machinery which Is necessary
10 their successful cultivation. Where will thia
money come from Not, from tho islanders,
for they have it not, Not from Spain, and
for tho same reason. Not from abroad. for no
people to be invested in materials easy Of do
strnction, who have been 50 often in revolution,
nit now, for the authority of Spain onco imposed
upon them again will render their condition 50
take up arms, or. failing in this. to resort to tho
torch. In another contest it Ia not probable that
f nSrSGaG T''! Th Ge @ up to to no% Soi b.s n t essii fa1nisbs aso IN
them in abundance. but nearly all the supplies
| Whllpfhay ba We hppn sppt tnr wv ri plnnrftill u onA
will continue to he SO sent SO long MS they keepup
the present contest. but alya 3 with the hope,
success crowns their efforts they viii be paid
for: but L they, give up now. when success ap-
pears TO DC within their grasp. they will DO left
What that fate will be. their past experience
Theirs will be a lost cause. and lost forever. 10
Is difficult to believe that they will allow them-
are better Off now than they would BIO under the
domination OF spain. At least thcy enjoy now
under leaders of Their own sh"lce, ard are aghts-
ing. in defence of their liberty. To lay down
absolute subiuRation are synonymous terTms.
On the other hand, II they succeed in winning
eminent, they will, without difficulty. be abIe to
obtain Al the means that may be required to
As to the second suggestion. Tho island has
been ravaged from end to end, her towns and
Villages have been reduced to ashes, her means
VII not be free from debt, for the expenses Of
the war VIII have TO DO paid: much money will
be required to set up and keep her Governments
in motion. aud greater sums still will be needed
to replace the property which has been dc.
%stroyed: TO add TO her necessities 800. O0O.-
900 will be to impose upon her n load which will
be too heavy for her to bear. why should She
have to pay this enormous amount. or any
amount, to Spain Has she not paid her enough
already The amount distracted from her by
the mother country is 10 be counted only in BIZ
lions. Why should she DO called upon to. nay
any morei When she conaners Der indie
political. and financial. which have been her
ecourge for centuries.
Cuba has raised the cry Of "Cuba Libre." md
she should never lay down her arms until TINT
liberty is acquired FREQ from every incumhrance.
New YORK Oct. %. M,