The San Francisco call., 1897-01-22
NO FAITH IN PROMISED
REFORMS.
General Palma Says That Spain
Acts in a Spirit of Weakness,
Not Leniency.
$50 THE PATRIOTS WILL FIGHT
TO A FINISH.
If Autonomy Is Accepted the Future
of the Island Will Be Ruin
and Starvation.

NEW YORK, N. Y, Jan. 21.-General
T. Estrada Palma of the Cuba Junta in
this city issued the following statement
to-day:
$50 much lately has been said of the
probability of the termination of the
Cuban revolution by the acceptance on
the part of the Cubans OF autonomy or
reforms that l feel 1t incum bent on me, IS
the accredited representative of the
Cubans, to make a brief statement on the
subject Resolutions were passed by the
Spanish Cortes, put the outbreak of this
revolution was not stayed one hour.
There was and is but one idea for which
the Cubans are fighting. We have had
enough of so-called reforms; enough of
promises of more reforms; enough OF
promised autonomy. Every intelligent
man would rightly condemn the leaders
and participants of this movement if
anything short of independence be the
basis of treaty of peace with Spain.
at is claimed that General Gomez is
willing to treat with Spain on the basis OF
autonomy, and that letter to that effect
has been received by me. There is no such
letter. Knowing General Gomez as a
ing his opinions as expressed to me before
and during this war, knowing his STAIN
less patriotism, can vouch for him. He
is made OF too stern material to surrender
to such terms, especially as, in his last let
ter to me, he writes contentedly OF his re-
sources and his confidence that the, winter
campaign viii be successful.
"But though any of bur foremost lead
.I0 ba a1 4arv
war by acceptance of autonomy, which is
barely within the bounds. of possibility,
while he himself might surrender, he
would do so alone. We Cubans are not
worshipe-s of individualities; we are
staadfast followers of our ideal. The
death of our glorious Maceo struck sorrow
to every heart, but we did not falter, his
forces did not surrender and the revolu-
tion received no perceptibIe check. The
leaders who proposed peace under the
Spanish flag would find themselves with
out followers. No treaty of peace can be
made by the Cubans unless ratified by
specially convoked assembly. 1t is be-
yond the bounds of possibility to expect
that the Cubans, after two years of SAN
culinary strife, when they find themselves
IN a position such as has never been their
good fortune to occupy, in point of num-
bers, equipment and resources, will now
weakly accept terms of compromise.
Every Cuban, every American knows
that the apparent generous and concilia-
tory spirit of Spain springs not from her
strength but from her weakness. How
can we, then, under the circumstances, be
expected to waverP
''If the Cubans in the field are too strong
to even consider such proposals, the
Cubans in the cities are too we'll advised
of Spains plans and Spains precarious
situation to counsel this step. In the
cities Spain's only stronghold, men of DO
sition, of refinement, of wealth, have but
lately signed a statement, in which they
unequivocally say to those in this country
who seemed to have labored under the
idea that autonomy would be the result
of the so-called Cuban problem, that
, nothing but independence is accepta bic TO
them, They base their statement not only
on political but on economical reasons.
What forms of autonomy would help
Cuba, when saddled, not only with her
previous debt but with the added burden
of the cost OF the present WARP The future
of the country would be ruin and starva-
ton.
News OF our success III the field may be
suffocated by the censor; pacitication of
the island provinces may be falsely pro-
claimed as in the case of Pinar del Rio;
DEGREES allowing grinding ohsugsr may be
issued where all cane has been destroyed;
promises of reforms and autonomy given
and amnesty promulgated; but we
Cubans will continue to fight for inde-
pendence and nothing but independence,
first last and all the time. Our leaders
may fall; but Others will take their places.
The opportunity will find the men. Gomez
himself has written that even should he
fall, the revolution is strong enough to
continue to its triumph. The only excuse
We will have for having begun the war is
its triumph; the only fitting monument
for our fallen comrades the independence
OF their country.