The times., 1897-11-28
SUNDAY. NOVEMBER Is, 1897.
cuba's Answer to spain.

The address OF the Cuban government to
''All those who interest themselves for the
liberty and future Of Cuba, - drives the last
nail in the coffin OF the scheme 70 bring
about peace on the island boy inducing the
Cubans L., surrender the liberty they have
gained, and once more submit themselves TO
the hated yoke Of Spanish tyranny. The
calm and digniiied appeal to civilization
IN question was passed 10y the constituent
assembly, and signed by its members, and
the executive officers Of the government.
It VIII be placed IN the hands Of President
Mckinley Ia day OF two, If it is not tlIere
ALREADY. 1t may beoonsdered as completing
the case of Cuba and liberty in the est
srn hemisphere, against Spain and the
Anglo-An.ercan conspiracy Of the Spanish
Cupan bondholders and the Sugar Trust.
TIE address is the final answer Of few
people, living under their own constitu-
ton and their own orderly ciyI govern
ment. and defended ny a brave and victor
ious army, 10 the attempt of their old op-
pressor backed by the American Govern
ment 10 cajole or cOerce them into LAYING
down their arms to re-enter the bondage
which they have thrown off in an ocean
OF blood and tears. We quote
he who knows the true situation OF
Cuban affairs cannot be misled. No special
laws, nor reforms, nor autonomy, nothing
that SuppOSes, under whatever name. form
or manner, the subsistence of the Spanish
domination in Cuba, can terminate the
actual struggle. Independence or death
has been and viii be our sacred ana
lndisputabIe watehwoTd- Nor does
Spain Il acknowledgements ability which
has existed and exists between Spanianls
aud Cubans. IL sustains US in the struggle
and Will not disappear until the flag that
has covered So many inlustices, has pre-
sided over So many butcheries and has
covered 50 many iniQuities shall be hauled
down from Cuba. Bet ween Cuba and
Spain there extends q bUttUmless ocean
o. tears, there bUils an immense sea II
blood. and there il an impassable noun
tain Of hatred. This is why we wish
the absolute and Immediate lndepend ence
OF all the Island Of Cuba. We desire to
constitute free, ordained, prosperous and
Happy people on the ruins Of an exhaust
ed colony.
Gould anything be more explicit or con
elusive Of the folly Of offering the Cuban
patriots anything short Of political inde
pendencr7 Gould any language more com
pletely show their determination to achieve
it OF 10 die in the attempt? If others are
in doubt about the certainty Of their sue
cess, they are not. The address says: The
situation in which the war has placed
Cuba and Spain docs not permit any other
solution but independence. Spain cannut
any longer sustain a venture which II
debilit auing ana draining her life blood
uselessly. The offer made today is an
explicit declaration of its impotency. The
spaniards send US laws when they can
not send any mole soldiers. They try
TO negotiate peace when they cannot con
tinue the war" The appeal closes with
these ringing and noble words:
We would be degraded in the estima-
tion Of all II, after launching the country
into desperate struggle, which brought
II ruin ana misery, which has killed the
flower Of Cuban manhood, which hal
Carried rain and desOiatlun to all Uul
homes, we should retreat Ia return beg
gsrs, ashamed and humiiiRUed, supporting
a yoke which signifies degradation and
debasement. Only with victory or viii
death VIII we leave the fields of Cuba
Librel
This is tile answer Of the Republic o
Cuba % Spain and the Spanish America
alliance.