The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-23
WARNING TO THE SPANISH.
From the New York sun

From the New York sun
Scnor Tomas Estrada Palma. delegate
OF the Cuban republic gave out NesteF-
day the following statement: "1hc
death of Colonel Ruiz did not occur as me
Spanish have put 1t. while he was nebo-
tiating AS peace messenger under
flag of truce. Again and again have the
Cubans promulgated the law that all who
should come to them with peace proposi-
tions not based on the independence OF
Cuba would be treated a. spies ana dtat
with accordingly. Colonel Ruiz not ohiN
knew of the existence Of the law. bui ac-
Curdng to the Spanish accounts was
personally warned as TO his fate. Cen
cra Blanco ana Secretary General ton-
Gosto. too. were well aware of the exist
ence of the decree. Nevertheless these
latter took advantage of the unfortunate
QuiXotism of Colonel Ruiz and sent him
to the Cuban lines. The blood of Colonel
Ruiz is not on the hands of the tubanS,
but upon the heads of Blanco and Con-
gosto who sent him to his fate.
"lf the penalty of the law had not been
carried into effect. doubtless Spain would
have taken advantage of the fact to show
that the Cubans We're not in earnest IN
their rejection of autonomy absolutely
but We're willing to listen to arguments
This decree was not promulgated be-
cause The Cubans are afraid of disaftec-
tion in their ranks. but because 1t is
known that innumerable commissioners
would otherwise be sent and on their re-
turn make false statements, encouraging
the belief that peace might be established
on basis other than independence Such
statements would only serve the inter-
ests of Spain in gaining time. with the
resulting death of thousands, owing to
the useless prolonRation Of the war. Be
ct, q tlat l1 hlt
Spanish are seeking to enter the ihSur-
gent lines with the purpose of assassin
ating the more important leaders. Doc
umentary proof of this fact is in our
ha ands, and we are the more cautious
when we remember that in 1879 General
Blanco authorized General Polavcja. in
Santiago de cuba. to execute as many
unarmcd Cubans as the latter thought
! necessary as an example.
"It Is someN hat remarkable that with
| the first news Of the death Of Colonel
| Ruiz came the announcement of the kilt
| ing by the Spanish of over forty sick and
wounded Cubans found i'm a hospital, and
rot voice was raised in protest thcreat
! The shooting Of Cuban prisoners by tht
! score passed almost without comment
| the thousands of wounded Cuban soldiers
/ slain in hospitals attracts but little no
! tiCe IL is so common. According to al
! the laws of civilized warfare, the Gu
bans from the beginning had the right tt
! retaliate i'm kind, but they never nave
done So on the contrary. all prisoners
| taken by them were set at liberty and th'
wounded attended to- We arc denied ny
| the entire world status as heiligerentS
| and might therefore claim that we have
not the obligations to conduct the war -
belligerents. but We do not intend to tad'
| this stand either
| THE conditions obtaining in cuba anC
the CharaCte" of the Spanish demand
! however that we take the necessary
measures to speedily terminate the wa
by convincing the world that indepond
! ence alone can satisfy us. We according
| ly issue decree and SolcmnlN war;
Spain of its enactment. II. despite thi
| warming thcv persuade q man TO be rdsl
| enough to come to rs to treat on tn
| basis of autonomy, we must either ac
| knowledge that our laws are made onl!
to be broken or he compelled by pain
full duty to carry them into effect 1t is
| question of the lives of one or two raSi
men or Of the lives OF thousands of pa
| ri ipti 10