The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-01-22
FREEDOM dLONE VIII SdfESFf.
General Palma Issue. sweeping Denial
of spanish stories.

of spanish stories.
NEW YORK. 1an. I-Gcneral I. rs
trada Palma. OF tne Cuban Junta, IN TINS
city. issued the following statement to-
day.
So much has lately been said Of tho
probability of the termination Of the
Cuban revolution. by the acceptance on
the part of The Cubans of autonomy or
reforms. that i feel it incumbent upon
me, as the accredited representative or
the Cubans 10 make brief statement on
the subject
Reforms were passed by the Spanish
Cortes. but the outbreak of this fcVolu-
tion was not thereby stayed one hour.
There was. and is. but one idea Tor
which the Cubans are fighting. We nave
had enough OF so-cdiicd reforms, enough
of promises OF more reforms. enough oL
promised autonomy. Every intelhgen-
man would rightly condemn the leaders
and participants of this movement, III
anything short OF independence be ths
basis OF "A treaty of peace with Spain.
n 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 ls no such letter.
Knowing General Gomez as comrade
in fhe last revolution. knowing his opin-
ions as EXPRESSED 10 me before and dur
ing this war. knowing his stainless pa
triotism. ] can vOuch FOR HIM lie %
made of too stern material To surien-
der on any such terms particularly "nen
Am his latest letters 10 me he writes co1-
tentodlv of his resources and slo"in6y
of his conviction that hts winter car"
paieu will Doe most successful
uut even though amy one of our torc-
most leaders should be inclined TO ter
miuate the war by tho acceptance ot
autonomy. (Which IS barely within the
bounds OF possibility, while he hluaeit
r,irbt surrender. mo would do so alone.
a.. Cubans are not worshippers OF indl-
vidualities. We are steadfast touoWet7
of our ideal.
sorrow To every heart. but We did not
faltor. his forces did not surrender, ana
the revolution received no pcrceptble
check
The leader who proposed peace under the
Spanish flag would find himself without
followers.
80 treaty OF peace can DE made hy the
Cubans unless ratified Dos "a specially con-
yokod assembly. IL Is beyond the bound5
OF possibility 20 expect that the tupah7'
after two years Of sanguiuary strife,
when they find themselves in position
such as has never been their good fortune
To occupy in point OF numbers. equip
mcnt. aud resources, Will now weakly
accept terms OF compromise.
Every Cuban. every American know
that the apparent generous and conciiia-
tory spirit of Spain springs. not from her
strength. bat from her weakness. HOW
can we then, under the circumstances, Dee
expected 90 wtvcr.
III the Cubans m the field are too strons
20 even consider such proposals. the 'u-
bans i'm the cities are too we'll advised
of SPANS plans and SPANS precarious
situation. 90 counsel this step.
ln the cities Spains only stronshoid
Of position. of renncmont or wealth.
have but lately been signed a statement
in which they unequiyocally say 10
tlose iu this country. who seemed 10 nave
lahored under the error that autonomy
would be a solution OK the so-calIeo Cu-
ban problem. that nothing short OF IN
dependence is acceptable 20 them. They
base their statement. not only on pollu-
cal. but also on economic reasons
What form of autonomy would hep
Cuba when saddled. not only with her
prevlous debt. but with the added bur
den OF the cost OF the present war? The
future OF the country would be ruin and
starvation.
News OF our successes ia the field may
be sunocated by the censor. paclhcation
OF the island provinces may be falsely
proclaimed. as IN the case of Pinar del
! Rio: DEGREES allowing grinding ot sugar
may be issued. where an cane had been
destroyed. promises Of reforms and au-
tonomv given and amnestles promulgat-
/ ed. but we Cubans will continue TO fight
for independence, and nothing but in-
dependence. first. last. and all the time.
our leaders may TALL but others will
take their places. The opportunity will
ind the men. Gomez. himself has written
/ that even should he fall the revolution
is strong enough 70 continue 10 its
/ triumph.
The only excuse we viii have for hav-
ing begun the war will be us triumph,
| the only fitting monument for our fallen
/ comrades, the independence OF their
/ country
(Signed) T. ESTRADA PALMA