The times., 1897-04-06
CIsN EROS TO MCKINLEY.
Appeal of the President of the
Republic of Cuba.

| Republic of Cuba.
| Executive Headquarters. Republic of
| Cuba, Cubitas Mountains, State of Cana
| guey, March 22.-President Cisneros to-
| day counseied with his cabinet, aud at the
| close OF the meeting made public copy
| of his open letter 10 President Mckinley,
| dated Executive Headquarters, Capital
Of Cuba, Cubitas, March 4, 1897"
In it President Cisneros said.
"Mr President Today you become the
Chief Executive Of the great test, freest,
most progressive nation that the sunlight
| OF heaven ever shone upon. Today the or
| ganized and maintained Republic OF Cuba,
| citizens and soldiers from the highest TO
| the lowest, congratulate You and pray
| that God VIII give you strength and wis
| dom to continue the progress and inerease
| the prosperity of the American people.
Cuba, while called by Spain the ever
faithful isle has always looked to the
American Republic as if she longed for
the title OF ever faithful State
II ask you in the name of God and of
my people to extend early consideration
to what is known in the Unit ed States
as the Cuban question
I'VE have in your beautiful capital a
legation as yet gnreoognized officially by
your Government That legation, coni-
posed of men we trust and honor. is in
position to inform the American Gov
eminent OF such details as it may desire
regarding the several Joints of this com
mHnication.
.In the first place, beg you to con-
Of S,,t,a ria f,,iI-
belongs TO the people OF the Western
Hemisphere. It's geographical location pre-
GUIDES the possibility OF it's being consid
cred part of any other continent.
Secondly, its people are essentially
American in alltheir hopes and aspirations
Thirdly, the island and it's people will
continue TO grow more and stronger Amer
lean day to day and from year TO year.
Were 1t possible for Spain TO tOexterminate
the present population and replanJ the soil
with her loyal subjects, doubt her ability
to control the island for certain period
The sons Of Spaniards coming in after gen
eratiops would be Cubans as devoted totheiT
little island and with as much detestation
for its ensIayer as are Tue Cuhans today
do as she may, Spain is destined 10 lose
Cuba eventually Could she hope for sue
cess in the present war it would only be a
matter OF a few years when there would
be another rebellion.
But for Spain the present struggle
is hopeless. The success attending our
army has been a surprise even to us.
Every power OF Cuba has risen against
the tyrannical power of Spain.
The whole world VIII acknowledge
that Cuba has ample excuse for rebellion.
I'm two years we have accomplished
much more than we did in tie entire
last war, which continued ten years.
The civil branch of the government
is we'll established, and its workings are
daily becoming more thoughtful and COM
plete.
The entire province OF Santiago. with
the OK xception OF several large towns, is
entirely under our control In more than
200 cities, towns and villages Spain has
not soldier, and has apparently relin-
qusiied all claims to that territory. She
no longer has civil representatives in most
of the districts, while there is not one
town in the entire province but has its
projects, or assistant projects, appointed
by the Republic OF Cuba.
Spain collects today but one-eighth
of the annual taxes in Puerto Principe.
Santa Clara and Santiago provinces she
did two years ago, while the taxes levied
and collected by this government have in
the three provinces amounted 20 moFc than
$3.50 900.
These taxes are not collected by aid
OF the military. The levy is fixed by our
Secretary of the Treasury with the counsel
of the Secretary of the interior and the
civil officers III the various projects col
lect the same In the regular way. We nave
established throughout the island System
of mails An important feature of the civil
government has been the issuing of books
and the establishing of schools. In various
sections or Santiago and Puerto Principe
schooIhouses have been erected and native
teachers appointed.
.The army in the field Under the COM
mand of my brave and true friend, General
In Chief MaximO Gomez, is conducting
war of energy and mercy. The rules of
government and the dictatiOn of humanity
direct it.
THE struggle may go on for years,
and Cuba may continue TO fight the bat
tie against fearful odds alone, but so long
as there is God To give us courage we will
cling to the banner of right and freedom,
and never falter until the victory is won
wishing you and your great republic
God speed, 1 am,
SALVADOR CISNEROS BETAN-
COURT, p resident of Cuba