The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-01-28
NOTHING BUT INDEPENDENCE
SAYS PRESIDENT PALMA, WILL
SATISFY CUBANS-STATE-
MENT OF AFFAIRS.
SPANISH REFORMS ARE MYTHICAL.
gents Stroi ger Now Than Ever.
. Murders Committed by Spanish
Officers in Guanabacoa.

New York, Jan. 21.-Tomas Estrada
Palma, president of the Cuban junta, to-
day issued the following statement:
80 much has lately been said of the
probability of the termination of the Gu
ban revolution by the acceptance on the
part of the Cubans of autonomy or re-
forms, that feel it Incumbent upon me,
as accredited representative of the Gu
| cans, to make brief statement
Reforms were proposed by the Span
iards, but the outbreak of this revolu-
ton was not stayed an hour. There is
and has been an injury for which the
Cuhans are fighting. We have had
enough Of promised autonomy. Every
intelligent man would rightly condemn
the leaders and participants in this move
ment if anything sbcrt of independence
were the basis of a treaty OF peace with
Spain. 1t is claimed that Gen. Gomez is
willing to treat with Spain on the basis
of autonomy and that a letter 10 that eff
feet has been received by me. There is
no such letter, He is made of too stern
W OH any SUCH
terms, particularly wnen in his latest let
tiers to me he writes contcntcdly of his
resources and glowingly oil his convic-
| tons that this winters campaign will be
most successful.
But even though any Of our foremost
| leaders should be incllued to terminate
the war by the acceptance OF autonomy
| (Which is barely without the bounds of
possibility, while he himself might sur
| render, he would do so alone. We Gu
bans are not worshippers of individual
| ties: we are steadfast followers of our
ideals. The death of our glorious Maceo
brought sorrow to the hearts of every
Cuban; but we did not falter; his forces
did not surrender; the revolution received
no perceptible check. The leader who
proposed peace under the Spanish flag
| would find himself without followers. No
treaty of peace can be made by the Gu
bans unless ratified by specially con-
vened assembly. 1t is beyond the bounds
of possibility to expect that the Cubans,
after two years of sanguinary strife,
| when they find themselves in a position
such as it has never been their good for
tune to occupy, in point of numbers.
equipment and resources, will mockly ac
| Cept terms of compromise. Every Cuban,
every American knows that the patient,
gracious and conciliatory spirit Of Spain
springs not from her strength but from
her weakness. How can We. then. be
expected to waver! If the Cubans in
the field are too strong to consider such
proposals. the Cubans in the cities are
TOO well advised of SPANS plans and
| SPANS precalious situation to counsel
| this step.
| I'm these citics-Spains only strong
hold-men of position. of refinement. OF
wealth, have lately signed statement in
which they rnequivCcally say to those
| in this country, who seem to labor under
the error that autonomy would be q solu-
| ton of the so-called Cuban problem, that
nothing short of independence is accepta-
BILE to them. They base this statement,
not on political, but also OIL economic
reasons. What form of autonomy would
help Cuba when saddled, not only with
her previous debt. but with the added
burden of the cost of the present war?
The future of the country would be win
and starvation
News of our success in the field may
be suffocated by the censor, pacification
of the island and provinces may be false
~ proclaimed, as in the case Of Hinar del
Rio; DEGREES allowing the grinding of SUI
gar may b. Issued where all cane has
been destroyed; promises OF reforms and
autonomy given and amncstics proniul-
gated; foreign countries may. BY these
means and by mcndaciouS; Spanish d.
plomacy BE- Cajoled into the belief that
Spain is mighty. is generous, that we are
weak and III grateful, but we Cubans
will continue to fight for independence
first, last and all the time. Our leaders
may fall. but others will lake their
places.
At the Office of the junta the statement
Which follows was also given out:
Murders committed in Guanab bacon
during the week: Lieut.. Col Narcisco
Funsdevicla. being mayor Of the city
Nicholas Hernandez white, proprietor Of
la trcncle factory. known rs an honest
man and representing the autonomlst
party: Andrea and Santa Ruiz. muat-
toes. well educated and honest, owners
of an undertaking establishment and oil Il
cafe and billiard room in i'ao Blanco
street; Jose Abella white. proprietor OF
Il livery stable: Luis Nurez. white. man
without reproach: Simon Rcego. cmployc
and nephew of the Marquis de In Rapla-
con: Pedro de Ia Costa white. u clerk;
Justice Garcia. white. CLERK; Ramon.
white. clerk: Juan Manuel Pastoricz,
very popular young man: two employees
of Mr.. Almargo owner of the Maria sta
ton.
"rhesc we're all honest people and of
good antecedents. The ir OILY crime being
that of being Cubans.
THE murders having occurred with
such frequency that the townspeople,
fear-sticken, fed from the towns and the
tradespeople of Guanabacoa. all Spanish.
have called on and complained to Gen.
Ahumdda to stop the emigration. not
through humanity. but that their inter
ests may not suffer-
NEWS FROM HAVANA.
| Havana. Jan. 21.-Further details
reached here today regarding the sinking
of the Spanish gunboat Retampago, dur
explosion of a torpedo placed in the river
Cauto, near Mango landing, by the insur-
gents. killing six of the officers and crew
and wounding number of others.
The insurgents, it appears, besides Open
! ing rife fire upon the Centenella and
upon the men in the water, also fired with
| artil1prv unnn tho ContnnolIo at short