Evening star., 1897-02-20
Gu UBA'S FREEDOM M
Mr.. Cleveland's Message Replied to
by General Gomez.
A CONSTITUTION HAS BEEN ADOPTED
An Independent Republic the Rev.
oIutionists' Aim.
FIRsToFFICIALTRANsLATION

Senior Quesada. Cuban charge d'affaires
here has received the first and only Off
cIal translation of the proclama ton of Gen.
Maximo Gomez, made last MONTH answer
ing certain paragraphs of President Cleve-
lands message on the situation in Cuba.
AS will be seen from the document, Gomez
affirms the existence of civil government
which he himself recognizes and obeys,
and explicitly denounces all the reports of
his acceptance of home rule propositions as
false. His ringing words are that the Gu
bans will accept only absolute indepen-
dence
The translation, stated, is the first of
an official nature, and was today given to
The Star by Senior Quesada. 1t is as fol-
lcws:
The powerful reasons that oblige the
Cubans to offer their country their blood
and their fortune, to challenge powerful
innexibie and tenacious nation were stated
IN the manifesto of Montecristi; they had
already been, and have afterward, in re-
peated documents published throughout
the world, well known to all, and especially
to the North American people, where with
such an ardent interest SO much has been
written about our affairs, and it is unneces-
sary to repeat those causes, for nobody can
nor do we ask, Spain what will never sat
ls1y u.s. Our only desire is the explicit
recognition of the truth declared by US,
that 1t is impossible that the sovereignty
OIL Spain-the basis and origin of all the
misfortunes Of the Island of Cuba-shall
continue. Its permanency is absolutely in
compatible with the culture and the su-
preme rights Of the Cuban people-which
can be cited as a model of abnegation and
patriotism. We only ask of Spain that,
coming to her senses, she abandon her un-
just pretensions and leave the Cubans to
rule their destiny in freedom
We so declared ii in that manifesto the
program of the present revolution, as we
also declared in 1t that we are not trying
to overthrow Spanish tyranny, to substi-
tute for it military dictatorship, or to es-
tablish rule of rival oligarchies, but that
our high and humane aim is to establish
true democratic republic.
In accordance with these views, as soon as
the revolution permitted it, we assembled
In solemn session the representatives elect
ed by the Cuban people in arms so that
they would give formal organization to
the revolutionary movement. They agreed
and voted law, to which all must submit
as the fundamental constitution of our
country.
A Constitutfon Adopted.
Assembled at Jimaguayu, a memorable
place In the history of Cuba, they unani-
mously declared a separation from Spain
secrated by the oath of loyalty, taken by
the army of liberation, which at the voice
OF Its chief, there appointed and proclaim
ed, united its fate and it's honor to that
emblem of our desires, to which 1 have
offered my sword In the service and de-
tense OF Its principles, which for me are
sacred.
GOmez's Proclamation.
Headquarters Of the Army of Liberation of
Cuba.
When, on the 25th of March, 1895, 1 ad-
dressed myself to the world from Monte
cristi, together with that great man, Jose
Marti, whose life was devoted to the
of his country, and who lives
in the memory of the Cuban people in
never-fading remembrance, l did not think
that l would have to again raise my voice
to ratify and affirm what we then said. and
to deny certain assertions made by the
supreme representative of a nation bound
to US by so many ties, who should know
better our condition and our conduct.
To the call that we then made to the
honor and manhood of the Cubans, they
responded admirably, and today the world
contemplates with increasing interest that
while Spain confirms it's determination to
resist to an extent that even not those who
had exact knowledge of her tenacity and
of the tremendous Importance of the loss
of her most important position in America
would have thought her capable Of, yet the
armies of liberty occupy almost all the
country, and fight every day with more
faith and valor. and the Cuban war as
sumeS such proportions that it has become
today the most notable event registered in
the annals of the present century.
Mr.. Cleveland's Assertion.
For these reasons and on account of the
important and diverse relations which Cuba
maintains today, more than ever, with the
United States of America, its executive,
President Cleveland has thought it con-
venient to make a special and extensive
study of the Cuban question in the mes
sage he has just addressed to the Congress
Of his nation. 1t is not to me to whom Is
due the .nswer of certain capital asser-
tions which that remarkable document
nor is my voice the one author
lied to speak in the name OF the 1Cubans
in arms on all the important points re-
ferred to in 1t. But am cited in direct
manner, and it Is due to my position as
general-in-chief Of the army of liberation,
as well as to the interests Of justice and
OF the cause to which l have devoted alb
solutely the last days that God may grant
take up the illusions to me- and rectify
the mistaken opinions therein contained:
for were not to do SO, the prompt real
ization of our desires may suffer, Of the
desires OIL my soul, and the final aim of the
aspirations of the Cuban people which have
honored me, comforting upon me the di-
rection Of its military operations,
1t Is suggested in the message that we
have risen In arms to demand reforms and
that We have no more constituted govern
ment than the will of military officer
who holds the territory on which he on.
crates.
Ihat constitution, which harmonizes with
our actual necessities, places at the head of
the revolutionary organism a government
council, with declared powers, while the
armed forces Of the revolution and the di
rection Of the military operations are con-
nded to the direct command of a general
in-chief. position which l have the honor
today to fill tor all the objects of my oath.
That government council may deserve of
President Cleveland whatever consideration
he may deem fit to give 1t. But 1t is. and n
will be for all the Cubans in arms. the su-
preme constituted authority for those ends
to which they freely and spontaneously
proclaimed 1t. 1t Is not true that /. as gen.
erai-tn-chief OF tine insurgent army, have
asked the Cuban government to give ui the
functions that belong to 1t exclusively. as.
prescribed by our constitution nor is ~
true that the government council has aba NJ
doned the exercise of those powers The
government is in the place the law has
given to 1t, respected and recognized hv the
generai-in-chief, who, himself, ocuoies his
own, while the one and the other obey
always the indisputahle sovereignty which
we have accepted of the constitYtfo,