The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-01-22
1T RATHER THAN THE Of
FERED AUTONOMY.
NO IDEA OF SURRENDER.
OFFICIAL DENIAL OF RECENT RU-
MORS BY THE NEW YORK
JUNTA~
WAR CANNOT BE WON BY BLUsTER
Patriots Are Not Intimidated by the
BOastfuI Stories From Ha-
Vana and Madrid

NEW YORK, Jan. 2.-Tomas Estra-
da Palma, president of the Cuban
junta, tonight issued e statement re-
garding the probable termination OF
the Cuban war by the granting to the
| Cubans of autonomy or reforms. The
| statement says:
Reforms were passed by the Spanish cortes
but the outbreak of this revolution was not
thereby stayed hour There was and is
but one idea for which the Cubans are fight
ing. Every intelligent man would rightly con-
denim the leaders and participants in this
movement if anything short of independence
were the basis Of peace with Spain. 1t is
claimed that Gen. Gomez is willing to treat
with Spain on the basis of autonomy and that
letter to that effect has been received by
me. There is such letter He is made of
too stern material to surrender on any such
terms, particularly when his latest letter
states that this winters campaign will be
most successful. But, even though any one Of
our foremost leaders should be inclined to
terminate the war by the acceptance of au-
tonomy, while he himself might surrender he
would be alone.
The death of our glorious Maceo brought
sorrow to the hearts of every. Cuban, but we
did not falter; the revolution received nc per
ceptible check. The leader who proposed
self without followers No treaty Of peace can
be made by the Cubans unless ratified by a
specially convened assembly, 1t is beyond the
bounds OF possibility to expect that the Gu
bans-after two years Of sanguinary strife
now in a position such they have never
before occupied, In point of numbers, equip
ment and resources-will row weakly accept
terms of compromise. How can we then, un-
der the circumstances, be expected to waver.
In the cities, Spain's only stronghold, men
of position have signed a Statement in which
they say that nothing short of independence
is acceptable to them. They base the state
ment not only on political, but also on econo-
mic 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 ruin and starvation.
News of our success In the field may be
Sufocated by the censor paciication of the
island provinces may be falsely proclaimed, as
In the case of Pinar del Rios foreign coun-
tries may be cajoled into the belief that Spain
is mighty and generous and that we are weak
are ungrateful, but we Cubans will continue
to fight for independence first, last and all the
take their places. The only excuse we will
nave for having begun the war will be its
triumph, the only fitting monument for our
fallen comrades the independence of their
country. u
At the office of the junta the state
ment which follows was also given out:
Murders committed in Guanabacoa during a
week: Lieut., Col. Narciso AFonsdeyiela mayor
OF the city; Nicholas Hernandez, white rep
ccesentlng the autonomist party, Andrea and
Santiago Ruiz, mulattos, well educated and
honest business men; Joss Abella, white, bust
ness man; Luis Nunez, white, man without
reProach; rep Ramon Sotolongo, white. employe
and nephew of the Marquise de la Real Proc
lamac1on; Pedro Jose Acosta, white, a clerk;
Justo Garcia, white clerk; Ramon Mata
white clerk Manuel Pastoriza celebrated base
pail pitcher, very popular; two employees of
Mr. Almagro, owner Of the Maria station
Ihese were all honest people and of good
antecedents, their only crime being that of
being Cubans. The murders have occurred
with such frequency that the townspeople
fearstrcken, have fed in great numbers
from the town of Guanabacoa.