New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-15
,vDEPENDENCE OR NOTHING
SAY THEY WILL NEVER
ACCEPT AUTONOMY.

"" az. IN an interesting interview with a rep
",otive Of The Tribune to-day. said emphat
..suv that all persons who believed that the
r,,on insurgents would agree to lay down
...,r arms under any condition other than the
.s.o,ute independence Of the island were not
Ill informed Mr. Quesada said II at he had
...r misouoted in being reported as saying
..v,hng TO the contrary. To say that the Gu
..rs would accept autonomy. even TO the eX-
..,, granted TO Canada by England, would DE
,r,srepresent the facts. he remarked. and this
=. would not do. He explained that in MS ca
,,,v as a representative Of the Cuban nsur-
mis- IN Washington. II had been his policy
'.r.tuIlv and faithfully to carry out the wishes
:, the Cuban Republic as he knew them, and
..,ns advised that neither President Cisneros.
general Gomez. nor any of the military leaders
:, the revolution would consent to any terms of
go except independence. 1t impossible
.,s, he could have said that If Spain would
sr.nt autonomy to the island such PROPOSE
~. would be favorably entertained by Cubans
a, home and in this country.
Mr. Ouesada said with much emphasis: Gu
ssns Will not accept anything but independence
,.,ro snain say this most positively.
nrcRrE OF THE CUBAN REPUBLIC.
~ The early days Of the revolution, he said,
~henO
>, rsvolt and when the instruction was confined
~ a single province. propositions OF liberal re-
,,-rs were made to the Vice President Of the Gu
Ran Republic General Masso. but were refused
co,eral Maxine Gomez. commander-in-chief.
I'D rosA Marti, then the civilian head or the
-.ro,u,ion. issued a decree which is a Cuban
law to-day that any one bringing overtures OF
,aacs based on anything but independence was
. =. considered as a traitor and would he sum-
.n.-,v dealt with This. Mr.. Quesada pointed
-. uas the re-enacting OF the so-called Spo-
...no decree. which in the last war was drawn
.s made effective by the delegate of the Cuban
Iorrhlc in the United States. Tomas ESTRADA
Palma 20
representatives Of Cuba on september To-
1905 embodied the same idea In Article ii OF
tbs Constitution. which says:
The treaty Of peace with Spain when mus soa e 90
essariiy have for its basis aosoiute M PEE Cnvern
The island of Cuba must be rallntu ~ p Dr.
nlent Council and by an Asse ,b,o nn u
Tho Constitution Is signed by the President OF
the Republic by the Government Council anu Os
f,s,,npnjshed men of all sections of the island.
General Gomez as we'll as Generals Garcia III
vsra and Rodrigues. has repeatedly declared that
=. will not accept anything but the complete
.snaratior Of the island. Mr.. Quesada said that
an January Is of last year General Gomez wrote
N the Spanish General. Martinez Campos. let
,er which the Spaniards themselves have pup
Nsbed and which among other things, says.
The island of Cuba as a colony or as country
which has revolted and established It's lh1epel1
dence Is already lost 10 Spain. Cupa Is Sp.e anu
wishes 10 be free like the other countries OF Amer-
ca Let not Spain permit that cupa o"Os - ~ o ec
5T independence We will yield one
single point until we have accoihpns'eu o"' pun
pose-liberty.
g., rzo4o ~o,d tba, General Francisco Car
,rlo one Of the most gallant and popular leaders
the Cuban army. interpreted the unanimous
6eung of Cubans when he wrote TO prominent
,enator In Washington. under date OF OCTOBER
70 last: 1t is useless for me 10 tell you that
there is not a person in the field who thinks OF
or will accept aught else but the absolute lnde-
pendence Of the island"
DETERMINED STAND OF THE INSURGENTS.
TO whom. then. could any such proposition as
the one suggested. or even one of genuine home
rule be made" Mr.. Quesada asked 1t is cur
rently reported he remarked, that high Ameri-
can official some months ago approached the
Cuban Government in the most delicate manner.
and received as an answer the words which were
repeated in the appeal made by the Cuban Gov
eminent to Latin America in September of last
year: Cuba, on her part. is re solved 10 conquer
her independence even if she has 10 resort to the
most terrible eXtremities.
Mr.. Quesada said that this is not mere Senti-
ment, but # is because freedom is the only sal
Walton 10 Cuban interests. Cubans will not give
up their arms until they obtain their salvation
lie added that it has cost many lives and many
sacrifices 10 arm the Cuban patriots, and it is
foolish TO suppose that when they nearing |
The goal Of their ambition they would give up the |
means with which they have reached the point |
where Spain is willing 10 compromise. and ac- |
knowledge that she is impotent TO subdue Gu
bans in the field
Mr. ,bo,
Spain is willing TO grant genuine autonomy it |
Is because Cuba is lost. and she wants by some |
trick or treachery to make the Cubans pay the
enormous Spanish debt: but Cubans are not so
simple as 70 accept half a loaf when they can
have the whole. He concluded by saying:
a, Il would be suicidal FOR CgbSns to accept debt
begin heir life as nation free from all burdens
without obligations which would choke # not Kill
Island II is better that they should sarve and |
Ole In foreign countries. giving their last mite 10
the African penal colonies with physicians lawyers
and planters it is wiser that they should pay tneir
native land than that they should be forever
crushed by financial difficulties, and the product
the very money which has served to keep them in |
ssondsge Above All, the Cubans are determined 10
accept agreement which would mean the aban- |
Comment Of the nigh ideal Of complete emancipa-
ton To all such projects the Cubans will respond
now and always with their motto: independence
or death
LETTER FROM PRESIDENT CISNEROS.
Mr.. Quesada was greatly pleased at the re-
ception this morning Of a letter addressed TO
him by President CisnerOs. The letter is dated
Najasa. a town in Puerto Principe. near Cubita
Hajasa is the headquarters of the Cuban Gov
ernment. Mr.. Quesa la explained. The envelope
containing the letter bore three stamps OF the
updn Republic. which were regularly can
eeAed by stamp similar in design to that used
IN this country In the letter the President or
the Republic said that he gratiiied TO OBJ
serve that the people Of the United States and
congress still continue to show their sympathy
Tor Cuba. He is now preparing public appeal
"a which as the head OF the Republic Of Cuba, ne
VIII ask Tor the recognition Of the independence
o the island
Ihe President says that II Is the purpose OF
the Cubans To continue their offensive campaign
WIN renewed activity in few days. The day
we letter written General Gomez left Ma
!asa To enter the Province OF Santa Clara. HIS
aInX haA Lae f.rGad q nd haA oil Lha naceS |