The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-03-18
WILL FIGHT TO THE END
The Cuban Junta's Proclamation
to the United States.
INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH
They Will Not Even Discuss Proposals
of Autonomy-Spain Treacherous
and Blood-Stained Monarchy.
Cuba Will Yet Be Free.

New York, March 1.-THE following
proclamation to the people Of the
United States was issued by Tomas
Estrada Palma at the Office of the Gu
ban junta tonight:
The frequency with which there has
lately appeared in the public press sug-
gestions made by malicious or misin-
formed individuals that Cuba would
accept or could be forced to accept au-
tonomy, or anything short of independ-
ence, has impelled us to make definite
and final statement on this subject.
From the first our motto has been
independence or death We are now
more firmly than ever determined to
carry out the programme. AS we will
not accept, we will not even discuss
the proposals Of autonomy. After three
years of the most sanguinary and un-
civilized warfare of modern times. car
ried on by Spain, we are stronger than
ever 1t is for US to say what will sat
isfy US. not for others. Our ideas and
our national honor We can confide to
the judgment of ourselves alone.
II cannot think that the American
people have forgotten the principle
laid down in their own Declaration of
independence. nor can i believe that
any true American can be found who
would advise us to forsake the idea OF
republican government for the mon
archial, even in its most liberal form.
There is no way to compel the Gu
bans to accept autonomy, except by
force of arms. We have fought three
years. not against Spain alone. out
against the whole world. Not helping
hand was extended to us. no country
gave us equal rights with Spain. The
right to arm our people by purchasing
weapons in this country and transport
ing them to Cuba is admitted, but al
though engaged in lawful traffic. We
had to run the blockade to get from
these shores and again run the gaunt-
let in Cuba. Our ships and cargoes
were seized, subjected TO delay. but in
variably restored by the slow and cost
ly process of the law. Nevertheless. We
never faltered. We always appreciated
the fact that the sympathy of the adj
minisfration was with US. Spain has
proven impotent to compel US. by force,
to accept autonomy. She now desires
the aid Of the United states to compel
us to accept.
''I cannot believe that the American
people would ever lend itself to the
most treacherous and blood-stained
monarchy of history for such pur-
pose. Should such prove to be the case.
however. l declare, in the name of the
Cuban people in arms. that force alone
can compel our submission. We. who
have seen hundreds of thousands of our
race and families exterminated by slow
starvation by cowardly decree of the
most inhuman commander of sangui-
nary Spain. will fight against anything
but independence, no matter who op-
poses. But. If unfortunately. this in
credible proposal be carried into effect
and American bayonets arrayed
against us in our struggle for freedom
and in aid of Spanish monarchy. We
will fight on. sadly, but determined,
and let history judge whether the van
quished had not a purer idea of free in
stitutions than the victors. In such
case we will be exterminated, but fu-
ture generations will again take up our
flag and our aspirations. and Cuba will
yet be free Nor we will ever agree TO
truce until our independence is es-
tablished. We will continue to agnt
as did the Americans under Jackson
at the battle of New Orleans. even after
the treaty of peace is signed, if it
should be necessary.
THE Cubans cannot be convinced
that the United States will ever try TO
force us to remain under the Spanish
flag but have deemed it my duty 10
appeal to the generosity. the sympathy
and the patriotism of the american
people to the end that they may un-
derstand the justice and firmness of
our demand for complete independ-