The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-09-16
CUBAN DIPLOMACY.

Below is the text OF the manifesto iS-
sued on September / by the leaders of thc
Cuban revolution to the people of Cuba
calling a new convention for the choice of
provisional givcrnment until the real
Cuban depuhlic is constituted by the
United States. II will be observed that
while its language and purport are un-
Objectionable. q high quality of diplomacy
shows between Its lines:
Now that hoslilities have ceased and
Spain has renounced her sovereignty. it
is the duty of this council to set before
the Cuban people the feelings and pur~
poses OF the men who made the revolu-
ton. We always felt confident through
our perseverance that we would in the
long run destroy Spanish domination by
our own efforts, but we must acknowledge
that an indefinite prolongaton of the
struggle would have annihilated the lit
tie that was left of our wealth and popu-
lation. The entrance upon the scene OF
a powerful and decisive factor. factor
upon which we have always relied, and
toward which the hearts of all Cubans
have always turned, has put quick end
to the horrors of war, to the benefit of
all concerned.
"This prompt solution. we must ac-
knowledge. we could never have obtained.
1t is proper to acknowledge this evident
truth. That is the best title the United
States has to our gratitude. We were
abandoned by the world, some nations
doing so through selfishness, others from
ignorance of our real conditions, and
considering us an obstinate and unsov-
crnable people because we would not ac-
cept the cajoleries and batteries with
which Spain tried to soothe our Just an
ger. This was our situation when the peo-
pie of the United States, their government
and congress came to our rescue and took
t1,.,f,, .,
ing us at once from our unbearable yoke,
as our sufferings could not be endured
or permitted longer. They have accom-
plished their programme brilliantly.
What is more, they have liberated in one
way or another from the rule of Spain all
the peoples oppressed by her. Definitely
and irrevocablv she has been expelled
from this hemisphere.
I'VE are not to haggle over our grati-
tude to them. Such conduct would harm
none but ourselves. In nations is well as
in individuals gratitude is ennobling AS
we begin now our nations life we must
more than ony other people be jealous
of our national honor. 1t is. therefore,
the duty of this council to explain to the
people of Cuba what in our opinion, are
our duties toward the United States, to-
ward ourselves, and what rules ought to
direct our conduct.
"When. after long struggle, the con-
gress of the United States recognized the
right of the people Of Cuba to be free and
Independent and ordered the evacuation
of the island by the Spanish forces. no
Cuban government was recognized The
one that ruled in the name of Spain ought
to be removed along with her. The one
that we had constituted was not recog-
niZed, but it has not been opposed. No
steps have been taken to dislodge 1t from
the place where it exercised its functions,
nor has it been considered an illegitimate
authority, which had to be dissolved or
destroyed for the good of the people of
! Cuba. 1t could not be otherwise. The
United States could not interfere in our
struggle for the sake of what our enemies
might consider a political faction. 1t
could only do so for the benefit of the
whole people of Cuba part of which be-
| ing under Spanish rule, was not free to
express it's will.
| "The intention of the United States was
| that, once the obstacle of Spanish rule
| was removed, the whole Cuban people
| should choose the government that was
| to shape the destinies of the island. The
| United States fully appreciated the fact
| that a majority of the population of Cuba
| agreed with our principles, for their
| motto was the same as ours-the abso.
| lutte Independence of this country. I'm
| der these circumstances they could not
| antagoniZe us nor consider our authority
within the revolution illegitimate ol
| harmful to the welfare of the Cuban peo
| pie. This has convinced us that We
| should not dissolve and that the powers
| we have received from an assembly elect
| ed by the people under arms should moi
| vanish. On the contrary, we feel thai
| we should remain as nucleus and guide
for those who have vested such powers il
US. We have therefore decided to call to
! gether another assembly, which will de
| termine our future course"