The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-09-15
1t Freely AckoWledges Cuba S
Gratitude to the United
States.
But the PreseDt Council, Headed by Mosso,
Wants to Hold oD as Nucleus for
Future GoVernDeDt.

SANTIAGO DE CUBA. Sept. 1.-THE
Council of the so-called provisional
Government of the republic of Cuba
represented by Senior Bartolome Masso.
President; Cisnero Capote, Vice Presi-
dent, and Senior Fonte, Senior Aleman
and Senior Moreno de la Tore, Secreta-
Ties, met at Santa Cruz on September
l and formulated a manifesto to the
Cuban people with an order to the
military commanders of the Cuban
army, both of which have been promul-
gated.
The manifesto, which is an elaborate
document, touching on the history of
the movement for Cuban independence
and the principles upon which the Gu
ban people have fought for their lib
erty, proceeds, in part, as follows:
The peace preliminaries have been
signed and the Government of the United
States has imposed upon Spain an obli-
cation to renounce all the rights Of SOW
ereignty over the island of Cuba and to
eVacuate the territory Immediately. The
cessation of hostilities has also been
agreed upon.
Though the principal object of our revo-
luton has been obtained, that is, the de-
struction of Spanish domination, the work
of this council is not yet at an end, for
the Cuban republic-the idea for which
we have fought-has not yet been consti-
tuted. Now that hostilities have ceased
ana SPAIN mas IeQOunceQ ner sovereignty,
1t is the duty of this council to set be-
fore the Cuban people the feelings and
purposes of the men who made the revo-
luton.
We always felt confident that through
our own perseverance we would in the
long run destroy Spanish domination but
we must acknowledge that an indefinite
prolongation of the struggle would have
annihilated the little that was left of our
wealth and population. The entrance up
on the field of a powerful and decisive
which have reii cd
and toward which the hearts of all Gu
bans have always turned, has put an end
to the horrors of war, to the benefit of all
concerned.
This prompt solution we must acknowl-
edge we could never have obtained. 1t
is proper to acknowledge the evident
truth. That is the best title the United
States has to our gratitude. We were
abandoned by the world, some nations ig
noring us in selfshness; others ignorant
of our real condition, considering us an
cause we did not accept the cajoleries and
batteries with which Spain tried to
soothe our just anger.
This was our situation when the peo-
pie of the United States, their Govern
ment and Congress came to our rescue
and took upon their shoulders the task
Of delivering us at once from an un-
bearable woke, as our sufferings could
not be endured or permitted longer.
They have accomplished their pro-
gramme brilliantly; what IS more, they
have liberated, in one way or another,
from the rule of Spain, all peoples OPP
pressed by her. The liberation is definite
and irrevocable Spain has been expelled
from this hemisphere.
We are grateful. In nations as well as
in individuals gratitude is ennobling. AS
we begin now our national life we, more
than any other people, must be jealous
of our national honor. 1t is, therefore,
the duty of this council to explain to the
people of Cuba what in its opinion are our
duties toward the United States and
-1,,F ra.l.~ l.14
ought to direct our conduct. When, af-
ter a long struggle the United States Con-
gress recognized the right of the people
OF Cuba to be free and independent and
ordered the Spanish forces to withdraw
from the island, no Cuban Government
was recognized; but the one we had con-
stituted, though not recognized, was not
opposed and has not been opposed. No
steps have been taken to dislodge it from
the place where IL exercised It's functions,
nor has 1t been considered an illegitimate
authority which events have dissolved or
destroyed for the good of the people of
Cuba.
States could not interfere in the struggle
for the sake of what our enemies might
consider a political faction. The Ameri
can Government could intervene for the
benefit of the whole people of Cuba,
part of whom, being under Spanish rule,
was not free to express a purpose or
preference. The intention of the United
States was that as soon as the obstacle
of Spanish rule had been removed the
whole Cuban people should choose gov
eminent that would shape the destinies
of the island.
The people of the United States have all
along appreciated the fact that the ma
tority Of the people of Cuba are in agree
ment with our principles. for the motto
of the United States Government has
been the same as ours--absolute indie
pendence for Cuba. Under these condi-
lions the Americans could not take hos
tile attitude toward US or consider our
authority illegitimate and harmful to the
welfare of the Cuban people.
These considerations have convinced us
that we should not dissolve and that the
power we have received from an assem-
ply elected by the people under arms
should never vanish. On the contrary,
we feel that we should remain as a nu-
cleus and guide for those who have vest
fore. decided to call together another as
sembly, which will determine our future
course.
Ii conclusion the manifesto gives a