Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-04-29
PROCLAMATION TO CuBANS.
Document Issued by the Spanish Colonial
Government at Havana.
Said by Spain Before. Against
America.

Havana, April 22.-tCorrespondence
of the Associated Press.l-The follow
ing is the full text Of the proclamation
issued today by the autonomous colon
ial government OF Cuba.
presidency of the court OF secretaries
of the island of Cuba. to the inhab-
itants Of Cuba.
1.-THE colonial government. the real
representatives of the people of Cuba.
is threatened with a most unjust and
capricious attack by the United States,
an attack which, notwithstanding the
veil of hypocrisy. threatens to restrict
our liberty and well being. 1t forces
us to submit to the world a most SOL
emn protest against this inlquitous Of
Tense.
I'VE rely on your patriotism and self
denial. on your courage and enthusi-
asm, to assert our common nationality
future of our children.
You will instantly answer to the
urgent call to arms which, in the name
of this nation, has been sent to us by
the authorities of the island. Never at
any time OF the history of the world
has such contempt been shown for in
ternational law and Justice; never has
such an attempt been made as this un-
dertaking by the United States to
plunge the island OF Cuba. occupied by
Spain four centuries ago, when that
Republic did not exist, save in the
Imagination of the colonies of our race.
The island belongs to the Spanish ma
tion by sacred and indisphtable title,
claims that the ambition and pride of a
nd hAS Ia E,,I,,
to ignore.
Z, Far the greater part of that North
American territory was discovered and
explored by our fathers and that ex-
ploit Is for their eternal memory. The
mighty Mississippi covers the remains
of fernando De Soto, a former gov
ernor and captain general of this
island. None OF the alleged pretexts
jusiiiles the proposed violation of this
island. Nor do the pretexts themselves
exist in the hearts and minds of edu-
Gated people. 1t is not true that the
people of Cuba have taken up arms
and that all are In combat against the
This statement Is scornfully denied. II
is not true that Spain has refused to
satisfy the just aspirations or the Gu
pans. because we are satisfied with the
constitutional basis of autonomy.
In the preamble the supreme gov
'ABlltllAS States tnAt o.
form which VIII make the laws perfact
VIII be refused to further the perfec-
ton of the new constitution so long n 6
they do not conflict with the author
iZed privileges. 1t Is not true that our
people suffer under the oppression of
Foreign officers. We are governed with
out arbitrary measures and haye no
fault to find with men born among us
who for many years have Represented
IN the opposition our ideas and have
maintained with steadfastness and per-
severance our aspirations TO political
liberty and proper government.
AS last statement 1t is not true
that peace is impossible unless the
United States interyenes but what Is
true-and this we declare and proclaim
the world knowing that none can hon
estly affirm to the contrary-ls that
peace would have already been fact
u the United States, either directly or
indirectly. had not encouraged the war,
particularly nj time when the quick
tempered people Of the united country
we're about to reach an understanding
and become reconciled in the embrace
of the immortal nation of which we
are sons.
Inhabitants OF the island of Cuba,
during these solemn moments when we
are about to take part in the first coll
Dnial parliament, the United States vol
unfairly seeks to arbitrate your destIn-
les and delay the resolutlons OF your
representatives with a view to impcnd-
ing ard crnftlly annulling them. The
integrity of Spain and the autonomy
II Cuba are threatened. In their ambi-
lion the Americans will wish 10 possess
themselves OF this island, that il may
he dominated by n strange race OPP
posed in temperament, tradition, Ian
guage, religion and customs to oura The
elimination OF the latter would silently
BUT fatally be continued by those who