The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-18
No Matter What Action the United
States Takes, They VIII BE Content
Only with Independence.
PROCLAMATION FROM PALMA
TO THE PEOPLE OF AMERICA IN BE-
HALF OF THE CUBAN JUNTO.
Patriots Prefer to Re Exterminated
Even by United States Bayonets than
to Live Under Rule of spaniards.

NEW YORK. March 1.-THE following
proclamation Ito the people of the United
States was issued by Il. Estrada Palma at
the office of the Cuban Junto tonight:
1.-THE frequency with which there has
lately appeared in the public press sugges-
tons made by malicious or misinformed in
dividuals that Cuba would accept could
be forced to accept autonomy, or anything
short of independence has impelled me to
make definite and final statement on the
subject.
From the first motto has been in
dependence or DEATH We are now more
firmly determined than ever to carry out our
programme AS we will not accept we
will not even discuss the proposals of au-
tonomy. After three years of the most
sanguinary, barbarous and uncivilized war
fare of modern times, carried on by Spain,
we are stronger than ever. 1t is for us to
say what will satisfy us, and not for others.
Our ideals and our national honor we can
confde to the keeping of ourselves alone.
1 cannot think that the American people
have forgotten the principle laid down in
their own Declaration of independence nor
can / believe that any true American can
be found who would advise US to forsake
the ideal of republican government for the
monarchicai. even in it's most liberal form.
There is no way to compel the Cubans to
accept autonomy except by force of arms.
We have fought three years, not against
Spain alone, but 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 transporting
them to Cuba is admitted, but although en-
gagged in lawful traffic we had to run the
do 10 ~ hos Cl1 ov,I
again run the gauntlet in Cuba. Our ships
and cargoes were seized, subjected to de-
lay, but invariably restored by the slow
and costly process of the law. Neverthe-
less, we never faltered. We always appre-
ciated the fact that the sympathy of the
American people 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 COM
pei us to accept. l cannot believe that the
American people would ever lend itself to
the most treacherous and bood-stained
monarchy of history for such a purpose.
Should such prove to be the case however,
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 ex-
terminated by slow starvation by a coward
~ 0CSACS VI TIC ltiOSl
of sanguinary Spain, will fight against any
thing but independence, no matter who OPP
poses us.
If. unfortunately. this incredible pro-
pcsal be carried into effect and American
bayonets be arrayed against us in our
struggle for freedom and in aid of the Span
ish monarchy. we will fight on, sadly but
determined, and let history judge whether
the vanquished had not a purer ideal of
free institutions than the victors. In such
case we will be exterminated, but future
generations will again take up our flag and
our aspirations and Cuba viii yet be free.
Nor will We ever agree to truce until our
independence is established We will con-
tinue TO fight 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.
1.-The Cubans cannot be convinced that
the United States will ever try to force us
to remain under the Spanish flag, but L
have deemed it my duty to appeal to the
generosity, the sympathy and the patriot
ism OF the American people. TO the end that
they may understand the justice and firm
ness of our demand for complete independ-
ence TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA"
Speaking of Havana dispatch to the eff
feet that an invasion of the island of Porto
Rico was being planned by the Cuban resi-
dents of the United States, T. Estrada
Palma, of the Cuban Junto, said, to-day:
1.-THE Cubans would neither invade Porto
Rico nor incite insurrection there. 1t
would not accord with their policy. If how
ever, an insurrection broke out, the insurg-
ents would have the sympathy and all pos
sible cooperation of the Cunans. The fight
would be against common enemy. The
Junto has not been advised that a revou-
ton is imminent. No preparations are being
made here for any invasion of the island"
Gen. jose Lacret Morlot. who, it was said.
would have command of the expedition. has
been in New York for two weeks on a Sc
cret mission. He may remain several weeks
longer.