The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-03-18
\ CUBAN PROCLAMATION
ADDRESSED TO AMERICAN PEOPLE
 BY NEW FORK JUNTA.

From the First the Motto Has Been " In-
 dependence or Death," and Cubans Are
 Now More Firmly Determined Than
 Ever to Carry Out Their Program-Can-
 not be Forced to Accept Autonomy.
 New York, March 1.-The following proclamation was issued by the presi- dent Estrada Palma, at the office of the Cuban junta here tonight: ITO the American People-The frequency with which there has lately appeared in the public press suggestions made by malicious or misinformed individu- als that Cuba would accept, or could be forced to accept, autonomy or any, thing short of independence, has inn pelled me to make u 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 our pro- gramme. As we will not accept we will not even discuss the possibilities
 
 most sanguinary, barbarous and unciv- ilized warfare of modern times, carried on by Spain, we are stronger than ever. It is for us to say what will satisfy us, not for others. Our ideas and our na- tional honor we can confide to the keeping of ourselves alone. I cannot think that American people have for gotten 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 ideal of republican govern ment for the monarchial even in it's most liberal form.
 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 purchase of weap- ons in this country and transporting them to Cuba is admitted, but though engaged in lawful traffic, we had to run the blockade to get from these shores and again run the gauntlet in Cuba. Our ships and cargoes were seized, subjected to delay, but invariably re- stored by the slow and costly process of the law. Nevertheless, we never fal- tered. We always appreciated the fact that the sympathy of the American people was with us. Spain has proven impotent to compel us by force to &C., cept autonomy. She now desires the aid of the United States to compel us to accept.
 ,Nf ho1i 1,of hn 1nrio o11 n people would ever lend itself to the most treacherous and bloodstained monarchy of history for such pur- pose. Should such prove to be the case, however. I 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 a cowardly decree of the last inhuman commander of san guinary Spain will fight against any, thing but independence, no matter who opposes us.
 If unfortunately, this incredible pro- posal is to be carried into effect and American bayonets are arrayed against us in our struggle for freedom and in
 
 | fight on sadly but determined, and let history judge whether the vanquished | had not purer ideal of free institu- | tions than the victors. In such cases we will be exterminated, but future generations will again take up our n- spirations and Cuba will yet be free. l Nor will we ever agree to truce until our independence is established We will continue to fight as did the Amer | jeans under Jackson at the battle of | New Orleans, even after the treaty of peace is signed, if it should be neces- sary The Cubans cannot be convinc- i ed that the United States will ever try | to force us to remain under the Span- ish flag, but I have deemed it my duty to appeal to the generosity, the sympa- thy and the patriotism of the Ameri- | can people, to the end that they may understand the justice and firmness of our demand for complete independence. (SigQed)
 "Thomas Estrada Palma" |