Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1898-03-24
'PALNA'S STATEMENT
The Head Of the Cuban Junta Issues
g a Proclamation to Americans.
WANT LIBERTY OR DIFFERENTIATION.
The Insurgents VIII Not Accept Proposals
for Autonomy and Appeal to American
Patriotism to support Them In
Their Demand for Independence

New YORK, March 1S-The follow.
Ing proclamation to the people Of the
United States was issued by +. Estrada
Palma at the office of the Cuban junta
last night:
TO the American People:
The frequency with which there has lately
appeared in the public press suggestions made
by malicious or misinformed individuals that
Cuba would accept or could be forced to accept
autonomy, or anything short Of independence
has impelled us to make 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 programme. As we will not ac-
Cept we will not even discuss, the proposals Of
autonomy After three years Of the most SAN
culinary and uncivilized warfare Of modern
times, carried on by Spain, we are stronger
than ever 1t Ia for us TO say what will satisfy
us. not for Others Our ideals and our national
honor we can contde to the keeping Of our
selves alone
cannot think that the American people
have forgotten the principle laid down In their
own declaration Of independence, nor con be-
lieve that any true American Can be found who
would advlse US to forsake the ideal OF repub-
liCan government for the monarchcal even In
Its most liberal form There is no why TO COM
pei 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 I'D
mitted, but although engaged In lawful traiic
we had to run the blockade to get from those
shores and again run the gauntlet In Cuba
Spain has proven impotent to compel us by
force to accept autonomy. She now desires
the did OF the United States to compel US TO &C.
cept cannot believe that the American peo-
pie would ever lend themselves to the most
treacher0us and bloodstained monarchy Of his
tory for such u 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
exterminated by slow starvation by cowardly
decree Of the most inhuman commander Of
ssnguinary SPAIN will fight against anything
but independence, no matter who opposes US
II, unfortunately, this incredible proposal be
carried into effect and American bayonets are
srrayed against us In our struggle for freedom
and In aid Of the Spanish monarchy, we will
fight on sadly but determined, and let history
Judge whether the vanquished had not purer
ideal Of free institutions than the viotors In
such case, we will be exterminated, but future
generations will again take up our flag and our
Inspirations and Cuba will yet be free. Nor
will we ever agree to o truce until our indie
pendence is established We will continue TO
fight as did the Americans under jackson OF
the battle Of New Orleans even after the
treaty Of peace Is signed, II II should DO nee.
essary
The Cubans cannot be convinced that the
United States will ever try to force us to re-
main under the Spanish flag, but have deemed
1t my duty to appeal to the generosity, the
sympathy and the patriotism OF the American
people to the end that they may understand tho
justice and ilrmness Of our demand for con-
pete independence
TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA