The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-09-15
CUBANS TO ASSEMBLE.
To Establish the New Cuban Repub-
lic-An Address Issued.

41c-An Address Issued.
Santiago de Cuba, Sept. 15.-The
council of the so-called provisional gov
eminent of the republic of Cuba, rep
resented by Senior Bartolomeo AGasso,
president, Cisnero Capote, vice presi-
dent and Senior Fonte, Senior Aleman
and Senior Moreno de La Tore, secre-
taries, met at Santa Cruz on September
l, and formulated a manifesto to the
cuban people, with an order to the mill
1tary commanders of the Cuban army,
both of which have been promulgated.
The manifesto, which is an elaborate
document, touches on the history of the
movement for Cuban independence,
and the principles upon which the Gu
pan people have fought for their lber-
". 1t proceeds, in part, as follows:
The peace preliminaries have been
signed, and the government of the Unit
ed states has imposed upon Spain an
oDugat1On to renOunce all her rights of
sovereignty 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
revolution has been obtained, that is,
the destruction of Spanish domination,
the work of this council is not yet at an
for which we have fought has not yet
been constituted. Now that hOStili-
ties have ceased and Spain has re-
nOunced her sovereignty, it is the duty
people the feelings and purposes of the
men who made the revolution.
I'VE always felt confident that
through our own perseverance we would
in the long run, destroy Spanish dOmi-
nation; but we must acknowledge that
an indefinite prOlOngatiOn of the Strug-
gle would have annihilated the little
that was left of our wealth and pOpu-
lation. The entrance upon the field of
a powerful and decisive factor, upon
which we have always relied and to-
n1-f1e5 7TaI, oil
have always turned, has put an end to
the horrors of war, to the benefit of all
concerned.
This prompt solution we must &C
knowledge we could never have OBJ
tanned. 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 ignored US through selfshnesS;
others ignorant of our real condition,
calling US obstinate and ungovernable.
This was our situation when the
people of the United States, their gov
eminent and congress came to our res
cue and took upon their shoulders the
task of delivering us at once from an
IN bearable yoke, as our sufferings could
not be endured or permitted longer.
They have accomplished their program
brilliantly. What is more, they have
liberated, in one way or another, from
the rule of Spain all peoples oppressed
by her. The liberation is definite and
irrevocab1e. Spain has been expelled
from TINS hemisphere
1--WE are grateful. In nations as we'll
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. It is, |
therefore, the duty of this council to |
explain to the people of Cuba what, in !
its opinion, are our duties towards the |
United States and toward ourselves |
and what are the rules that ought to di- |
rect our conduct.
when, after long struggle. the |
United States congress recognized the |
right of the people of Cuba to be free |
and Independent. and ordered the Span |
ish forces to withdraw from the island, !
no Cuban government was recognized, |
but the one we had constituted. though |
not recognized, was not opposed and |
has not been opposed. No steps have |
been taken to dislOdge it from the place |
where it exercised its functions. nor |
has it been considered an illegitimate J
authority which events have dissolved !
or destroyed for the good of the people |
of Cuba.
cit could not be otherwise. The |
United States could not interfere in our
struggle for the sake of what our enc |
mics might consider political faction. !
The American government could inter- |
Vene for the benefit of the whole peO- /
pie of Cuba, q part of whom. being IN
der Spanish rule, was not free to ex-
press a purpose or a 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 a government that /
would shape the destiny of the island.
sfThe people of the United States have
all along appreciated the fact that the
majority of the people of Cuba is in
agreement with our principles, for the
motto of the United States government
has been-absolute independence for
Cuba Under these conditions. the
Americans could not take a hostile at
titude toward US or consider our au-
thority iIlegitimate and harmful to the
welfare of the Cuban people.
''These considerations have convinced
Us that we should not dissolve and that
the powers we have received from an
assembly elected by the people under
arms should not vanish. On the con-
trary, we feel that we should remain
as a nucleus and guide for those who |
have helped us in our cause.
1--WE have therefore. decided to call
together another assembly, which will |
determine our future course"
In conclusion the manifesto gives a
number of reasons why the proposed
assembly should be convened and some
government or another chosen, mot
With the character of a government as
yet but as an official representation of
hose Cubans who fought against Spain
md those who. in the cities under
spain's control and in foreign countries
nave helped and supported them"