The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-08-04
FREE CUBAN PRISONERS
Many of Them Are in Spanish
Penal Colonies.
A MOST LAUOIBLE PLAN
Strong Pressure Being Brought to Bear
to Have the Exchange Effected.
Moderate Demands of the
United States.

New York. Aug. 3.-The World this
morning prints the following: President
Mckinley will soon b. asked to include
among the provisions upon which
peace will be established with Spain
the freeing of all Cubans imprisoned by
that country for ~offenses which may be
classed as political. In all the Spanish
penal colonies-Ceuta and the like
there are about 500 Cubans who have
been captured during the past three
years. The offenses OF these prisoners
and the punishment melted out to them
is altogether out of keeping with their
crimes. The effort VIII be made II
have the matter brought to the atten-
ton of the president. Friends of T.
Estrada Palma are now at work In the
capital with this purpose in view. and
they will soon be in communication
with the officials.
rs it not just and fair that this
should be done?" said President Palma
of the junta. Thousands OF prisoners
have been taken by the American army
n they are not to be kept, but are to
be sent back to Spain. This is mag
unanimous on the part Of America, but
would ii not be a good thing to make
this a vehicle for the liberation of the
Cubans who have been imprisoned
since the war began?
Il think this would be a most laud-
able plan and I DO not think it will be
necessary to do much urging. I think
1t will commend itself to any thinking
man that the Cubans who are in pris-
on for the very thing for which The
Americans have gone to war should be
free, now that Spain has been defeated
and that there is so good a chance to
exchange them for some of the thou
sands of Spaniards who have been cap
tured during the war.
This brings me to a consideration IF
the terms imposed upon Spain by the
United States. / feel they are most
moderate. and. In my opinion, this gov
has raised itself to the high
est altitude in demanding so little. 1t
virtually asks from Spain as follows:
Civ us Cuban for the Cubans; give US
Porto Rico for ourselves, and the Phil
ippines to make any use of that may
hereafter be determined
And. when o come TO look at 1T,
what dc these demands really mean?
1t simply says: Give us what we al
ready have. because we have won II
from you I do not know of any other
nation which would have been so gen.
erous or that would not have taken
everything il could. The Cubans never
kept any prisoners or war. When any
Of the enemy were captured they were
treated as kindly as possible and Were
sent back to the Spanish ranks IL they
wanted to go. We have never had any
whom we could exchange for our own
comrades who were in prison"
YOU have read OF the cruelty attri'
buted to the Cubans that wantonly be
headed many OF the Spanish prisoners
recently taken. What is your opinion
of these stories?"
II do not believe there is a word 81
truth in them. No Cuban would be 81
low as to maltreat a captured foe
much less behead him. Mind you, thi'
is only my opinion. ] have had no al
vice on that score from the seat Q
war. but I am willing to stake my repu
tatlon that no Cuban soldier ever de
meaned himself by taking such an al
vantage of a man who was unable Il
defend himself. That would not b
warfare, IL would be murder.
Recurring to the liberation OF Gu
ban political prisoners, | will at one
begin the agitation to have them ex
changed for some of the prisoners cap
tured by the Americans"