The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1898-03-25
TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA.
The President OF the Cuban Jun.a Issues
Proclamation and Appeals to the
American People.

The President OF the Cuban Jun.a Issues
Proclamation and Appeals to the
American People.
New YORK, March ls.-The following
proclamation to the people of the United
States was issued by L. 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 misinformsi individuals that
Cuba would accept. or could be forced 70 accept,
autnomy, or anything short OF independence.
has impelled us To make q definite and final
statement on this subject
From the first our motto has been "Inde-
pendence 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 dis
cuss the proposals OF autonomy After three
years OF the most sangunary. barbarous and
uncsvizet warfare OF modern times. carried on
ov Spain, we are stronger thaa ever. IL L. for
TO say what will satisfy Us. not for others.
Our ideals anG our national honor we can con-
fdc to ourselves alone.
1 cannot think that the American people
have forgotten the principle laid down ia their
declaration Of independence. nor can | believe
that any true American can be found who
would advise as TO forsake the ideal OF repub-
lcan government for the monarchcal even in
its most lbersl form.
There Is no way to compel the Cibans TO ac-
ccpt autonomy, except by force OF arms
We have fought three years. not against
SPAN alone. but against the wlolc world. Not
a helping hand was extend "a To US. no country
gave us equal rights with Spain. The right 10
arm our people by purchasing weapons in this
country ana transporting them 10 Cuba is adj
tai hui f
we hal to run the blockade u get from these
shores AMI again run the gauntlet in
Cuba Our ships and cargocs were seized. sub
Jected to d,luy but Invariably restored by tho
SLOW AID costly process, ~ the law. Neycrihe-
less we aevcr faierel. We always appreciated
the fact that the sympathy OF the American
people was with Vs.. spain has proved impo-
toat to compel Us by force 20 accept autonomy
She now desires the aid Of the United states to
compel Us 70 accept
cannot believe that the American people
would ever lend itself to tie most treIehsrDgs
ana ooodstainel monarchy of history for such
"a purpose. SHOULD such prove to be the ease.
however, declare, ia the name OF the Cuban
people In arms. that force alone can compel our
submission. We. w.,o have seen hundreds OF
thousands Of our race ana families cxterm-
nate! by slow starvation, by "A cowardly decree
OF the most inhuman commander Of sanguinary
Spain, will light against anything but ilie-
IT, unfortunately this incredible proposal DO
carried into effect. and American bayoncts are
arrayei against US In our s,ru. le for freedom
and in aid OF the Spanish morachy, we viii
fight on, sadly but determined. and let history
judge whether the vanqulshed had nots purcr
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 will yet be free. MOI
will we ever agree to truce until our inde-
pendencc Is established We will continue TO
fight as did the Americans under Jackson at
the battle OF New Orleans. even after treaty
OF peace is signed. II II should be necessary.
The Cubans can not be convinced that the
United States will ever try To force u, TO re-
main under the Spanish nag. 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 the
justice and rmness OF our demand for com
plete Independence
TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA.