The record-union., 1898-04-30
SPANISH IN CUBA,
Text of the Proclamation Issued h,
the Autonomist Government.

| HAVANA, April -(COrrespondenca
of Associated Press 1.-The following is
the full text of the proclamation issued
to-day by the Autonomous Colonial
| Government Of Cuba:
Presidency of the Court of Secre-
taries of the island of Cuba to the in
habitants of Cuba: The Colonial Gov
eminent, the real Representatives. of the
people of Cuba. is threatened with O.
most unjust and capricious attack bv
| the United States, an attack which.
notwithstanding its veil of hypocrisy.
threatens to restrict our liberty and
Well-being. 1t forces us to submit TO
| the world most solemn protest
against this Ubiquitous offense.
we rely on your patriotism and
self-denial, on your courage and en-
thusiasm,, to assert our common ma
tionaity and rights in defending the
homes and future of our children.
You will instantly answer to the ur-
gent call to arms which, in the name Of
this nation, has been sent to US by the
authorities of the island Never at any
time of the history of the world has
such contempt been shown for interna-
tional law and justice; never has such
an attempt been made as this under
taking by the United States to ruin
the island of Cuba, occupied by Spain
four centuries ago, when that republic
did not exist, save in the imagination
of the colonizers of our race The ISL
and belongs to the Spanish nation by
sacred and indisputable title. claims
that the ambition and pride of a covet-
Gus and hostile people vainly wish to
ignore.
For the greater part of that North
American territory was discovered and
explored by our fathers, and that ex-
plot is for their eternal memory. The
mighty Mississippi covers the remains
of fernando de Soto, a former Gov
ernOr and Captain-General of this ISL
and. None of the alleged pretexts JUS
| titles the proposed violation of this ISL
and. Nor do the pretexts themselves
exist in the hearts and minds of edu-
Gated people. 1t is not true that the
people of Cuba have taken up arms
and that all are in combat against the
sovereignty Of the mother country.
This statement is scornfully denied 1t
is not true that Spain has refused to
satisfy the just aspiration of the Gu
bans because we are satisfied with the
constitutional basis of autonomy.
eminent explicitly states that no re-
form which will make the laws perfect
will be refused to further the perfec-
ton of the new Constitution, so long
as they do not conflict with the author
lied privileges. 1t is not true that our
people suffer under the oppression of
foreign officers. We are governed with
out arbitrary measures and have no
To ind wit
who for many years have represented
in the opposition our ideals and have
maintained with steadfastness and
perseverance our aspiration to political
liberty and popular government.
AS a last statement it is not true
that peace is impossible unless the
United States intervenes. but what is
true-and this we declare and pro-
claim-the world knowing that none
can honestly affirm to the contrary-is
that peace would already have been a
fact if the United States. either direct
ly or indirectly, had not encouraged the
war, particularly at time when the
quick-tempered people of this unfor-
tunate country were about to reach an
understanding and become reconciled
in the embrace of the immortal nation
of which we are sons.
Inhabitants of this island of Cuba,
during these solemn moments. when
we were about to take part in the first
Colonial Parliament, the United States
voluntarily seeks to arbitrate your des-
TIMES and delay the resolutions of your
representatives with a view to imped-
ing and craftily annulling them The
integrity of Spain and the autonomy of
Cuba are threatened. In their ambi-
ton the Americans will wish to possess
themselves of this island, and it may
be dominated by a strange race OPP
posed in temperament, tradition, lam
guage and customs to ours. The elm
ination Of the latter would silently but
fatally be continued by those who wish
to gain through 'enslavement and alb
sorption.
THE duty of all is to repel such an
outrage and such an odious scheme
With unanimity and decision. let us
follow in the imperishable steps and
actions of the heroic defenders of this
Capital, who, over a century ago con-
tended with the invading hosts under
the English Lord Albemarle. As Span
iards we owe this duty to our blood
and our history. AS inhabitants of
Cuba we owe it to her
Let us forget our personal griev-
ances and discord before the grand and
sublime object that we should direct
our wills and wishes. The object is
worthy Of our sacrifices. Let our souls
rise to the nights of our trials and our
thoughts and actions to the holiness Of
our patriotic duties. Long live Spaini
Long live the King, Don Alfonso XIII,
Long live the Queen Regent
JOSE MARIA GALVEZ,
ANTONIO GOWN.
"RAFAEL MONTORO,
FRANCIS ZAYAS.
EDUARDO DALZE.
"I,AUREANO RODRIGUEZ.
Havana, April 81 1898"