The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1898-03-18
INDEPENDENCE OR DEATH.
President Palma of Cuba Junta Says In.
surgents Will Never Accept Autonomy.

to make 8 definite and final statement
on this subject.
"From the first our motto has been In
| dependence or DEATH.
ave are now more firmly than ever
determined to carry ous our programme.
| AS we will not accept, we will not even
discuss the proposals of autonomy. After
| three years of the most sanguinary, bar
hazardous and unoivilized warfare Of mod
ern times carried on by Spain we are
stronger than ever. 1t is for us to say
| what will satisfy u.s. not for others, Our
ideals and our national honor We can
cannot think that the American people
have forgotten the principal laid down
In their own declaration of independence
nor can / believe that any true American
can be found who would advise us to
forsake the ideal of republican govern
ment for the monarchial, even in it's most
liberal form. There is no way to compel
the Cubans to accept by force of arms.
We have fought three years, not against
Spain alone, but against the whole
world. Not helping hand was extend
ed to us, noscountry gave us equal rights
with Spain. The right to arm our pen-
pie by purchase of weapons in this coun.
| try and the transporting them to Cuba
is admitted, but although engaged in
| to get from these shores and again run
the gauntlet in Cuba. Our ships and
cargoes were seized, subjected to delay
but invariably restored by the slow
and costly process OF the law. Neverthe-
| less we have never faltered. We always
appreciated the fact that the sympathy
OF the American people was with us.
| by force to accept autonomy. She now
desires the aid of the United States to
compel us to accept.
| IT cannot believe that the American
people would ever lend themselves to the
most treaeherous and blood -stained
monarchy of history for such a purpose.
| Should such prove to be the case, how
ever, I declare, in the name of the Cuban
people in arms, tina: force alone can
compel our submission. We, who have
seen hundreds of thousands of our race
and families exteI minated by slow star
walton, by cowardly decree of the most
inhuman commander of - snnguinary
Spain, will fight against anything but
| independence. mo matter, who opposes US.
4 "If, unfortunately, this incredible pro.
posal is to be carried into effect, and
| American bayonets are arrayed 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
|
the victors. In suoh case we will be
exterminated, but future generations
| will again take up our flag and our
aspirations and Cuba will yet be free.
Nor will we ever agree TO truce until
our independence is established. We will
continue to fight as did the Americans
under Jackson at the battle Of New Or
leans, even after the treaty Of peace is
signed, II it should be necessary. The
| Cubans cannot be convinced that the
| United States will ever try to force us to
remain under the Spanish flag. but 1
have deemed 1t my duty to appeal to the
generosity, the sympathy and the patri-
otism of the American people to the end
that they may understand the justice
and firmness of our demand for COM
plete independence.
THOMAS ESTRADA PALMA.
TORPEDO BOAT BOUGHT.
New York, March l7.-The navy de-
partment will in few days be in posses
sion of torpedo boat of the latest and
most formidable construction, which is
nearly completed. The boat is the
property of Charles R. Flint of this city.
Negotiations have practically been COM
pleted for it's transfer to the government
A few months ago MIR. Flint placed an
order with Charles D. Mosher for steam
yacht much larger than most private
boats and 10 possess unusual speed. Sub
sequently Mr.. Flint barRa1ned with the
Argentine Republic to let that govern
ment have the craft for q torpedo boat
| The plans were altered to suit her mission
and work was continued. Argentine de-
cided later that it did not want the boat,
and Mr.. Flint again became its owner.
| He went to Washington and offered the
| boat to Secretary Long who took the
/ i al 1~o Tow nh od ha
| boat inspected. Last Saturday Mr.. Flint's
offer was accepted. The boat is to be q
| twin screw with two engines of 1900 horse
mower each. She will be 100 feet long and
| i've feet draught and capable of spsed
of 81 knots. Her coal capacity will be
sufficient to allow her to cross the ATTAIN
tic. She will have accommodations for
| twenty three men.
SPAIN BUYS A SHIP.
| London, March IA special dispatch
from Rome today says the italian govern
ment has sold the armored cruiser
Varose to Spain.
The Varose Is of steel, 6S40 tons dis
placement, 1928 feet long and has SO feet 8
inches beam. Her maximum drs1t Is "a
| feet, she is driven by two propellers, has
| 10, 600 indicated horse power and Is esti :
mated to steam 20 knots an hour. The
cruiser, has an armored belt OF inches
of Harveyized steel and she has six inches
of Harveyized steel over her gun posit-
| IONS with deck plating p inches thick.
Her armamsnt consists of two 10-ipoh
guns, ten 6-inch quick firing guns, six
~ inch guns, ten go inch guns and two
Maxim rapid fire guns. Her normal coal
supply is 900 tons and she carries COM
plement of 40 men.
PRINCE ALBERT VISITS NAVY
| YARD.
| New York, March IA tour of in
speotion of the navy yard was made today
by Prince Albert, heir presumptive to the
throne of Belgium. The royal visitor was
received by Rear Admiral Bunce, who
pI esented him TO the assembled officers.
| After visit to the war vessels undergo
ing repairs and the various departments
aud shops, Prince Albert returned to this
city in the Undine.
| TO CURE A COLD IN ONE DAY