The record-union., 1898-03-18
Cubans Firmly Determined 10 Garry
Out Their Programme.
viii Hot Accept Autonomy Or Even Discuss
the Subject.
Proclamation Issued to the People
of the United States by Tomas
Estrada Palma, President of the
Cuban Junta at New YoFk.

NEW YORK. March 1.-THE follow
ing proclamation TO the people OF the
United States was issued by Tomas
Estrada Palma at the office OF the Gu
ban Junta tonight:
ITO the American People: The fre-
Quency with which there has lately ap-
peared in the public press suggestions
made by malicious or misinformed IN
dividuals that Cuba would accept or
could be forced to accept autonomy, or
anything short of independence, has
impelled us to make dehnlte anu
final statement on this subject.
From the first our motto has been
independence or Death We are now
more firmly than ever determined TO
carry out our programme. AS we VIII
not accept, we will not even discuss the
propositions of autonomy. After three
years of the most sanguinary and un-
civilized warfare of modern times, car
ried on by Spain we are stronger than
ever. 1t is for US to say what VIII
satisfy us, not for others. Our ideas
and our national honor we can conhde
to the keeping of ourselves alone.
Il cannot think that the American
people have forgotten the principle LAID
down in their own Declaration of In
dependence. nor can believe that any
true American can be found who would
advise us to forsake the idea OF re-
publican form of government for the
monarchical even in its most liberal
form.
There is no way to compel the Gu
bans to accept autonomy, except by
force of arms. We have fought three
years, not against Spain alone, but
against the whole world. Not helping
hand was extended to US; no coun-
try gave us equal rights with
Spain The right to arm our people
by purchasing weapons in this country
and transporting them to Cuba is ad-
mitted. but although engaged in lawful
traffic we had to run the blockade to
get from these shores, and again run
the gantlet in Cuba
'Our ships and cargoes were seized,
subjected to delay, but invariably re-
stored by the slow and costly process
of the law Nevertheless, we never
faltered We always appreciated the
fact that the sympathy of the Admin
istration was with us.
Spain has proven impotent to COM
pei us by force to accept autonomy.
She now desires the aid of the United
States to compel us to accept. l cam
not believe that the American people
would ever lend itself to the most
treacherous and blood stained mon
archy of history for such a purpose.
Should such prove to be the case, how
ever. l declare in the name of the Gu
ban people in arms. that force alone
can compel our submission. We, who
have seen hundreds of thousands of
our race and families exterminated by
slow starvation by a cowardly decree
of the most inhuman commander of
sanguinary Spain, will fight against
anything but independence, no matter
who opposes us.
But if. unfortunately, this incredi-
BILE proposal be carried into effect, and
American bayonets arrayed against us
in our struggle for freedom and in aid
of the Spanish monarchy. we viii fight
on, sadly but determined, and let his
tory judge whether the yanquished had
not a purer idea of free institutions
than the victors. In such case we will
be exterminated. but future generations
will again take up our flag and aspira-
tions, and =" uba will yet be free. Nor
will we eve agree to a truce until our
independence is established. We will
continue to fight, as did the Americans
under Jackson at the battle of New
Orleans. even after the treaty of peace
is signed. if it should be necessary.
THE Cubans cannot be convinced
that the United States will ever try
to force US to remain under the Span
ish flag. but I have deemed it my duty
to appeal to the generosity, the sym
pafhv and the DatrjotiSro of fhe Amer
lean people, TO the end that they may
understand the justice and firmness
of our demand for complete independ-
ence.
TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA