The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-07
DECLARATION
FROM RUBENS
concluded from Page IL

"The Cubans are already fully in
formed OF this entente between the
Spanish and American governments,
veiled as it Is by every semhlance of
an open rupture and / speak with
full authority in saying that the Gu
bahs in the field can be relied upon to
resist all overturcs for peace unaccom-
panied by complete indcpe ndenCe. The
Cubans will not trust the United States
first to obtain possession and then
grant Cuban independence. The very
fact that recognition is expressly with
held now, implies the possibility that
it may be permanently withheld.
I'm fact we more that half know
what to eXpect in the event of the
United States becoming master Of the
situation. plehisCitc would follow;
the people would he permitted to
choose between allegiance to spain
under the forns of autonomy, or inde-
pendence and annexation to the Uni
ted States: and the presence and
pressure Of federal force would de-
termine the election in favor of an
ncXatiOn. The Cuhans are resolved to
make no such farcical apparent choice
for themselves. They will make only
an absolute free choice and that choice
has been. is ard will be one thing
orly-ahsolute Independence. They
VIII not have the United States step
in at the eleventh hour of the most
heroic and self-sacrilicinE struggle
against tyranny recorded in all history
and reap all the fruits of it, saddling
us among other things with the fiuaT-
cial cost of it's unwelcome interven-
tiun.
But should the United States recOg-
nize our independence and then inter-
Vene it would be most welcome to
the Cubans and the expense would
gladly be betrayed from the treasury
of the republic There is a view of
tins matter which it behoOves the Uni
ted States to weigh carefully. Should
this country forcibly intervene with
out recognizing any government in
Cuba, ii would be responsible to all
natiOns Of the earth for every injury to
their subjects or their property dur
ing the whole period Of the occupation,
whereas, should the republic of Cuba
he recognized as the lawful sovereign
ty in the island, upon it would de-
vClve all responsibility.
NO FAITH IN ELECTIONS.
1T may be said that the United
States would be too high minded 10
influence the result of the plebiscite OF
which l have spoken, as the sequence
of occupation without recognition. But
has not the United States corrupt cleo
tinns in it's own borders? Could It
guarantee an absolutely fair and un-
biased election in Cuba? Shall it set
up for the Cuban people standard Of
purity at the ballot box which its own
more enlightened citizens have not
been able to entertain?
THE mistake of the United States
is in treating the Cubans as children,
instead of men fighting for liberty and
prepared to keep up the conflict to the
dCatn against whOmsoeVer opposes
Their one object. We should infinitely
prefer hands off than that the United
States should intervene without recog-
milton of Cuban independence. There
are 4C,OC0 Cuban guerillas 70 oppose
suck intervention. But, Of course, we
hope for better things. We expect,
even that congress will upset this clev-
er scheme of Spain and our executive
and declare first, our independence and
then intervention to secure it,
MAY HAVE BEEN MISQUOTED.
Washington, April 6.-When the dis
patch containing Mr.. Rubens' state
ment was shown to Tomas Estrada
Palma, the representative in the United
States of the Cuban republic, who ar
rived in Washington this morning, Mr..
Palma turned the dispatch, after perus-
ing it attentively, over to Senior Con
! salo de Quesada. who read it carefully
! and slowly. Minister Palma said: Il
| cannot say anything about this dis
| patch until l communicate with Mr..
| Ruhens."
| Mr.. Quesada at o'clock went to the
! telegraph office and sent an inquiry to
( Mr. Ruhens. Messrs. Palma and Ques-
! ad think Rubens must have been mis-
! uL Otcd,
Mr.. Palma did not hesitate to reiter-
! ate. with great emphasis, his recent
| declaration that intervention for the
! purI Cse Cf establishing autonomy in
! the island would not be accepted, and
that Cuba would become Independent