The San Francisco call., 1898-03-18
AUTONOMY IS ONLY 4 SHADOW The Cubans Will Accept From Spain Nothing
 but Freedom. If America Joins Their Foes They Will Still
 Fight On. Tomas Estrada Palma Appeals to the World -Or Justice to the
 People.
Special Dispatch to The Call.

NEW YORK, March 17.-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:
 To tho s r1,er-fcan People: The frequency with which there has lately appeared in the public press suggestions made by malicious or misinformed individuals that Cuba would accept or could be forced to accept autonomy or anything short of in- dependence, has impelled us to make a definite and final statement on this sub lect
 dependence or Death We are now more Gfaly than ever determined to carry out oT programme. As we will not accept, We will not even discuss the proposals of autonomy. After three years of the most sanguinary and unciViliZed warfare of modern times, carried on by Spain, we are stronger than eVer- It is for us to say what will satisfy us, not for others. Our Ideas and our national honor we can con- fide to the keeping of ourselves alone.
 cannot think that the American people have forgotten the principle laid down in their own declaration of independence, nor can l believe any true American can be found who would advise us to forsake the idea of republican government for the mOnarchical even in it's most liberal form.
 mere IS no way to compel the Cubans to accept autonomy except by force of arms. We have fought tor three years, not against Spain alone, but against the whole world Not helping hand was extended to us, no country gave ITS equal rights with Spain. The right to arm our people by purchasing weapons in this country and transporting them to Cuba IS admitted, but although engaged In law ful traffic, we had to run the blockade to get from these shores, and again run the gauntlet in Cuba
 2ected to delay, but invariably restored by the slow and costly process of the law Nevertheless we never faltered. We al ways appreciated the fact that the sym pathy Of the administration was with us. Spain has proved impotent to compel us by force to accept autonomy. She now compel us to accept.
 I cannot believe that the American peo- pie would ever lend itself to the most treacherous and blood-Stained monarchy of history for such a purpose. Should such prove to be the case, however, declare, in the name of the Cuban peo- pie in arms, that force alone can compel our submission. We, who have seen hun dreds of thousands of our race and fam flies exterminated by slow starvation by a coWardly decree of the most inhuman commander of sanguinary Spain, will shght against anything but independence, no matter who opposes us.
 But if unfortunately, this incredible proposal be carried into effect and Ameri- can bayonets arrayed against us in ouf 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 a purer idea of free institutions than the victors. In Such cases we VIII De e&lerunlHdIed, but future generations will again take up out flag and our aspirations and Cuba will yet be free. Nor will we ever agree to truce until our independence is es- tablished. 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 1t 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 I have deemed 1t my duty to appeal to patriotism of the American people to the end that they may understand the jus tice and firmness of our demand for com plete independence.
 TOMAS ESTRADA PALMA.