Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-18
THE CUBAN JUNTA
Issues Proclamation to People
Of the United States.
Motto Has Always Been and Is ''Inde-
pendence or Death.
Eeseechcs America Not TO join In EMermina.
ton oil Cuhans.

New York. March 1.-THE following
proclamation was issued by Thomas
Estrada Palma at the office of the
Cuban Junta here, tonight:
TO the American people: The FIRE.
quency with which there has lately ap-
peared in the public press suggestions
made by malicious or misinformed in
dlNlduals. that Cuba would accept or
could be forced to accept autonomy, or
anything short of independence, has
impelied me to make a definite and
mai statement on this subject From
the first our motto has been 1ndepend-
ence or Death We are now more
firmly than ever determined to carry
out our programme. AS we will not ac-
cept. we Will not even discuss the pro-
posals Of autonomy. After three years
of the most sanguinary, barbarous and
unciVilized warfare of modern times,
carried on by Spain, we are stronger
than ever 1t is for US to say what will
satisfy US. not for others. Our ideals
and our national honor we cannot con-
fde to the keeping Of ourselves alone.
4 cannot think that the American
people have forgotten the principle laid
down in their own declaration of indie
I''44AANii'' Iiti an / btlItNt lIldl any
true American can be found. who
would advise Us to forsake the Ideal of
republican government for the monar-
chial. even in its 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 a helping hand was extended to
us; no country gave us equal rights
With Spain"
The right to arm our people by pur-
chase of weapons i'm this country ana the
Transporting them to Cuba is admitted
nut although engaged in lawful traffic.
we had to run the blockade TO get from
these shores and again run the gauntlet
IN tuna. our ships ana cargoeS were
seized, subjected to delay. but invariably
restored ny the slow ana costly process
Of the law.
Nevertheless we never faltered. We al
ways appreciated the fact that the sym
pathN oli the American people was with
rcl ~ ~ force To accept autonomy She
now desires the aid of the United States
to compel us to accept.
! cannot believe that the American peo-
rlc would ever lend itself to the most
treachcrous ami hloodstraned monarchy
of history Tor such n purpose. Should
SUCH prove to be the case. however | de-
clare in the name of the Cuban people in
arms. that force alone can compel our
submission. We, who have seen hundreds
of thousands of our race and families ex-
terminated hy slow starvation. by
cowardly decree of the most inhuman
commander Of sangunary SPAIN will fight
against anything but independence, no
matter who opposes MS.
IF, unfortunately. this incredible pro-
posal to he carried into effect, and Ameri-
can baNoncts 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 "a
purer ideal of free institutions than the
VictorS. In such case we will be extermi-
mated, but future generations will again
take up our flag and our aspirations and
cuba Will yet be free. Nor will we ever
agree to Il 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 Cuhans cannot be convinced that
the United States will ever try to force
us to remain under the Spanish flag. hut
| have deemed it my duty to appeal to
the generosity, the sympathy and the
patriotism of the American people, to the
end that they may understand the justice
and firmneSS of our demand for complete
CSsned) THOMAS ESTRADA PALMA.