New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-04-30
THE AUTONOMISTS APPEAL.
PROCLAMATION BY THE COLONIAL GOV
EMINENT OF CUBA.
AMERICAN INTERVENTION DENOUNCED AS A
SCHEME OF CoSQUEsr-A CALI. ToR
SPANISH UNITY.

SPANISH UNITY.
Havana, April 22-The following IS the full
tcxt OF the proclamation issued to-day by the
Autonomous Colonial Government OF Cuba
Presidency OF the Court OF Secretaries OF tho
Island Of Cuba.
To the Inhabitants OF Cuba: The Colonial
Government, the real represent ative OF the peo-
pie OF Cuba is threatened with a most unjust
and capricous attack by the United States-an
attack which. notwithstanding its veil OF hypoc-
risy threatens TO restrict our liberty and we'll
being 1t forces us to submit to the world a
most solemn protest against this iniquitous Of
fence.
We rely on your patriotism and self-denal
on your courage and enthusiasm. to assert our
common nationality and rights In defending tho
homes and future OF our children. You will In
stantly answer to the urgent call TO arms which.
in the name OF this nation. has been sent TO us
by tho authorities OF the island Never at any
time Of the history Of the world has such con-
tempt been shown for International law and JUS
tice; never has such an attempt been made as
this undertaking by the United States 10 plum
der the island Of Cuba. occupied by Spain four
centuries ago when that Republic did not exist.
save in the imagination Of the colonizers of our
SPANISH DISCOVERIES.
The island belongs to the Spanish nation by
sacred and indsputable title. claims that the
ambition and pride OF covetous and hostile
people vany wish 10 ignore. for the greater
part Of that North American territory dis
|
exploit is for their eternal memory. The mighty
Mississippi covers the remains OF fernando de
Soto. former Governor and Captain General OF
this island. None OF the alleged pretexts justify
the proposed violation OF our security nor do
the pretexts themselves exist In the hearts and
minds OF educated people
1t is not true that the people OF Cuba have
taken up arms and that all are In combat
against the sovereignty OF the mother country.
This statement is scornfully denied. 1t is not
true that Spain has refused to satisfy the just
aspiration of the Cubans because we are salts
fled with the constitutional basis OF autonomy
In the preamble the supreme Government ex
pCity states that no reform which VIII make
the laws perfect will be refused to further the
perfection of the new Constitution, long as
they do not conflict with the authorized priv
eges. 1t Is not true that our people suffer under
the oppression OF foreign officers We are gov
erned without arbitrary measures. and have no
fault to find with men born among us who for
many years have represented in the opposition
our ideals and have maintained with steadfast-
ness ana perseverance our aspiration to political
| liberty and proper government.
NO NEED TO INTERVENE FOR PEACE.
AS last statement. It is not true that peace
Is impossible unless the United States inter-
veaes but what Is true-and this we declare
and proclaim before the world. knowing that
none can honestly affirm to the contrary--is that
peace would already have been fact IL the
United States. either directly Indirectly, had
not encouraged the war. particularly at a time
when the quick-tempered people OF this unfortu-
nate country were about To reach an under
standing and become reconcilcd in the embrace
of the immortal nation OF which we are sons.
Inhabitants of this island OF Cuba during
these solemn moments when we were about to
take part In the first Colonial Parliament. the
United States voluntarily seeks to arbitrate
your destinies and delay the resolutions of your
representatives with view OF impeding and
craftly annulling them. The integrity OF Spain
and the autonomy OF Cuba are threatened. In
their ambition the Americans wish to possess
themselves of this island that II may be domi-
mated By strange race opposed In tempera-