The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-11-07
CUBA is NOW WAITING ON US.
PRESIDENT MAsO PLEADS FOR A
FEW YEARS OF FREEDOM.


3 That ny Temporary Self-GOvern-
naent the People Can Be Best Pre-
uared for Their Future LOt-NO
Large American Army of Occupa-
ton Is Needed. He Asserts-TeXt OF
a Letter TO President Mckinley.
In order that the real attitude of the
provisional government of Cuba might De
thoroughly understood upon the questions
OF annexation or independence, President
Bartolome Masso has entrusted to Mr.
George Reno. special envoy between the
government of Cuba and the government
at Washington, an address to the people
of America in which is clearly laid down
the views of himself and his cabinet upon
those topics which most vitality concern
the future of the island. 1t is the first
and only address Of Gen. Masso to the citt-
zens of the United States, and as SUCH
it is of great interest and importance. 1t
has not hitherto been published. President
Maso wrote it at the govern
ment headquarters in La Es-
peranza on Sept. &c. II was brought at
once to America by Mr. Reno. The fol-
lowing is a close translation of the orig
inal text made by Mr.. Reno himself.
standing in that unenviable position,
at the head of an unrecognzed republic,
1 find myself encompassed by grave diff
culties and burdened with responsibilities
which a feeling of solemn duty alone en-
ables me to support. I have the counsel
of brave, intelligent men, but we are all
in political darkness. We have hardly
dared to take a step, lest it conflict with
the plans of the great and generous ma
tion which has no unselfshly made our
freedom possible.
mot long before the signing of the pro-
focol Gen Emilio March, civil and mill
tary governor of Puerto Principe, sent
military commission to us, urging that per-
mission be given for his forces, number
ing 900 men, together with the troops of
Holguin, under Gen. Luque, to march
across the province to Camaguey to the
railroad station at Placetas, from which
point they were to take the railroad ana
Join Gen. Blanco in Havana. Permission
to move across our territory unmolested
by Cuban troops was asked, in considera-
ton of which the cities of Holguin and
Puerto Principe were to be evacuated and
turned over to u.s. the latter city to be
used at the seat of the provisional gov
eminent. owing TO our inability to COM
municate with the American forces or
TO ascertain from the Secretary of War in
Washington whether such action on our
part would be in harmony with the plans
of the war department., we were compelled
to refuse this permission, Notwithstanding
our desire to occupy the city Puerto Prin'
Cipe for government purposes. From the
moment that America took the first step
toward making the liberty of this island
possible we have done all in our power
TO restrain those elements which betrayed
a disposition to place obstacles in the way
ffavsx LAM lars of he
and to keep in harmony with the purpose
of her administration.
Need of Public Funds.
Problems social, political and econom-
ical press upon us from all sides. The
starving cry for food, the naked beg for
clothes the homeless look for shelter, the
sick and suffering plead for medicine and
for suecor; all look to us for counsel and
advice. Without funds we are at present
unable to relieve suffering, as all revenues
from customs and port duties are collect
ed and held by officials either of Spain
or the United States. OF the latter we
make no complaint, because we believe
that in the end a just account will be
rendered 10 us. In document issued by
the American authorities at Santiago il
Is stated that the revenues collected at
the different Cuban ports under the con-
troll of the United States will be used
for the maintenance of the army of oc-
cupation and for the payment of those
municipal officials who will hold office I'M
I'll the evacuation of the Spaniards.
U. $. Troops Not Needed.
1.-THE Spaniards. we are told are to go
by Dec. l, or soon after. Then is to come
an American "army of occupation some
saying that it is to be $4,000 strong. 1t is
but natural that we should ask Why is
this great army sent to Cuba? When the
Spaniards are gone, who Is 1t going to
fight? Surely not the Cubans. Such a
thought would be monstrous. You have
encouraged us you have freed us, you
have fed us. You will continue TO advise,
TO guide and protect us We need your
engineers, your miners and mechanics,
your school teachers, your settlers and
your capitalists. When the Spanish forces
evacuate Cuba there viii be no more use
for soldiers here than there will be in
the state of New York.
God knows, the United States troops
are welcomed Americans, armed or I'M
armed, are our friends and consequently
they are welcome to stay with us as
long as they choose. Our home Is theirs
But at present it is so demolished that it
is difficult for us to entertain our guests
as We would like. Our own troops are
more than anxious to disband and attend
TO long-neglected fields, The moment we
can give to each man a certificate of in
debtedness stating the amount due him
for his services in the cause of liberty,
every Cuban soldier on the island will
gladly exchange the rifle for a hoe and
go to work. 1t will require no argument
no persuasion. We have had quite enough
of war. We want now the wealth and
prosperity that come with peace 1t is
our desire to pay the Cuban army for its
services as soon as possible not because
liberty is not a sufficient reward but be-
cause the majority of our men will be
compelled to return to homes that have
10 hat 70
weeds. to families that are not only suf-
fering for want of food, but are abso-
lutely destitute of clothes with which tc
cover their nakedness. The discharged
soldier of Cuba has nothing with which
to start life but hope. To-day we car
give him nothing but thanks and a prom.
Use. 1t is our desire to give him at least
some seed and a few tools with which
TO till the ground.
The Standards. soldier or civilian. whc