Evening star., 1898-04-01
APPEAL OF AUToxoMIsTs.
They Protest Against PrOclaiming
the Independence Of Cuba.

They Protest Against Proclaiming
the Independence Of Cuba.
The Cuban government (meaning there
by the present home-rule al thorities in
Cuba and not the insurgents) has appealed
to the President of the United States to
respect the will OF the majority of the peo-
PIE of Cuba. The appeal declares that the
majority represents those in favor of home
rule under Spanish sovereignty; that the
insurgents are III the minority; that the
majority has right 10 rule its own des-
tinies; that it would be an injustice for
foreign will, meaning the United States,
to impose upon this majority a political
regime contrary to it's WILL and that it
would be great wickedness to dispose of
it's lot without i,s own consent.
The appeal to the President does not in
terms protest against the United States
securing the independence of Cuba, but it's
tenor is to protest against any form Of
Cuban government other than that now
being carried on by the Cuban authorities.
The appeal is signed as follows: Jose
Maria Galvez. president of the Honorable
Government of Cuba.
The appeal was placed in the hands of
the President this morning. and the state
ment was made that it was the direct ex-
without the inspiration or knowledge of
the Spanish government either at Madrid,
Havana or elsewhere.
The appeal to the President is as follows:
1.-THE colonial government of Cuba desires
to make known to the President of the
United States that, although there are some
Cubans in arms, yet there are an immense
number who accept home rule and are re-
solved to work Zealously under this form
Of government in order to re-establish
peace and prosperity to the land. The in
surgents form a minority. while the auton-
omists represent the majority of the inter-
ests of civilization by means Of justice and
liberty. The Cuban people is an American
people, and has in consequence a perfect
right to govern itself according to its own
wishes and aspirations, and in no way
would it be just for foreign will tc i'm
pose upon 1t political regime which it
esteems contrary to it's happiness and con-
science. This would be to substitute op-
preston instead Of liberty. The Cuban
people is now a free people; 1t wishes to
rule its own destinies. and 1t would be
great wickedness to dispose Of its lot with
out its consent. The history and the feel
ings Of the United States do not, permit an
American people to be sacrificed and forced
to form government which the same peo-
pie consider pernicious to It's permanent
interests and to the cause Of peace and or
der in a country Of different races, Of small
population, and whose political education
is yet incomplete. -,
The honorable government ,pf Cuba
hopes that the President of the United
States. faithful to the noblef: transitions OF
the great North American republic, will
consider and respect the rights OF the
Cuban people, not permitting violence to
prevail. 1t also hopes that he will contrib
ute by powerful action to the re-establish-
meht Of peace III Cuba under the sover-
eighty of the mother country and with a
home rule government equal for all, and
which might BE still Improved, so as to liz
spire the confidence of every one. The
home rule government of this island, which
is Cuban government. protests eperget- 4
ically against the falsehoods of a part of
the American press, published with the ma
lignant intention OF firing passions. making
1t appear that injustice and brutal force
reign in Cuba, and that home rule has
failed before even the colonial parliament
has taken its seat, and when experience
cannot yet tell whether the new regime
will answer or not There is no good faith
in these stories. Al was said by the ip..
mortal Washington, Honesty IL the best
policy.
The Cuban parliament is about to meet,
and both the spirit OF America and the
principles OF right demand respect for the
Will OF the majority Of the people.
tsigned1 JOSE MARIA GALvEZ.
President OF the Honorable Government
OF Cuba - 80 ~