The record-union., 1898-04-07

formed Of this entente between the
Spanish and American Governments,
yelled as it is by every semblance of
an open rupture; and l speak with full
authority in saying that the Cubans
in the field can be relied upon to re-
sist all overtUres of peace unacco1n-
panied by complete Independence
The Cubans will not trust the United
States first to obtain possession and
then grant Cuban independence. The
very fact that recognition is expressly
withheld now implies the possibility
that it may be permanently withheld.
IN fact. we more than half know what
to expect in the event of the United
States becoming master of the island.
A plebiscit would follow; the people
would be permitted to choose between
allegiance to Spain under the forms
Of autonomy independence and annex
alton to the United States and the
presence and pressure of Federal force
would determine the election in favor
of annexation.
THE Cubans are resolved to make no
such farcicai apparent choice for them
been, ana viii Dee one thing only-ab-
solute independtuCe. They will not
have the United states stop in the
eleventh hour the lost heroic and self
sacrificing struggle against tyranny
recorded in all history. and repeal all
the fruits of it's labor saddling among
| other things the financial cost of it's
unwelcome Intervention.
But should the United States rec
/ ogniZe the Independence and then in
/ tervene it would be most welcome to
/ the Cubans, and the expense would be
| gladly betrayed from the treasury of
the Republic
| There is a view of this matter which
it behooves the United States to weigh
carefully. Should this country forcibly
| intervene without recognizing any
Government in Cuba. it would be re-
| sponsible to all the nations of the earth
for injury to their subjects or to their
! property during the whole period of
the occupation, whereas should the Re-
pubica Of Cuba be recognized as the
lawful sovereignty in the island. upon
it would develop all responsibility.
1T may be that the United States
would be too high-minded to influence
the result of the plebiscit of which l
have spoken as the sequence of occu-
patton without recognition. But has
not the United States corrupt elections
in its own borders? How could it
guarantee an absolutely fair and un-
biased election in Cuba? Shall it set
for the Cuban people a standard of
purity at the ballot box which its more
enlightened citizens have not been able
| to obtain?
The mistake of the United States is
/ in treating the Cubans as children, in
stead of men fighting for liberty and
prepared to keep up the conflict to the
death against whomsOever opposes
| their one object We infinitely prefer
hands off than that the United States
should intervene without recognition
OF Cuban independence. There are no.
0O Cuban guerrillas to oppose such in
terventiOn. But, of course, we hope for
better things. We expect even that
Congress Will upset this clever scheme
Of Spain and our Executive, and de-
clare first for our independence and
then Intervention to secure it."
This evening HoratiO S. Rubens
counsel for the Cuban Junta. supple
mented his utterances of this after
noon with this written statement over
his signature:
The statement appearing over my
name in the evening papers was based
on the indications appearing that the
object of the United States in refusing
to recognize the independence of Cuba
was to annex the islands to the United
States 1t was in view of this fact
that I expressed the determination OF
the Cuban army to resist. We would.
of course, welcome the American army
to aid US in achieving our indepen-