Evening star., 1898-10-05
CUBA MUSTBE INDEPENDENT
Manifesto to President Mckinley Signed by
Members of Junta.
The Document Declares Against q
Military Occupation by the
United States.

The Matanzas reconcentrados are having
their hunger satisfied with the American
provisions from the Comal The thanks
of the people find vent in outbursts of Viva
| Americanos!" whenever Maj. Whiskern
and Capt. Miles appear on the street, and
| in repeated expressions that the United
States has an altar in every Cuban heart
and that a Cuban-American brotherhood
will hold the two nations together forever.
Yet the very men who are loudest in
| their protestations of gratitude are busy
| pref airing to send to President Mckinley
| the manifesto of the Matanzas section of
the Cuban national party, document
which goes further in its demands for alb
solute independence as opposed to annexa-
| ton than any other that has yet appeared.
In some ways the manifesto is remark
able one. The men who drafted it assert
| that they will have more than 1900 sigma
lures of citizens of Matanzas province al
| though all the work of obtaining them has
teen done secretly, as the Cuban national
party Is not recognized by the Spanish al
thcrities. and consequently has no official
existence. At the head of the list of sigma
lures are the officers of the Cuban junta
here, the president of whom DR. Julio Or
tiZ. IS the same man who was recon-
| mended to the Washington authorities to
consult with the American officers of the
Comal
Want Our Policy Defined.
The manifesto is addressed to Honorable
William Mckinley. President of the United
States" and says in part:
Now is the moment to define the situa-
tion in Cuba I'm regard to its future gov
ernment. The honest policy of the Amer
ican government is a firm guarantee to the
Cubans of their perfect right to be free and
to establish the institutions which they
consider most convenient. The Cuban peo-
pie have never had as they have now p
Hide hot aS inaa
pendence-for the acquisition of which they
have shed their blood in the ten years war
and in the one ended lately.
The Undersigned aspire to harmony with
the ideal that Cuba should form an inde-
pendent state, ruled by republican institu-
fonS. and in accordance with the consti-
tuition proclaimed the fundamental law
of the patriotic junta of Matanzas terri
tory.
Independence Their Desire.
And the residents who subscribe to this
document believe that it is our duty to
make the following declaration to the gov
ernment of the United States:
THAT Cuba ought to be and form an in
dependent nation. ruled by republican in
stftutions, because the efforts of its chill
dren give the right TO liberty and they have
the moral and intellectual conditions to
govern themselves, which have been so rec
ognized by the American Congress.
That Cuba trusts in the sincerity of the
ton passed by Congress on April 10, 1888,
has perfectly demonstrated.
That Notwithstanding that the actual
government of the republic of Cuba has
been elected by the armed elements of war
we declare now that the present circum-
stances allow the inhabitants of the island
to express their will.
Against American Occupation.
THAT We recognize said government or
any other that legitimately may succeed it
as our real representative, and believe 1t is
the one called upon to accomplish the res
toration of order and especially to govern
the country as soon as possible, believing
as natural that in this manner the United
States would avoid the expenses and sac
rfices inherent to military occupation of
the Island of Cuba
These last lines are particularly sgnifi-
cant as constituting the first public declara-
ton of opposition on the part of the Gu
bans to the military occupation of the ISL
and by the United States. Its delicate con-
slider alton for the American expense and
sacrifices is really a polite notice to the
United States that the Cubans will object
to the landing of American troops on the
island.
William Davis, the American commissions
interpreter who brought messages to Ma
tor Wiskern, was standing the other night
In front of the Hotel Louvre talking with a
friend about annexa ton, of which Mr.. Davis
is strong advocate. party of Cubans
overheard the conversation and one of them
advanced to Mr.. Davis and said in a loud
threatening tone, Il want you to understand
that we Infinitely prefer to be governed by
Spain than by the detestable Yankees.
Davis friend stepped in front of the angry
Cuban and the incident ended, but this
shows the growing intensity of anti-Amer-
lean sentiment.
Free Kitchens Established.
A number of shelterless reconcentrados
in the city are too i'll and weak to prepare
the food given them by the Americans For
these a system of free kitchens has been
arranged where two meals day will be
served. The first free kitchen will be open
ed today.
BY a special order from General Blanco
162 Cuban prisoners were released from San
Severno fortress this afternoon. Several
had been confined there more than year.
The most distinguished was Captain Ger
vantes, whose father is a prominent ply
sician of Havana. CerranteS was Captured
six months ago while carrying messages
from the insurgents of Havana province to
MatanZaS.
Situation in Santiago Province.
From the Heralds Special Correspondent at Santi-
ago de Cuba, Tuesday.
General Garcia today received letter
from the Cuban junta in Havana an
nouncing his election as delegate from there
for the Cuban convention to be held at
Santa Cruz on October TO- In reference
thereto Gen. Garcia said to me today:
Il will decline the nomination, on the
grounds explained in my interview in the
Herald. lido not recognize the legality of
the authority calling the convention. The
method of procedure is unconstitutional. as
the delegates will not be representatives of
the Cuban people. To term it an. election is
a farce. 1t is merely a nomination OF men,
the majority of whom are probably figure
heads, to carry out the wishes of the
called provisional government"
Col. Torriente of the staff of Gen. Garcia,
will leave tomorrow the steamer Jose
ffta on a mission to Gen. Rodriguez, COM
manding the eastern province; Gen. Pedro
Betancourt, at MatanZas, and Gen. Memo
cal, at Havana.
Gen. Garcia's Advice.
He carries letters from Gen. Garcia ex-
planning his position regarding the present
situation and advising them of his entire
belief in the good faith of the American
administration in the island. He points out
the absoute necessity for the disorganiza-
ton of the Cuban army, and dwells on the
fact that he goes to the United States
shortly for the purpose of raising a loan
to pay off the troops, concerning the sue
cess Of which he has no doubt. He calls
on them for the good of the country to do
everything in their power to facilitate the
American views.
Garcia himself. commencing his new role
for the Americans. goes tomorrow on hts
mission through the island to the Cuban
camps, He will be accompanfed nv his