The Goodland republic. [volume] (Goodland, Kan.) 1891-1907, 1898-03-25

Palma at the Office of the Cuban junta
last night:
To the American People:
The frequency with which there has lately
appeared in the public press suggestions made
BY malicious OF misinfOrmed individuals t1at
Cuba would accept OF could be forced 70 accept
autonomy. or anything short Of independence,
has fmpelled Us to make definite and final
statement on this subject From the first our
motto has been Independence or Death" We
are now more firmly than ever determined 20
carry out our programme As We VIII not &C
cept, we viii not even discuss, the proposals OF
autonomy. After three years Of the most san
culinary and uncivilized warfare OF modern
times, carried On by Spain, We are stronger
than ever. It is for US to say what VIII satisfy
Us. not for others. Our ideals and our national
honor we can cOnhde 70 the keeping Of our
selves alone
cannot think that the American people
have forgotten the principle laid down in their
own declaration Of independence, nor can be
eve that any true American can be found who
gould advise Us 70 fOrsake the ideal Of repub-
| Hcan government for the monarchical, even In
/ its most liberal form There IS no way 70 com
| pei the Cubans 70 accept autonomy except Oy
force Of arms.
we have fought three years, not against
| Spain alone, but against the whole world Not
/ q helping hand was extended to US. no country
/ gave US equal rights with Spain The right %
/ ara our people By purchasing weapons IN Llls
/ country and transporting them 70 Cuba Is al
uitted, but although engaged in lawful trafI1c
/ we had to run the blockade to get from those
| shores and again run the gauntlet In Cuba
| Spain has proven fmpotent to compel US by
| force to accept autonomy. She now desires
the aid OF the United States to compel US to &C
| cept cannot believe that the American Peo-
l pie would ever lend themselves TO the mos
/ treacherous and blOOdStained monarchy CT his
/ tory for such o purpose Should such prove Z
be the case, however I declare, in the name o.
/ the Cuban people in arms, that force alone car
/ compel our submission We, who have seer
| hundreds Of thousands Of our race and families
! eXterminated BIZ slow starvation by a coHardiJ
/ decree Of the most inhuman commander o.
| sanguinary Spain, viii fight against anything
| but independence, no matter who opposes US
| II. unfortunately, this incredible proposal b
| carried into effect, and American bayOnets arr
! arTayed against Us in our struggle for freedom
! and in aid OF the Spanish monarchy. we vii
| fight on, sadly but determined, and let historJ
Judge whether the vanQuished had not pure
! ideal Of free institutions than the TictOrs II
| such case, we wiz be eXterminated. but futuri
/ generations will again take up our flag and on
| inspirations. and Cuba viii yet be free No
i viii we ever agree TO q truce until our lnde
! pendeuce is established We viii continue z
| fght as did the Americans under Jackson a
| the battle OF New Orleans, even after tn
| treaty Of peace is signed, II is should be nee
| essary-
The Cubans cannot be convinced that n
United States viii ever try to force US TO re
main under the Spanish flag, but have deeme
IL ny duty TO appeal to the generosity. tn
| sympathy and the patriotism OF the American
| people TO the end that they may understand Ii
Justice and drmness Of our demand for com
plete independence
TOMAS EsTRADA palma