Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-08-20
FUTURE q cUBANs
Continued fbns First Page,

Continued ss First Page,
would do the sam4 Mr.. Cleveland wa, a
democrat. and he was the worst we had
Gratis as OF the republicans. But the people
Of CUBE VIII he ann 1as to the
IF any attempt We're made to annex
them it could only be by force?''
by force, yes" he replied.
giving cn aSs 4 H Sc
'ns r fsReF' Would BE- shAhy ways of evaans
it." he said. Suppose they tell US: You
are independent. You can have all the In
dependence you want. We give you your in
dependence, but yeu will have to recognize
us as your superior--your protector Now.
would we accept that as Independence"
dependence"
You want absolute Independence
Absolute independence, and as soon as
possible. The revolutionary party has done
enough to be independent or die. We could
not accept anything less than independ-
ence." -as
What would be. the resultso failure
to get Independence
THAT is very hard to say. We do not
know what we would do
do what you did before?'
The doughty old revolutionist and patriot
laughed heartily.
You have 7s,OOO.O 600 of inhabitants, and
in Cuba we have 1,5OO. Co.," he said, shak-
ing his head. Il know it is foolish. but
He raised his eyebrows as he repeated
thoughtfuHy:
"But-we have to fulfill out oaths. Put
anything Objectionable in our constitution
and we cannot accept 1t. II am controlled
l am not independent
Then you do not feel that your task of
securing Independence for Cuba Is finished
YETI" the reporter asked.
Al how hnn -
mo hope? That is "a pretty strong ex-
preston"
He Has No Hope.
81 have no hope" he repeated. Al
though President Mckinley was very cour-
teous to us and showed himself a perfect
gentleman in his treatment Of us. / have no
hope at all l have hope that he will
accept what / have proposed"
eff you have no hope that he will accept
your propositions, then you have no hope
that you will be independents"
"And what will you do about ito" the for
mer president of the provisional republic
was asked
Again he laughed saying: Il do not
know That time only can tell. I have
never thought it we'll to say ! will do this
or that under certain circumstances. When
the time comes then l shall determine what
/ shall do. That is my way.
Mr. Cisneros said that the paper he pre-
scented to President Mckinley contained
the views of all Cubans. regardless of
party 1t contained the views of Cuban So
cieties, the press and Of all Cuban organiza-
tons.
The memorial presented to the President
by Mr.. Cisneros was aas follows:
Memorial to the President.
To His Excellency, VIM. Mckinley, Presi-
dent of the United States of America:
Honorable Sir: The Undersigned begs to
present TO your consideration the following
facts and questions about Cuba and its
natural owners. the Cuhans:
The Cubans. for reasons well known to
the world, raised in arms, In 1868. against
the government of Spain under the motto
of Independence or Death" This oath
they have sustained with their blood: the
flower of the Cuban people has been de-
stroyed by the bullets and indignitfes Of
their sbarbarous enemies, the Spaniards.
In the wave Of the revolution. the United
States were not only interested, but in
volved, and the American people. first in
behalf Of mankind, barbarously outraged
by the said Spaniards, were compelled to
pass the famous Joint resolution recog-
nizing the right of the people of Cuba to
their sovereign and absolute, independence.
and afteTward tS%fakA up arms, INVADE
Cuba, and with the help of the Cubans
drive Spain from the island away from
America forever The United States SOL
EMMY declared to- the whole world. and
resolution" that HE government of the
island would be for the natives. the Cubans
who have won this right. first because
Cuba. by the law of nature, belongs to
them, and finally by their herosm and good
behavior
That the Cubans have proved a law-abid-
ing people. intelligent and sober, there Is no
doubt and is beyond question. therefore,
they are apt to govern themselves without
inJuring any of their neighbors, and hence
the time has come for the intervention Of
the United States to cease and the Joint
resolution to be fulfilled and for the gov
eminent Of the United States to leave the
Cubans to enjoy fully their sovereignty and
absolute independence by Withdrawing from
Cuba all the American troops.
UnfuIfIled Promises.
1t appears that the time is near when this
change is to be effected but the many
promises unfultiled have produced feeling
OF uneasiness. and has contributed to the
discomfort which is manifest in the Cuban
people and while the privileges and rights of
the people should have been respected in the
changes made IN the affairs appertaining to
Cuba by the Intervening government they
nave not been consulted, nor have these
changes been made always in their interest
As an example the suffrage iaw can be
cited This is the only law in force for the
suffrage IN the island. which law, the Gu
bans. and especially those identified with
the revolution, expected would safeguard
their rights and privileges.
Since the sovereignty of the Cuban gov
eminent was not recognized in due time,
nor has independence been granted to the
Cuban people, now that disposition Is ex-
pressed to grant 1t. it Is hoped that this in
tention will be duly carried into effect and
the cuban people have cause to rejoice in
the fulfillment of the Joint resolution" of
Congress declaring them free and indie
pendent people.
While the majority of the Cuban people
do not place any credence in the alarming
reports transmitted by cable from Washing
ton during the recent visit of Gen. Wood to
that capital relating to the intention of the
intervening government in it's relation to
the Cuban people, 1 cannot fail to acknowl-
edge, however. that those reports cause
many msgivings in the hearts Of some of