The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-10-04
LIBERTY
IS DEAD
IN CUBA

New York, Oct. 4-"Liberty is dead in
Cuba. and the condition of affairs there
is worse than IL ever was under Spanish
rule, even In the most ferocious periods
OF the weyler government. Financial
ruin and dishonor faces the people. and
II things continue as they are the nation
will be converted into one OF heridiary
rule"
That declaration was made last night
by Gen Jose Migael Comes. governor Of
the province OF Santa Clara and candidate
OF the Liberal party for the presidency
OF Cuba, at the New Amsterdam Hotel,
where he is stopping. Upon his arrival on
the steamship Monterey from Havana
yesterday the general refused to discuss
Cuban affairs at length but after he had
rested at his hotel he was more COM
municative. IL am here 10 rest for some
days" he continued, "and 10 breathe the
air of liberty that is lacking in my own
country, and for which | have fought so
long.
ION false charges the government as
sassinates the Liberals. the jails are
filed with political prisoners. and we
have no hope OF justice from judges and
magistrates who recognize no law but the
will OF the government. We are hindered
in casting our votes and Cuba is now
suffering a reign Of terror never equalled
under such tyranny. 1t was such
things as these that made us withdraw
from the elections, Public funds are used
for electoral purposes. the sanitary condi-
tion OF the island is a disgrace. The Gu
ban government has employed thousands
OF men i'm the sanitary department but
for voting, not for working purposes
1T has become impossible TO dare to
oppose the government without risk OF
ones life and property The mayor OF
yIax. 6ae a
against the law and the whole city coun-
Gil have been dismissed because they
were Liberals. No one dares confess his
political opinions for fear OF assassina-
ton for which purpose the most desperate
criminals are allowed by the government
TO be at large.
For what Is happening in Cuba. the
United States government has n direct
responsibility. Palma is enabled to do as
he Is doing only by telling the people
every day that in case of revolution or
disorder the United States would send
troops To punish them and to sustain tho
Palma government
Il believe that II the Platt amendment
holds the United States Is responsible for
order In Cuba. IL should never he taken
for supporting the unlawful acts OF the
present government and to serve as a
screen for the commission Of such acts as
have been committed against the on
ponents OF that government 10 is the
duty OF the United States to put n stop
to such a condition and II affairs con-
tinue as they are much longer we shall
have to appeal to the United States TO
do So
''If the United States should intervene
In the matter Of elections and insist that
these elections should he carried on hon
estly, II would be proved that so per cent.
OF the population are liberal. That pro-
portion Of the people hate Palma and
his expressions worse than they hTsed
Weyle". for the conditions he has en-
forced are wore thar cter existed under
Spanish Dominica
Before leaving Cuba. Gtn. Comes ten
dcfed his resignation as candidate for
president in order. he said. TO give the
ccnN ertion full ibe-ty in ia o. oceed-
mss. Upon his arrival here he was In
formed that the convention was held last
Sunday and that - had been decided not
10 accept the resignation.
Gen. Comes said that before he could
outline his next movement he would have
10 learn the reason II this action by
the convention ami would have 10 give
the matter deep thought.