Show NOTHING BUT tte will Is no treaty of peace for anta anil spain PALMAS STATEMENT PATRIOTIC general palma issues a statement refuting the many humors of a proposed treaty ot peace the only excuse for having begun the war will be its triumph the only fitting monument for our fallen comrades the independence pen dence of our country new york jan 21 general palma of the cuban junta in ibis city issued the following statement loday so much lately has been caid of the probability of the termination of the cuban rebellion by the acceptance on the part of the cubans of autonomy or reforma that I 1 feel it incumbent upon me ae the accredited representative of the cubans to make a brief statement on the subject reforms were passed by the spanish cortes but the outbreak of this revolution waa not thereby stayed one hour and is but one idea for wo tho are fighting we have bad enough of eo balled reforms enough of of more reforms enough of promised autonomy every man would rightly condemn the leaders and of tiffs movement if anything abort of independence pen dence be the batia of a treaty of peace with spain if is claimed that general gomez is willing to treat with spain on the basis ot autonomy and that a letter to hat effect has been received by me there la no soch letter knowing general gomez as a commissioner in the lest revolution knowing his opinions as expressed to me before and during abia war knowing his stainless patriotism I 1 can vouch for him heia made ot baerner Bt erner than to surrender on any such terms particularly chenin bis latest jitters to me he writes contentedly of his resources and hie conviction that this winter campaign willbe most successful but even though any one of our foremost be inclined to terminate the war by the acceptance of autonomy which is barely within the bounds of possibility while he himself him seif might surrender be would doreo alone we cubans freiot of indi vi dualities we are steadfast followers of our ideal the death e our gloriosa glori oca maceo etrick borrow to every heart but we did not falter forces did not surrender and the revolution received reee ived no perceptible the leaders who proposed peace under the spanish gag would fiad them followers follo were no treaty of peace cau be made by abe cubans ratified by a specially convoked aee embly it is beyond abe bornds of possibility to expect th atthe cubans after two of strife when they find themselves in a position such as has never their fortune to occupy fa point of equipment and will now accept terms of compromise every cuban every american knows that the apparent generous and conciliatory spirit of spain springs not from her strength but from her weakness how can we under the bo expected to waver n if the cubans in the field are too etrone to even consider lucli proposals the cubans in the cities are too well advised of plans and precarious situation to counsel thia step la the cities only etring hold of position of refinement of wealth have but lately signed a statement in which they unequivocally say to those in this country who seemed to hare labored under the error that auton would be of ibe called n 1 cuban problem that nothing short of independence ie acceptable to them they base their statement not only on political but also on economic reasons reo sons what forma of autonomy would help cuba when saddled not only with her previous debt but with the added burden of the cost ot the pr sank war the future of the country would be ruin and starvation news of our success in hie field may be suffocated by the censor pacification of tho island provinces may be falsely proclaimed as in the case of Pi rio decrees allowing grandine grin dine of augar may be issued where all cane has been destroyed of reforms and autonomy given and amnesties gated but we cubans will continue to fight for independence and lothine but independence first last and all the time our leaders may fall but others will take their places the opportunity will find the men gomez himself bag written that even should he fall the revolution is strong enough to continue to its triumph the only excuse we will have for having begun the war will be its triumph the only fitting monument for our fallen comrades the independence of their country T ESTRADA PALMA |