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even lift a finger in defense of you or your cause. In the hour of danger the terrified inhabitants would seek their own safety, and de- liver you and your courageous army over to the government, and you, forsaken and deceived by the perfidy of pusillanimous friends, would be hanged as a criminal, and with you would perish the best hopes of the country. Nor would you even perish with the honor of a martyr. Condemned and executed as a traitor, you would descend to the grave without a single friend to eulogize you or vindicate your fame, tor- mented in your last moments with the bitter reflection that you have sacrificed your life for an ungrateful people who are incapable of ap• preciating your virtues or of avenging your death. Such is the destiny of all patriots who have attempted to give liberty to a nation not prepared to receive it. He who serves an ignorant and weak people is rewarded with bitter sorrow and eternal shame. Considering the matter under discussion in this light, I cannot ad- vise my friends and compatriots to go with you to Cuba until the in- habitants have first proclaimed their independence. If the Cubans wish the Americans to assist them in a revolution, nothing is necessary except for the War to begin, and very soon the citizens of the United States will be seen forming in battle array and radiant with joy; but in my opinion, it would be indiscreet for them to go to Cuba for the purpose of commencing a revolution which the natives do not them- selves want to commence. 'l'he people of Cuba should recall the fable of Hercules and the wagon driver who, finding himself mired in a bog from which it was difficult to escape, begged Hercules to help him, but that divinity smilecl at the impertinent petition and told the driver that before asking assistance of someone else, he should first try the efficacy of his own strength. Accordingly, the driver put his shoulder to the wheel of the cart, and giving a strong push forward, he, with the assistance of his horses, pulled out the cart without further diffi- culty. If the Cubans would do likewise, the result would be similar. I have not yet seen any indication of resistance on the part of the inhabitants of Cuba. There is no disturbance in the country. Show me any signs of an eruption. I can discover none. On the contrary, the country is as tranquil and serene as a sky without clouds. The bare mention of war-the slightest indication of a revolution-is enough to strike fear and horror into every heart in such a way that all flee from him who has the courage and fearlessness to speak on such dan- gerous subjects. What hopes, then, can you place in such a people? And how can you expect the Americans to fight for them when they will not fight for themselves? As I have said before, once the fight is begun, the Cubans will find in the United States many loyal and valiant friends who will give them any aid that they might require. Raise the stand- ard of independence in that island and thousands will flock there.' The North-Americans, having been born free and independent, have no fear of tyrants, and, being very prosperous under their happy in- stitutions, their generosity is equal to their valor. Their help has never been asked in vain, ancl notwithstanding the many vicissitudes which they have suffered-in spite of the numerous and heavy penalties and work they have experienced in vindicating the rights of others, until now they have never failed to assist all who have asked their aid, and
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