"Quesada states that he has gone to seek means and bring arms, with which to end the insurrection, but for what _does he need them if he has 61,000 men_? Is it possible that it should not occur to the inhabitants of New York to ask him _what need he has of more means when he has so many thousand men? When he has over 20,000 arms and can make more as well as powder and caps?_ Why has not _that soldier of fourteen years' campaigning_ taken possession with that army of _one single town_ at least wherein to _locate the government_ of the republic? Why has he not _captured one single port_ through which to get aid, export the productions of the country to the value of millions, and thus acquire a right to recognition as belligerents? _Where are schools? Where are those churches?_ Have those at Guaimaro and Sibarncu, which _were burned_ by that renowned general been perchance rebuilt? Why are the soldiers _unshod_ or wearing _strips of raw hide_ if there are three thousand shoes made weekly and four thousand hides tanned per month? _Where is the abundance_ for the soldier? _Where has he got coffee, rice, tobacco, etc.? Where are those sugaring mills_ in regular running order?... Then as to the commission of Manuel Quesada and his separation from command, do you know as well as I do that he was _ignominiously deposed by the Chamber_, and that _during his stay_ in Cuba, from his first arrival his conduct has been _blameworthy under all aspects_? "Well, then, Cubans, this is the plan followed from the beginning of the revolution. They are deceiving you and our brethren in New York as well as the whole world. For these reasons I say that the edifice is raised on insecure and imaginary foundations. For these reasons have I always tried to undeceive the country and let them see clearly, so as to prevent Cuba from sinking into the abyss wherein she is intended to be cast. Withal I have not been understood. There has been no lack of someone who, out of exaltation and under pressure of some sad aberration has qualified my conduct as treasonable. Ah! Whoever stated that knows not even the meaning of his words! When did I ever recognize this government? Never; but rather have I always been in opposition thereto. For as I wish my country's welfare I could not second an _illegal, arbitrary, despotic_ government that is _annihilating_ our land. "They recognize their error, but they have not loyalty enough to confess it, they are aware that they are neither statesmen nor lovers of liberty, nor patriots and their consciences sting them; they know that I have always seen farther than they could, and more clearly, that all my predictions have been fulfilled; that I have been alone in maintaining energetically my principles; bearing up against all kinds of privation and danger; and they do not forgive me for these advantages over them; they know that my past and my present career have been free from all stain; and they do not forgive me for that.