Cubans are celebrating today the 144th anniversary of the beginning of the war ofindependence struggle, when Carlos Manuel de Cespedes proclaimed the liberation of slaves and called to take up arms against the Spanish colony.
A note released by Granma newspaper remembers that October 10, 1868, in which Cespedes, known as Padre de la Patria (Father of the Country), freed his slaves and, with weapons in hand, together proclaim the Cubans' inalienable right to independence.
Cubans of today, followers of "mambi" soldiers, have won the full and complete independence, are highly grateful to the Cubans of yesterday, whose blood, great sacrifices and efforts were able to open the way of our liberation,the newspaper stated.
The text also stresses other figures starring in the 19th century feats, such as Ignacio Agramonte, Maximo Gomez, Antonio Maceo, and Jose Marti.
"They were able to comply with their duty, and left us a rich history of heroism, to which Julio Antonio Mella, Antonio Guiteras, Ruben Martinez Villena and others, joined in the 20th century," the daily says.
The struggle started by Cespedes lasted 10 years, after which came the so-called Little War (1879-1880), a period known as Tregua Fecunda (Fertile Truce) (1880-1895) and the 1895 War, prepared by Jose Marti, which ended with the U.S. intervention in the island when "mambi" soldiers had defeated Spain.