Under the motto of the Cuban Revolutionary Party, the Montecristi Manifest
announced the program for the struggle that would begin and offered the
reasons and causes of the necessary war for the island´s independence.

The 117th anniversary of the signing of the document by Cuba´s National
Hero Jose Marti in his condition as delegate of the Cuban Revolutionary
Party and Maximo Gomez as General of the Liberation Army will be
commemorated on March 25th.

The document was recognized with the name of the place where it would be
signed: San Fernando de Montecristi, small city located in the northwest
region of the Dominican Republic.

At the time of the agreement of the manifest, the region was well known by
the public radio located at the former Armas Square and by the traditional
fiestas celebrated by the population.

After the signature of the valuable manuscript, endorsed by Jose Marti and
General Maximo Gomez the name of the area obtained an important
significance which witnessed the tactic and strategy guidelines to follow
in the struggle for Cuba´s independence.

After several years of failed attempts like the Guerra Chiquita (small
war) 1879-80, it was not easy to obtain a successful outcome. It was
necessary to tour a long journey not exempt to differences, contradictions
and discrepancies.

It is just to highlight, in honor of the two heroes that signed the
document, some important reflections to recognize the extraordinary
political work carried out by the Cuban people with the objective to
obtain the support in the Cuban countryside.

It is good to acknowledge the receptivity of the internationalist ideals
of the Dominican people who allowed the creation and development of the
friendship ties between both nations, based on respect and revolutionary
principles.

It was necessary to cross a long period in history to obtain the unity.
In 1878, Marti sends a first letter to Gomez requesting some information
on Cespedes and Agramonte to write a book while expressing confidence and
admiration towards him.

Four years later he receives another letter after expressing his analysis
on Cuba´s situation and demanded the General´s support to prepare for the
new battle.

Gomez responded and expressed sharing his opinions from Honduras and while
offering his support said he was willing to carry out any task assigned by
the Revolution as long as they were well organized.

In 1884 General Maximo Gomez and Antonio Maceo arrived to New York in
conspiracy activities and the island´s National Hero went to the place
where they were staying, but unfortunately, although the three were in
favor of Cuba´s independence, they did not come to an agreement.

After a profound study on the causes that made the 10-year war fail,
(1868-78) Jose Marti who fell in combat in Dos Rios wanted for the new
task wouldn’t fail because the military leadership choose to ignore the
opinions and interests of all those that participated in that movement.

porque la nueva obra no se malograra con la jefatura militar que ignorara
las opiniones e intereses de todos quienes participaban en aquel movimiento.

Under the leadership of Jose Marti, on April 10th, 1892 the Cuban
Revolutionary Party was founded with the objective of achieving the
Independence of Cuba and Puerto Rico.

It was on September of that same year when the author of the Golden Age
traveled to Santo Domingo and a second attempt with Gomez took place to
coordinate the struggle and was offered the rank of General of the
Liberation Army and gave his consent.

On January 29th, 1895, the founder of the daily Patria drafted the
uprising order and the following day transferred to Santo Domingo for
after several contacts meet with Maximo Gomez for the fifth time.

After the rigorous analysis, on March 25th the two heroes signed the
Montecristi Manifest, program plan elaborated for the necessary war
although some ideas of the Republic was announced which would be founded
later after the revolutionary victory.

Among his claims he pointed out that it would be a civilized war and was
not directed against the honest and neutral Spaniards, it was not a war of
races but for the right and social justice against the colonial
dictatorship that oppressed the Homeland.

This document constituted an example of unity and solidness of the Cuban
Revolution exposes the criteria of the community and the close ties of the
two generations that participated in the war of 1895 and proof of the
profound friendship and patriotic sentiment that united Gomez and Marti.