Writers Associated with Key West, Florida: #4 José Martí

'FRIENDS OF LIBRARIES U.S.A.

LITERARY LANDMARKS REGISTER

designates the

SAN CARLOS

INSTITUTE

"La Casa Cuba"

founded in 1871

a Literary Landmark

in honor of its tradition of academic excellence

as a shrine to Cuban heritage and where

JOSE MARTI

1853-1895

Cuban patriot. poet and scholar

united  the exile community in his campaign

for Cuba's independence.'

A bust of José Martí in the San Carlos Institute, underneath which is a bi-lingual quotation:

'Libertad es el derecho

que todo hombre tiene a

ser honrado, y a pensar

a hablar sin hipocresía'

'Liberty is the right of

every man to be honest, to

think and to speak without

hypocrisy'

José Martí

'José Martí visited Key West for the first time from

December 25, 1891 to January 5. 1892. His

accomplishments in these two weeks figure very high in

the history of Cuba. He was able to unite the exiled

community, the "Bases" of the Partido Revolucionario

Cubano were written and the tobacco workers agreed to

help finance the war. The two big dates at the San

Carlos during these two weeks, were the 3rd and 5th of

January when the "Bases" were announced and a huge

farewell party was held in Martí's honor.'

In Bayview Park, Key West, there is a superb monument to José Martí.

'JOSE MARTI

EL APOSTOL DDE LA LIBERTAD CUBANA
QUISO OFRECIR
AL PUEBLO DE KEY WEST
LO QUE QUEDABA DE SU CORAZON.

ESTE MONUMENTO

PERPETUA SU DESEO.'

'COMO DEJARE SIN DECIR
LA VIVEZA CON QUE ANHELO
UNA OCASION RESPETUOSA
DE PONER LO QUE ME QUEDA
DE CORAZON JUNTO AL CAYO ?'

'CAYO HUESO, ISLA LABRADA Y HERMOSEADA POR EL ESFUERZO CUBANO.

Y NO CARGAREMOS CON ELLA COMO NUESTRA ALMA INVENCIBLE

QUE HA SIDO Y NOS LA CLAVAREMOS AL COSTADO.

PARA MONUMENTO DE SUS FUNDADORES Y OBJETO DE NUESTRA JUSTA ADMIRACION ?'