26 March 2015

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 ?'

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