On October 10, 1868, the patriotic lawyer Carlos Manuel de Céspedes (1819-1874) freed his slaves and raised the Cubans in arms, the first founding fact of the National Liberation Revolutions of Cuba.

The ringing of the bell of his ingenuity La Demajagua, Manzanillo, in the east of the country, meant 145 years ago a triumph of the independence ideas, against the Hispanic fundamentalism and the reformist and annexationist currents.

The gesture of Céspedes advanced to the arrest of the conspirators foreseen in an order of Captain General Francisco Lersundi, which would have delayed the process for an indeterminate period.

That morning the Bayamés patrician pronounced the declaration of independence known as the Manifesto of the Revolutionary Board of the Island of Cuba or Manifesto of October 10.

In the batey of La Demajagua, before about 500 congregates, he said: "Citizens, that sun that you see rising through the summit of Turquino comes to light the first day of freedom and independence of Cuba."

Thus began this first independence war that lasted 10 years and had a national-liberating, democratic and anti-slavery character.

A national patriotic conscience matured among Cubans, and although the slave oligarchy remained subject to Spain, the Cuban nation was founded forever.

The heavy weight of slavery in the economy of the colony allowed Spain to remain chained to Cuba when most of the Latin American countries achieved their independence.

According to data of 1862, of the total of one million 359 thousand inhabitants, about 500 thousand were of the so-called people of color, supposed danger that the colonialist ideologues wielded to stop the emancipatory movement.

At the time of the revolutionary outbreak, the slave population amounted to more than 300 thousand men and women, more than 70 percent in the western region.

There were also about 200 thousand mulattos and free blacks (41.3 percent in the west, 20, 5 percent in the center and 38.2 percent in the east).

Céspedes removed that ghost from the Cuban stage by greeting his slaves who were free at that time and inviting other owners present to do so.

"Citizens, he exclaimed, until now you have been my slaves. From now on, you are as free as I am. Cuba needs all its children to gain independence!"

"Those who want to follow me follow me; those who want to stay stay, everyone will remain as free as the others."

The issue of the abolition of slavery triumphed in the Revolution of '68 and in article 24 of the Constitution of Guáimaro the principle was expressed "All the inhabitants of the Republic are entirely free".

Cubans were assisted by the right to freedom and independence because, as Cespedes said, "When a town reaches the extreme of degradation and misery in which we see each other, no one can reproach him to lay down arms to get out of such a state full of reproach ... "

"Cuba," he said, "aspires to be a large and civilized nation, to extend a friendly arm and a fraternal heart to all other peoples ..."

The revolutionary struggle started on October 10, 1868 was seconded in other regions of the country and although it did not finally reach its goal of independence and abolition of slavery, it decisively influenced the history of Cuba.

She was followed by the so-called Little War (1879-1880) and the War of Independence (1895-1898), organized by José Martí.

According to Fidel Castro there is only one Cuban Revolution from Céspedes to the present day, including the one that triumphed in January 1959.

Taken from: CUBADEBATE. http://www.cubadebate.cu/opinion/2013/10/09/10-de-octubre-de-1868-fecha-fundacional-de-la-independencia-de-cuba/#.XZtGOGbB-1s