GENERAL JOSE XIMENEZ DE SANDOVAL - MANUSCRIPT LETTER SIGNED - HFSID 218122

JOSE XIMENEZ DE SANDOVAL
The Spanish General responds to a letter from the business man and activist Emilio Bacardi saying he does not longer possess any object of the illustrious Cubans but promises him to ask his friends to see if they still have any valuable one and if yes, to convince them to donate it to the museum
Manuscript Letter Signed: "J.X. Sandoval" in iron gall ink. 8¼x5¼. Fully Translated in English: "Madrid, January 22, 1912. Mr. Emilio Bacardi: My very cherished friend: I received your letter from last august, and I am very sorry I cannot please you in your wishes, because I do not longer have in my possession any object of the illustrious Cubans, because I gave all the ones I had from the two wars to the plenipotentiary minister Justo Garcia Velez, as I had promised to him and to Victoriano Gonzalez , If I had known about that museum before I would have had reserved some objects for it, anyway, if I know of any friend who still has any worthy objet to be exhibited in the museum, I would happily influence him to donate it to the museum. Thank you so much for your New Year's congratulation, I wish you the same. Yours, your friend. J.X. Sandoval. (Illegible)". Jose Ximenez de Sandoval (d.1924) was a Spanish General who fought against the Cubans who wanted the liberty of their nation. He is well known for having been the one who had to give a speech in the Jose Marti's burial in a mass grave in the cemetery of Remanganaguas . He has been accused of having mistreated the corpse of the insurrect that died in the combat of Dos Rios, and for that reason Ximenez has also been seen as a discreditable person. However, others think that Jose Ximenez showed respect to the cadaver of Jose Marti and that if he did not show more than that was because he was not sure it was the actual body of Marti and also for the conditions of the war, such as the three attacks that the troops of General Quintin Bandera made trying to rescue the corpse. It is possible that Jose Ximenez decided to take care of the body of his opponent in part because they were freemason brothers. Being in the cemetery, Coronel Jose Ximenez de Sandoval asked out loud: "Is there any relative, related or friend of the deceased here? Since nobody answered, he added: "Well, people, seeing that the deceased has not any relative or related one here, I would have to dismiss the moral duel" and proceeded to say: "People: Before the cadaver that in life was Jose Marti, and in the absolute lack of someone pronouncing the accustomed phrases, I beg you not to see him as an enemy, but instead, as the corpse of a man that the political fights sent to confront the Spanish soldiers. Since the moment the spirits abandon the matters, the Almighty Creator, empowering them, welcome them with generous pardon in his chest; and we, when taking care of the abandoned matter all rancor as enemy ceases giving to his corpse the Christian burial that the dead ones deserve. Period." Numerous crosses and awards were distributed by the Spanish government among the soldiers and officials who participated in the action of Dos Rios. Coronel Ximenez De Sandoval only obtained the third class cross of Maria Cristina. He would later be ascended to General of Division and declined the marquisate of Dos Rios and expressed: "What occurred in Dos Rios was not a victory because the greatest genius born in America died there". Jose Ximenez died in 1924. Lightly worn and toned. Tape residue on verso. Clipboard mark at upper blank margin. Pinhead-size hole on front. Otherwise, fine condition.