FEBRUARY 21

On February 21, 1880 the first article in English written by José Martí entitled Raimundo Madrazo appears in the North American magazine The Hour.

He had been recommended to the direction of that publication of literary character by the Cuban painter Tomás Collazo.

In the opening part of that work he noted about Madrazo: "He is a charming fellow, but it is especially in his canvases that he reveals himself to us as he is - cheerful, brilliant and radiant. Everything dances, laughs, moves in warm light. All his paintings are animated with intense human passion with the enthusiasm and energy of youth."

Martí added that Madrazo's works do not need his signature since they are immediately recognizable and assured, "...this alone is already a pleasure."

And Martí also specified when referring to the characteristics of that Spanish painter's works, "He has had the audacity to look the sun face to face, and how many splendid roses have given him their petals so that he could perfect his ideas about color!"

In 1891 Martí is in New York and participates in the evening of the Spanish-American Literary Society. He reads the verses that Román Mayorga has dedicated to the institution.

Two years later Martí arrives in Tampa. He is received by the members of the Council Corps with whom he meets at the house of General Carlos Roloff.  He leaves the following day for Key West.

FEBRUARY 22

On the situation in France, José Martí writes in a work published in La Opinión Nacional de Caracas, on February 22, 1882.  He specifies in the initial part of the work: "Every reform originates a change, and every change hurts interests".

He points out that Gambetta was defeated and that he was no longer President of the Council of Ministers of France. 

Three years later, on this date, a work by Martí is published in La Nación, of Buenos Aires, Argentina.

It deals with several topics, among them the situation of the winter stage in the United States and also about the speakers in this country.

With respect to this, when answering the question he had asked about the American speakers of that time, he said that neither their names nor their speeches were published.

He commented: "Ah! What they have is, that he who is excessively preoccupied with himself, is justly forgotten by others; and he who works for the corner of earth in which to profit, and not for the vast human earth in which alone the conscience benefits, does not deserve to go out, and will not go out, from his corner of earth. Only love penetrates."

In 1888 he writes a letter to the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Uruguay, enclosing the Report of the Consulate General of the Republic of Uruguay in New York, then in his charge during the vacation of Consul General Enrique M. Estrázulas. 

In 1893 Martí visits a tobacco factory in Tampa and speaks to Cuban and American workers.

FEBRUARY 23

On February 23, 1882 in La Opinión Nacional, of Caracas, a work by José Martí is reflected in which he refers to the situation in Spain. "What are the peoples in the hands of the politicians of office?" he asks himself and says: "These move them as if they were battle shields, and they sit on them, after the triumph, or they put them up, at the hour of defeat, as fighting banners".

It also deals with Spanish women with the claim "It is urgent to educate women". 

Also in that edition of La Opinión Nacional, the Section Constante is published in which Martí comments on vegetarianism and its advocates in Europe.

He explains the arguments of the Russian scholar Beketoff on the matter and also exposes the considerations of the defenders of animal nutrition.

In 1890, his chronicles from New York appear in La Nación, of Buenos Aires.

He deals with the problem of the South and of the blacks in the United States; and comments on the character and influence of Henry Grady, an orator who died, at the foot of his last speech. To the blacks, he said, "the door is narrow; but there is a door: educate yourselves!" 

And in 1893 José Martí arrived in Key West. Later he speaks to the members of the patriotic club existing in this city about the economic needs faced by the Cuban Revolutionary Party. The members express their willingness to swell the organization's treasury funds.

FEBRUARY 24 

From Havana, where he had been clandestinely for a few days, José Martí leaves for Mexico on February 24, 1877, on the steamship City of Havana with the intention of heading later to Guatemala.

He carried letters of recommendation from Fermín Valdés Domínguez's father to President Justo Rufino Barrios and other personalities of that country.

In 1887 La Nación of Buenos Aires published a work of his in which he comments on General Logan, who was a candidate for the presidency of the United States.

He points out: "The world should not feel it, because he did not add anything to human thought, nor did he live for the good of others".

That same day and year he writes a letter to Nicolás Domínguez Cowan, and in his mention of his father's death, Martí confesses: "Only this pain, Nicolás, was missing from the many of your sincere friend".

In 1889 a chronicle about the spring winter in the United States, the New Year in Washington and the high society life in that city appears in La Nación.

In homage to Fermín Valdés Domínguez, Martí pronounces a speech in the evening celebrated at Jaeger's Saloon in New York on February 24, 1894.  

In 1895 the war for independence restarts in Cuba, which was the fruit of the arduous work of preparation carried out by José Martí together with other outstanding patriots.

FEBRUARY 25 

On February 25, 1878 José Martí publishes in El Porvenir his essay "Poesía dramática americana", in which he urges to look for in the history of Our America the source of inspiration of creators for the elaboration of new works that are integrated in a national theater.

And in 1882, in the constant section of La Opinión Nacional of Caracas, José Martí writes about Federico Douglass, a senator who was born a slave; about German literature, the French expedition that sails the Mediterranean Sea investigating the depths of the sea, and the recent invention made in Italy to solidify wine.

On that day in 1887, one of his Escenas norteamericanas was published in La Nación of Buenos Aires, in which he comments, among other topics, on the situation of the Indians, who have been granted citizenship, land and public schools where some five thousand of them study voluntarily.

On the same day, La Nación also published an article on the historian George Bancroft, author of the History of the United States. It describes him: "He is already a century old and rides a horse every day".

But he does not fail to remember that he helped in the dispossession of California from Mexico: and expresses: "...any attack against the law, in his own or other people's land, is a crime in a man of thought".

And in 1895 Martí receives in Montecristi a cable in which he is informed of the resumption of the war in Cuba. That same day he writes to José Nicolás Ramírez.

FEBRUARY 26

On February 26, 1883 José Martí finishes the translation of the book Nociones de lógica, by William Stanley Jevons, for the Appleton publishing house.

And on February 26, 1886 he writes to Manuel Mercado. He expresses his joy at having received a letter from him.

He also comments on his life: "My situation, violent until today, is from today, as much as I would like and I have to tell you, more serious than ever. But, as long as I have life left, and a soul like yours to love me, I will have plenty of strength to spare."

On February 26, 1895 from Montecristi, José Martí writes a letter to Antonio Maceo, in which he says: "To the General I write today, even more than to my friend: the war, to which we are obliged, has broken out in Cuba".

And he argues to Maceo the economic situation of the moment that makes it impossible to deliver the sum of money necessary for his transfer to Cuba and adds: "Your patriotism that defeats the bullets, will not be defeated by our poverty, - by our poverty, enough for our obligation".

After offering them other details about how the transfer of a group of independence fighters to Cuba would be achieved, Martí patented to General Antonio Maceo: "Cuba is at war, General. This is said, and the land is already another. It already is for you and I know it".

He also sends letters to Gonzalo de Quesada and Benjamin Guerra.

FEBRUARY 27

On February 27, 1882 José Martí comments in his constant section of La Opinión Nacional de Caracas, among other topics he deals with, the surprising advanced age of some rulers who have reached fame in those times and exemplifies the Prime Minister of England with 81 years old, King William with 85, and the Russian Gortchakov, who is 81 years old.

He also mentions that the books of the princes were in vogue and about the increase of suicides in France.

In 1883, on this date, he finishes translating Notions of Logic, by Stanley Jevons, for the Appleton House, and with the income he obtains he will be able to pay for the expenses of his father's transfer and stay in New York.

In 1893 Martí participates in the extraordinary meeting of the Council of Key West, and insists on the institution of the Day of the Homeland.

He emphasizes that it should achieve the greatest possible notoriety so that it would be known by all and would serve as an incentive to increase the donations to be able to defray the substantial expenses to achieve the adequate preparation for the resumption of the war for the independence of Cuba.

FEBRUARY 28

On February 28, 1875, José Martí writes a poem dedicated to his sister Ana, who died in Mexico on January 5 of that same year.

That poem is published several days later in the Revista Universal.

In 1877 he sends letters to his friend Manuel Mercado and Francisco Zayas Bazán.

To Mercado he explains that he is in Progreso, coming from Havana, wounded by fever and tiredness, and there he got new lungs.

He says: "I do what I must, and I love a woman; -then I am strong".

Two years later in a funeral ceremony in homage to Alfredo Torroella at the Artistic and Literary Lyceum of Guanabacoa, in Havana, he delivers a speech in which he narrates in broad strokes the poet's life.

Martí describes him as "the beloved dead of the homeland", and also assures: "Although, if the homeland loves him, he is not dead".  

In 1883 he writes a letter to his sister Amelia from New York. In it he speaks of his father, whom he describes as an admirable man.

To his great friend Fermín Valdés Domínguez he writes a letter in 1887. He highlights the great work done by him in proving the innocence of the medical students shot in Cuba in 1871. 

In 1889 another of his collaborations is published in La Nación. It deals, among other subjects, with the war in Haiti, the pilgrims in Indianapolis, and the struggle of States and ambitions in North America.

On this day in 1892 he gives a speech to Puerto Rican emigrants when they form the Borinquen Club.